The Trekkie's Forum

Boubou, Tropical - sitter, Crooks' corner and anywhere along the Levuvuh river.
Bush-Shrike, Gorgeous - Anderkant die rivier!
Canary, Lemon-breasted -  22° 26.236'S,  31° 18.422'E
Chat, Arnot's -  22° 40.533'S,  31° 6.567'E
Coucal, Senegal    - Good luck taking bum shots.
Courser, Three-banded - Cross the Levubu. Maybe you have some luck. I have heard of people seeing it alongside the tar road.
Fishing-Owl, Pel's - Day before or after you are at Pafuri. So make sure that you either go there the day before or after you planned to go.
Goshawk, Dark Chanting - Haven't really seen it up north - best spot still is the Phabeni road and Pretoriuskop areas.
Guineafowl, Crested - See the Pel's comment.
Hawk, African Cuckoo - Around the Lemon-breasted Canary site. And within the first two km's back towards the picnic spot.
Hawk-Eagle, Ayres's - If you get it don't tell me!
Hyliota, Southern - Ai jai jai... I think Niall has a spot for it along the Mahonie loop.
Kestrel, Dickinson's - See Ayre's comment.
Owlet, African Barred - Must be in Punda camp. Torch is your best friend.
Penduline-Tit, Grey - Have seen it around the Pafuri picnic spot. You should have a decent chance. Make sure you know their calls. That is the only way of picking them up.
Pytilia, Orange-winged - Make sure you get good sharp photos.
Roller, Racket-tailed - I am still not talking to Boetie after he got his in the Maluleke concession. Don't let the same fate fall upon you!
Spinetail, Bohm's - Must be around  - try the Levubu bridge
Spinetail, Mottled - Must be around - try the Levubu bridge
Starling, Meves' - Sitter. Anywhere in Pafuri.
Wood-Dove, Blue-spotted    - Thoyouyandou Bot Gardens.
Starling, Miombo Blue-eared - Could be around, but beware of the similar looking immature Blue-eared Starlings.
White-eye, African Yellow - still need it for my SA list, but a lot of people are picking them up at the picnic spot.
Parrot, Grey-headed Parrot - Punda Maria main entrance road or Mahonie loop. Listen out for their screeching.
Nightjar, Pennant-winged - Too early in the season I am afraid.
Cuckooshrike, White-breasted - Mahonie loop.
Honeyguide, Scaly-throated - Could possibly get them along the Levuvuh river.

Thanks DD & WTM.

I can guarantee you that I will hear a gorgeous Bush-shrike across the river. I have heard them many times -
Across the ravine at Kaapsche Hoop,
Across the river at Skukuza,
Across the river at Roodewal...

Bloody Across-the-River Bird

Theoretically then the Salitjie road should be a good bet for Gorgeous Bush-Shrikes..but I have never heard one whilst driving that road. Also no records of them on Sabap on that road.

Hi Imax,
The only way I got to see the Gorgeous Bush-Shrike was to get out of the car & stand & peer into a bush next to the road where it was calling from for about 5 minutes.
This sighting was on the Rd to Crookes Corner, past the Pafuri Picnic site!

Just watch out for the San parks officials!

Imax, last December we were on the road between Pafuri picnic site and Crooks Corner, when I heard a GBush Shrike. Used my pda to entice it closer (yes, I know.... but what else could we do? ) After about 20 minutes of calling (one call, with long interval), the birdie came closer and closer, and eventually it was about 10 metres away in the thickest bush it could find. Ramkat took some photo's, did the best he could, at least we laid eyes on it. These little bgrs are the world's greatest skulkers.
We looked for Lemon Breasted Canaries for 3 days without success.
Frank at Pafuri will show you the Bohm's Spinetails, just stand at the entrance to the picnic site, look up and you may just find them amongst all the other swallows and swifts that frequent that area.
Yellow White eye, at Crook's Corner, in the large fever tree right next to the river.
We didn't see Pel's
Crested Guineafowl were found between Crooks Corner and the border post, there is a fever tree forest, and they were foraging among the trees in the grass.

Last edited by Boskat (29-05-2012 07:55:55)

As for the 747. I have seen it mostly over March and April in the Nelspruit Nature Reserve. The photos Laine took of it above were taken near Skukuza in December.