The Trekkie's Forum

Will be interesting to see if the Nightingale and River Warbler actually shows up this year..

I think the best place will probably be the first section of Zaagkuil. When I was there a couple of weeks ago, there was way more water than down at Kgmomo as you said SR.

Sorry WTM...

You and DD carry on about this big barney you gonna have.  Well i think the only Barney we will see is the giant purple one we try and cheer you two up with after you both start crying from sore wrists and dirty hands before the fight even starts...



Nice going SR!

Pics? 

Took a visitor from the US on a birding outing to Marievale this morning and was delighted to get a photo of the pair of Baillon's Crake chicks that were around. On a previous trip I spotted a little bundle of black feathers running in the reeds but was not quick enough to snap a pic - so now, at last, I have proof of their presence. The first photo shows a whole group of birders out looking for Crakes are in the top right hand corner but sadly looking in the wrong place and direction while an adult Baillon's and two chicks are walking in the road in front of me (I did call them to move towards me but by then it was too late and the Crakes did not come out again):

                       

Another great highlight was seeing these incredible young Helmeted Guineafowl Chicks:

                  

Also got to see a Swamphen snacking on fresh roots:

   

We looked in vain for a glimpse of the Malagasy Pond Heron - just a few Squaccos's put in an appearance but nothing dressed all in white!

Last edited by marktittley (25-02-2012 15:59:57)

Went to WSBG this morning and noticed an absence of the usual birds. The bottom road bridge was washed away and there are signs of bad flooding so we had to skip the bottom end of the gardens . Did get a shot of this fellow though. Handsome Bird non the less.

IMG_5789.jpg by Boskat/Ramkat, on Flickr

If I had named the bird it would be a Yellow Footed Speckled Pigeon - it is however now a African Olive Pigeon (go figure) used to be a Rameron.

Last edited by Ramkat (26-02-2012 16:16:41)

Lovely photo, RK. I have noticed that they seem to become more and more common in the garden. Even found one on a nest at the restaurant end last year.

Your camera at home today?

This has really been a strange year. Never before have I heard so many Garden Warblers calling in the east of Pretoria. It almost seems that there is a Garden Warbler in each and every garden in my suburb and yet, not a sign of a Willow Warbler.

At WS last week we picked up 3 Garden Warblers.