2020 – A Year of Lessons
Dear Supporters, Sponsors, Friends and Family When 2020 dawned a cycad in our garden, which had been dormant for 10 years, began to grow. We took this as the sign of a great new dawn and there was much anticipation for the positives that lay before us. We had worked hard on establishing an integrated
Birding Blog – November 2020
Breeding is in full swing. There was never a moment without a cuckoo – Klaas’s, Red-chested or Black – calling full bore. Swee Waxbills – only males apparently – were collecting bits of dry grass and fallen pine needles, obviously nest-building materials. Perhaps the females were at home arranging things? The Little Grebes were a
Birding Blog October 2020
The fabulous aloe display of winter had faded, but this is where Erythrina has stepped in. It’s not native to the Berg, and not often planted because it is frost-tender, but thrives in this, the warmest place in the Berg. Gurney’s Sugarbird was in constant attendance, so too were less typical visitors. The Cape Rock-Thrush
Drakensberg Bird List
Not every Drakensberg bird is listed here, only those that have been spotted on our property. We hope that while in the Drakensberg birders will find this list useful: CAVERN BIRD LIST using Roberts7 names and sequence. Coqui Francolin Peliperdix coquiGrey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africanusRed-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantiiRed-necked Spurfowl Pternistis aferSwainson’s Spurfowl Pternistis swainsoniiCommon Quail Coturnix
Birding Blog September 2020
September can be quiet, often windy, as it was this weekend, and still a bit early for most tropical migrants. Of the swallows only the resident Sawwing was to be found. But lots of other action nevertheless… Hadedas don’t normally attract much attention. We see them every day, usually patrolling lawns and other short grass
Birding Blog August 2020
Three days of cold, two of them windy, did not bode well. One day was the coldest for many years, really crackly frost and icicles. But the Cape White-eyes did what is typical for the time of year. The young of summer are now fully independent, so join their parents, and lots of other families