Outing to Mamre Moravian Church and surrounds.

20 April 2024 – Led by Zoe Lunau-Johns.

 

It was a very cold misty start at Mamre – even at 08h00 one could barely see the top of the trees due to the thick mist.

We first handed over all the toys and stationery to the creche, as a thank-you for their patience with us birders visiting the church grounds last year during the challenge. We wanted to give back to the community by donating all the items we had collected to the creche.

We were then told that there would be a funeral held at the church, so we had to move on and start earlier than planned in the Mamre farmlands. Trying hard to see through the mist. Bruce Mackenzie (who joined the club in 1957), extreme right, chats to Michael Mehnert.

On the way to the dirt roads, we stopped to look for the Sickle-winged Chat, but it was very quiet and we could not see very far due to poor visibility. We did, however, have at least two Large-billed Larks out in the open in the fields and people got views of them. A group that hung back fortunately did get good views of the Sickle-winged Chats as we were leaving for the next stop.
Although driving along the back dirt roads also proved to be a challenge in the beginning due to visibility, and there was not much calling either, an Ant-eating Chat was spotted. Sadly, only very few people got a proper sighting of it because it flew past before it was relocated far away from view.
Others also had views of a Black Harrier, as we turned towards Mamre. There were thousands of Pied Starlings, with a dozen Wattled Starlings and Common Starlings in between them. Some Cape Longclaws and African Pipits were also vocal and displaying.

We returned to the rest of the cars parked outside the church grounds for a cup of coffee. A Cape Batis and Southern Double-collared Sunbird were seen in the oak trees above us. A second funeral had started, so a group explored the ridge with boulders some distance behind the church to have one more look for any possible Strandveld birds on the hillside.

Despite the misty weather, it was an enjoyable morning’s birding and a very pleasing turnout of members. Thanks to all who attended and to those who contributed photographs.

Photographs by Penny Dichmont, Daryl de Beer and Zoë Lunau-Johns.

Report by Zoë Lunau-Johns.