DANISH ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY & ROCKJUMPER BIRDING TOURS’

TRIP REPORT

SOUTH AFRICA

15th September to 6th October 2003

Tour leaders - Søren Skov and Adam Riley

INTERNETVERSION
Forord:

Det blev en sand eventyrrejse, da DOF-København i dagene 15. september til 6. oktober 2003 besøgte Sydafrika. Vi så mængder af fugle, dyr og fantastiske landskaber - i alt 474 fuglearter og 55 pattedyrarter blev det til på de tre uger, hvilket er meget højt for årstiden, idet mange europæiske vintergæster endnu ikke er ankommet.
Der var mange uforglemmelige fugleoplevelser, så det er ikke til at afgøre, hvilke der har gjort størst indtryk - men mon ikke de porcelænsagtige smukke blå traner, de mange trappearter,  pingvinerne, og de smukke orangebreasted rockjumpers, der smuttede omkring på klipperne foran os på Lesothos barske højslette er blandt højdepunkterne for de fleste af os.  
Udover de mange fine fugleoplevelser fik vi også set et bredt udsnit af Afrikas berømte pattedyr, bl.a. de klassiske ”big five” i form af løver, leoparder, næsehorn, bøfler og elefanter. Derudover sås også mange store hvaler i form af Sydkapere ved Kapstaden.. 
Det succesrige udfald af rejsen skyldes ikke mindst vores helt uundværelige guide Adam Riley, som ikke blot er en af Afrikas dygtigste ornitologer, men fungerede som chauffør og i det hele taget lagde et utroligt stort arbejde i, at vi alle skulle få en vellykket rejse til Sydafrika. Tak for det.
 
Til sidst skal det der lyde en stor tak for det gode humør og det gode kammeratskab, der prægede alle deltagere på holdet, så vi alle kan huske tilbage på DOF`s Sydafrika-rejse 2003 med stor glæde.

Deltagere i denne storslåede Afrikarejse var: Leon Berthou,  Helle Hjort Sjøberg, Vivi Westh, Povl Westh, Carl Axel Henrichsen,  Leif Høgh Olsen, Margit F. Olsen, Jørgen Nørgaard, Bodil Nørgaard, Preben Strandgaard Christensen, Herdis Strandgaard Christensen,  Svend Pettersson, Lis Kastrup, Elsa Larsen, samt Adam Riley  og Søren Skov.

Rejsen dag for dag

Mandag 15. september
Vi mødtes 15.00 i Københavns Lufthavn i Kastrup, hvor vi forventningsfulde tjekkede ind på KLM-flyet til Amsterdam med afgang kl. 17. Efter en kort og begivenhedsløs flyrejse ankom vi til Amsterdam, hvor vi mødtes vi med vores to jyske deltagere, så holdet var fuldtalligt, da vi gik om bord på KLM´s store Boing 747 til Johannesburg med afgang kl. 21.

Tirsdag 16. september
Vi ankom planmæssigt kl. 7.40 til Johannesburg, hvor vores sydafrikanske guide, chauffør og turleder Adam Riley modtog os. Vi fordelte os fluks i de to ventende VW-minibusser og cruisede i fuld fart mod nordøst gennem det smukke højlandslandskab med bølgende græssletter øst for Johannesburg. Frokosten blev indtaget i Drakensberg-bjergene, hvor vi gjorde holdt i den nordlige del af Blyde River Canyon ved en rasteplads få hundrede meter før J.G. Strijdom tunnelen. Det kneb med at koncentrere sig om maden, for klipperne ovenover rastepladsen er en kendt yngleplads for den sjældne Taita Falcon, som sås meget fint siddende på en klippehylde. Efter at have nydt synet af den smukke falk, fortsatte vi til Orphen Gate i Kruger National Park, som vi nåede ved 16-tiden. Her skiftede vi over til de to ventede åbne firhjulstrukne safaribiler. Allerede få kilometer efter at være kommet ind i Kruger Nationalparken, sås de første næsehorn, og også en søvnig hunløve kom sammen med de første giraffer, zebraer og gnuer i notesbogen, mens vi kørte langsom safarikørsel mod vores ventende hytter i Satara Camp. Denne camp har en meget central beliggenhed i den mest vildtrige del af Kruger Nationalparken, der er lige så stor som Jylland og kendt som en af de bedste nationalparker i Afrika for at se store pattedyr. Også når det gælder fuglelivet er Kruger i særklasse - her er flere tropiske arter, som ikke kan ses i andre dele af Sydafrika.

Onsdag 17. september
Vi stod tidligt op, så vi forventningsfulde kunne køre ud af Satara kl. 6, da gaten blev åbnet. Den første morgentur bød på et væld af nye fugle, og da vi vendte tilbage til morgenmaden i campen kl. 9, blev vi imponeret af havens mange tillidsfugle fugle. Her sås bl.a. meget fotogene Cape Glossy Starling, Mourning Dove, Grey Go-Away-Bird, Yellow-billed Hornbill og en meget fin African Scops Owl, der sad frit fremme i et træ. Morgenmaden var god og rigelig - selv om en stortur til Sydafrika med DOF byder på et højt aktivitetsniveau, er det ikke nogen slankeferie. Efter morgenmaden blev resten af dagen brugt til game-og fugle drive i den nordlige del af Kruger. Vi spiste vores frokost ved rastepladsen i Timbavati, hvor bordene var dækket da vi ankom. Det havde taget tre timer at køre maden ud til os! Derpå fortsatte vi mod nord, indtil vi nåede Olifants River. Selv om floden næsten var udtørret, var det store flodleje meget imponerende. Herefter kørte vi hurtigt hjem. Udover mange nye spændende fuglearter i alle størrelser lige fra Struds og den næsten lige så store Kori Bustard til små sangere og solfugle bød  dagen også på mange gode oplevelser med pattedyr, bl.a. løver, elefanter og bøfler, så allerede efter et døgn i Kruger manglede vi kun leopard i at have set the ”big five”.       

Torsdag 18. september
Vi stod igen i dag tidligt op, så vi kunne køre ud af gaten kl. 6.00. Dermed var linien lagt og det blev hurtigt en vane på resten af rejsen, at dagen begyndte kl. 6.00 - enten med morgenmad eller ved at vi simpelt hen drog af sted til dagens første fuglekiggeri med efterfølgende morgenmad to-tre timer senere. I dag udforskede vi den sydlige del af Kruger, så vi kørte til rastepladsen Tshokwane, hvor vi spise morgenmad kl. 9.20. Undervejs til Tshokwane havde vi meget fine oplevelser med både leopard og løver samt næsehorn, så nu havde vi alle ”big five” i hus. Derpå kørte vi mod øst til Orphen Dam, hvor vi bl.a. så rejsens eneste sorte stork, og videre mod fugleskjulet i Sweeni, som udover Openbill Stork også bød på fine flodheste og nilkrokodiller. Frokosten blev indtaget ved rastepladsen N`wanetsi, hvor der igen var dækket bord til os, da vi ankom. Denne gang var der fire timers køretid hver vej for madholdet. 
Vores aftale med at køre i de åbne safaribiler udløb kl. 17, så da vi ankom til Satara, valgte nogle af slappe af før middagen, mens de mest ivrige valgte en lille ekstra safaritur i vores egne minibusser, inden gaten lukkede kl. 18. Målet var en lille sø vest for Satara. Her havde vi nogle utrolige elefantoplevelser med bl.a. to badende elefanter og en meget smuk Saddlebill Stork på få meters afstand. Efter middagen var det tid til den sene night drive, og på ny var vi heldige med at få en serie uforglemmelige oplevelser, bl.a. en hunløve, der spadserede ved siden af vores åbne bil i flere minutter samt en hanløve, der sås brølende i nattemørket. Også African Wild Cat - forfaderen til vore hjemlige tamkatte - flere hyæner og en smuk genette sås på aftenens night drive.

Fredag 19. september
Vi forlod Satara med pakkede biler i det tidlige morgenlys. Dagens første mål var igen rastepladsen Tshokwane, hvor vi spise morgenmad. Derefter efter fortsatte vi mod den imponerende camp Lower Sabie, hvor vi havde en kort pause, og videre til Hippo Pools vest for Crocodile Bridge. Ved floden ved Hippo Pools er det tilladt at stå ud af bilerne, så her spiste vi frokost, mens vi nød udsigten over floden. Som krydderi i frokostpausen sås flere fine fugle som bl.a. White-fronted Bee-eater og Giant Kingfisher. Derefter forlod vi Kruger National Park via gaten ved Crocodile Bridge kl. 13.30. Resten af dagen blev brugt til hurtig kørsel mod den lile by Wakkerstroom, hvor vi ankom ved 20-tiden - efter mørkets frembrud.  I Wakkerstroom, der ligger midt i det græsklædte højland, indlogerede vi os i den hyggelige Toads Hall, som bød på birderfriendly Bed & Breakfast.

Lørdag 20. september
Vi kunne på morgenturen tydeligt mærke på det kølige vejr, at vi var nået op i godt 1700 meters højde. Mens dagen gryede, besøgte et nærliggende vådområde i udkanten af byen. Her sås mange kamblishøns, Afrikansk Dobbeltbekkasin, Afrikansk Rørhøg, Cap-vævere og Kap-skeænder. Derpå fortsatte vi ad en grusvej ud på de nærliggende græssletter, hvor vi så de meget smukke blå trapper - Blue Koorhan - også kaldet Blå Knurhane i en løs dansk oversættelse. Morgenobsen var kort sagt så spændende, at vi kom sent hjem til morgenmaden. Resten af dagen fortsatte vi med at udforske fuglelivet omkring Wakkerstroom. Der var mange uforglemmelige indtryk - den porcelænsagtigt smukke Blue Crane og den jordlevende spætte Ground Woodpecker. Vi fik også set monguseren Suricat - kendt forbillede for Timon i Disney-tegnefilmen Løvernes Konge samt den sjældne og sky lærke Rudds Lark, der med sin korte hale og oprejste stilling nærmest ligner en kylling.

Søndag 21. september
Vi fortsatte med at udforske højlandet omkring Wakkerstroom. I dag lagde vi ud med en længere vandretur på nogle græsmarker, der er kendt for at huse både Bothas og Rudds Lærke. Bothas Lærke svigtede, men vi fik set Rudds Lærke endnu bedre end dagen før. Alle fik også set en fin Yellow-breasted Pipit. Græsmarkerne husede også mange Quail Finch, som vi også fik set fint, og Orange-breasted Longclaw var alle vegne. 
I højlandet omkring Wakkerstroom er både Sjakalmusvåge og den karismatiske Sekretær almindelig, og i selve Wakkerstroom by sås den sky Rødhalsede Vendehals frit fremme lige ved siden af vores hotel. Vi nåede også at besøge en fuglerig ravine med den meget lokale African Rock Pipit, inden vi kørte mod det 400 kvadratkilometer store naturreservat Mkuzi, hvor vi ankom efter mørkets frembrud. Vi indlogerede os i parkens camp, der bød på fine hytter. Campens indretning var meget lig Kruger, men med den forskel, at her ikke var nogen restaurant. Lynn og Heidi fra Adams firma, Rockjumper Birding Tours, stod derfor klar med aftensmaden til os, da vi kom, og i de følgende to dage stod de for al madlavningen. 

Mandag og Tirsdag 22.-23. september
Mkuzi ligger i lavlandet, og dermed var vi tilbage i varmen. Ligesom Kruger var Mkuzi præget af en usædvanlig slem tørke, og den fuglerige Nsumo Pan, der normalt er en af Mkuzis store attraktioner, var helt udtørret. Det forventede fine udbud af vådområdefugle var derfor pillet af programmet. Men vi fik alligevel et fornemt udbytte af Mkuzi, der er en af Sydafrikas bedste fuglelokaliteter. Blandt de mange specialiteter, som vi her kunne glæde os over, var Pink-throated Twinspot, Neergaards Sunbird, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Rudd´s Apalis, Tamborine Dove og nogle kanongode observationer af Purple-crested Turaco ved to skjul, der var opført ved de sidste vandhuller, som stadig havde vand. Ved skjulene havde vi også fine observationer af næsehorn og den smukke nyala-antilope syntes at være alle vegne. 
Adams bil oplevede en flok aggressive elefanter, som de i huj og hast måtte flygte fra, mens Sørens bil havde en mere fredsommelig solo-oplevelse i form af en punktering. Om aftenen var vi på skift på night drive, hvor alle bl.a. fik set meget fine bush babys, en halvabe, som også kaldes Greater Galago. Den ene aften sås også en meget fin leopard og enkelte natravne, men de mange natravne, som normalt kan ses på nightdrive i Mkuzi var helt fraværende - sikkert på grund af den strenge tørke.

Onsdag 24. september
Efter en sidste morgen-obs i Mkuzi, drog vi af sted mod dagens næste mål - lodgen Bonamanzi i det lille reservat af samme navn. Da vi til en afveksling havde god tid, kørte vi en omvej, der blev noget længere end tilsigtet, da Adam havde fået to modstridende vejbeskrivelser, men efter lidt køren frem og tilbage nåde vi vores mål - Muzi Swamps, hvor vi kunne se de vådområdefugle, som vi var blevet snydt for i Mkuzi på grund af tørken. Da vi havde set os mætte på søen og dens vadefugle, kørte vi til et nærliggende udtørret flodleje. En hængebro førte os over til den anden bred, hvor vi gik langs markerne til nogle store træer ved floden, og her ventede endnu en unik fugleoplevelse - en tillidsfuld Pels Fiskeugle sad som en stor rødbrun klump midt i et af træerne og kunne nydes på ca. 25 meters afstand. Succes avler succes, så da vi omsider havde set os mætte på uglen, fandt vi en stor flok af den endemiske Lemon-breasted Canary på marken, og en lille flok Lesser Black-winged Plover kom flyvende forbi. Mætte af gode fugleoplevelser kørte vi derpå den korte strækning til Bonamanzi, som ligger umiddelbart øst for Hluhluwe-Umfolozi. Bonamanzi viste sig at være et yderst tiltalende sted med luksushytter, der er godt placeret i det lille naturreservat, hvor man kan færdes frit til fods, da her ikke er nogen farlige dyr.

Torsdag 25. september
Tidligt op og af sted til St. Lucia Wetland Park, der ligger ved kysten ud til Det indiske Ocean. I de store brakvandslaguner er der mange vådområdefugle og nilkrokodiller, og i kystskoven en række tropiske arter, der har en meget begrænset udbredelse i Sydafrika. Her er også flere endemiske fuglearter, som skovene her har til fælles med det sydlige Mozambique. 
Adam tryllede med sin båndoptager, der er i de tætte kystregnskove er fabelagtig til at lokke fuglene til sig. I løbet af få timer fik vi meget fine obs af bl.a. Livingstones Turaco, Brown Scrub Robin og Woodward´s Batis, og i det åbne land uden uden for skoven så vi Southern Banded Snake Eagle og Crested Eagle. Derefter kørte vi tilbage til Bonamanzi via den kuperede og meget naturskønne Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Nationalpark. Det var rejsens sidste store nationalpark med mulighed for alle de store pattedyr, og vi fik set et imponerende antal næsehorn. Også fuglemæssigt er Hluhluwe-Umfolozi god, bl.a. sås en fin Finfoot, inden vi nåede hjem til Bonamanzi. Om aftenen tog vi på nattur i Bonamanzi, der normalt er god for mange natravne, men igen med et meget magert udbytte. Der var ingen natravne, og den bedste obs blev endnu en halvabe i form af en Greater Galago.

Fredag 26. september
I det første morgenlys udforskede vi skoven i Bonamanzi. Endnu en gang var vi heldige og fandt en African Broadbill i display med strittende hvide fjer på overgumpen. Vi fik alle set den normalt sjældne og sky Broadbill så godt på få meters afstand i teleskop, så vi rent faktisk kunne se det brede næb. Den spændende skov bød på også på African Wood Owl og desværre en lidt kortvarig observation af en overflyvende Cuckoo Falcon. 
Resten af dagen var viet til en lang køredag foran os, men med flere gode stop undervejs. Det første gjaldt en kystskov ved Mtunzini, der er kendt for at huse et af de sydligste par Palmegribbe, men for en gangs skyld havde vi ikke heldet med os, så vi fik ikke denne smukke vegetar-rovfugl at se. Vi fortsatte videre til Dhlinza Forest nær Eshowe. Dhlinza Forest er med sine knap 300 ha en af de største af de tilbageværende kystregnskove, der engang dækkede hele denne del af KwaZuluNatals kyst. Da skovene næsten alle er væk og forvandlet til enten sukkerrørsmarker eller plantager med indførte træer, er flere af de fuglearter, der er tilknyttet den oprindelige kystregnskov, i dag udryddelsestruede. I Dhlinza Forest benyttede vi os af den nye Canopy Walk, der er en gangbro i trætophøjde. Herfra så vi flere af kystregnskovens fåtallige arter - bl.a. den sjældne Spotted Ground Thrush. 
Vi fortsatte mod syd, hvor vi på grund af kriminaliteten kørte gennem Durban med låste bildøre, indtil vi nåede et mangrovereservat i havnekvarteret. Her havde vi meget fine observationer af Mangrove Kingfisher. Mætte af de mange fugleoplevelser og trætte af den lange bilkørsel fortsatte vi til byen Hilton syd for Howick, som vi nåede efter mørkets frembrud. Her indlogerede vi os på det fortræffelige Hotel Hilton.

Lørdag 27. september
Dagens første mål var det smukke vandfald midt inde i Howick by. Fra p-pladsen ved vandfaldet havde vi kanon-obs af Lannerfalk. Vi fortsatte videre mod Karkloof-området i højlandet. Undervejs passerede vi store marker med Krontraner og Rameroon Pigeon, men det helt store fugleeventyr ventede på nogle højtliggende marker og græssletter, hvor vi så Stanley Bustard. Især en spillende han med en stor hvid halskrave, der sås tæt på bilen, gjorde stort indtryk.
 I det samme område sås også den store flotte Vortetrane (Wattled Crane), men de mange små cisticolaer (Ayres, Pale-crowned, Wailing og Croaking), der normalt kan ses i sangflugt her, udeblev på grund af det kølige blæsevejr. Da vi kørte længere ned i højden for at se efter skovfugle, var det et lokalt bryllup, der drillede os. Først var der megen trafik med bryllupsgæster på den normalt øde grusvej i skoven og bagefter viste det sig, at brylluppet blev fejret på den lodge, hvor vi havde tænkt os at kigge på fugle i haven, der er kendt som et af de få steder i verden man forholdsvis nemt kan se Orange Ground Thrush. Derudover huser haven et af de sidste ynglepar af den nok snart uddøde Cape Parrot. Brylluppet betød, at vi var forvist til den bageste del af haven, hvor der ikke er så mange fugle, men det lykkedes os at se både Orange Ground Thrush og Cape Parrot. 
På vej tilbage til vort hotel standsede vi på ny ved tranemarkerne. Nu havde blæsten lagt sig, så vi i ro og mag kunne nyde alle tre arter traner på marken. Om aftenen drog vi ud på rejsens sidste night drive i det nærliggende Midmar Game Reserve. Her kunne vi glæde os over en større flok blå glenter, der gik til overnatning og  flere fine obs af Kapugler (Marsh Owl) ved hjælp af Adams spotlight i nattemørket. 

Søndag 28. september
Fra Hilton kørte vi nu mod vest, hvor målet var den lille landsby Craigton 60 km før Himeville, der er porten til Sani Passet. Undervejs besøgte vi et normalt lukket naturreservat, der huser nogle få ynglende Blue Swallow. Da Adam kendte rangerne, kunne vi imidlertid få lov til at komme ind i reservatet - og med stor succes. Selv om de blå svaler netop var ankommet og derfor endnu ikke opholdt sig ved rederne lykkedes det os alle at se svalen. Her var også flere Stanley-trapper, men på længere afstand. Også et skovområde blev besøgt, men i det kolde blæsende vejr var der ingen aktivitet i skoven, så her blev udbyttet meget magert. Ligesom i Wakkerstroom  indlogerede vi os i et birderfriendly Bed & Breakfast på en gård lige uden for Craigton. 

Mandag 29. september
Mens det endnu var mørkt - og tåget - kørte vi mod Himeville i vores egne minibusser. Vel fremme i Himeville skiftede vi til to firhjuls-trækkere, for nu skulle vi i bogstaveligste forstand opleve et af rejsens højdepunkter: Sani Passet i knap 3000 meters højde. 
Kort efter at have forladt Himeville, ankom vi til en meget fuglerig sø, hvor ikke mindst de mange Whitebacked Duck imponerede. Derefter gik det rask mod Drakensberg-bjergene. Grusvejen blev stadig dårligere, da vi begyndte at kravle op gennem passet. Vi kom snart til den sydafrikanske grænsestation, der klogelig er lagt lavt, hvor klimaet stadig er tåleligt. Efter at vi havde stemplet ud af Sydafrika, begyndte vejen for alvor at stige, og da vi nåede Lesothos græsepost i pashøjden på knap 3000 meter var der simpelt hen hundekoldt. 
Vi havde flere fuglestop undervejs op i det meget smukke og særegne pas. De mange protea-buske var på grund af tørken ikke sprunget ud, og Gurneys Sugarbird, som plejer at være sikker i passet, så vi derfor ikke noget til, men vi havde fine obs af bl.a. Drakensberg Sisken og Greater Double-collared Sunbird. Da vi nåede passet, åbenbarede der sig en stor træløs slette foran os. Vi var nu i Lesotho - Afrikas tag. Landsbyerne var meget fattige. Trods det barske klima, der byder på flere årlige snestorme, går børnene i bare fødder, mens de voksne er klædt i tæppelignende klæder. Hytterne er de traditionelle runde stråtækte afrikanske hytter, men med en halv meter tykke stenmure og uden vinduer som følge af det kolde klima.  Vi fortsatte en halv snes kilometer ind i Lesotho. Undervejs sås bl.a. Sentinel Rock Thrush, Layards Titbabbler, Thick-billed Lark og Ground Woodpecker. Men dagens højdepunkt var kanon-obs af både Lammegrib og et par Orange-breasted Rockjumper. På den kolde blæsende højslette sås også flere Ice Rat, men ellers var det sparsomt med pattedyr. 
På vej ned fortalte den ene chauffør, at der holdt en Gurneys Sugarbird til i hans forældres have, og da vi nåede ned til Himeville, delte vi os derfor i to hold - det ene kørte direkte hjem, mens det andet kørte en omvej på 40 km hver vej. Til gengæld for den lange køretur oven i en i forvejen lang dag, kunne strammerholdet glæde sig over, de lige akkurat nåede at se en han Gurneys Sugarbird i haven, inden det blev mørkt. 

Tirsdag 30. september
Tidligt op, da der var knap to timers kørsel til lufthavnen ved Durban, hvorfra vi allerede kl. 9.20 fløj med South African Airways til Cape Town. Efter en begivenhedsløs flyrejse ankom vi to timer senere til Kapstaden, men da vi ikke kunne få bilerne udleveret til tiden, forlod vi først lufthavnen ved 12.30-tiden. Vi kørte straks til vores nye logi for de kommende fem nætter - Aften Grove Guesthouse i en sydlig forstad til Cape Town mellem Kommetjie og Simons Town. 
Efter et lille hvil kørte vi til Kommetjie, der ligger på vestkysten af Kaphalvøen. Kommetjie er et godt sted for skarver og rastende terner - bl.a. er Antarctic Tern  regelmæssig. Så heldige var vi ikke, men vi så en masse fine fugle, bl.a. alle tre skarver og de første sorte strandskader. Derefter fortsatte vi til lagunerne ved Strandfontein. Disse fuglerige laguner ligger en til to km fra kysten og er simpelthen fabelagtige. Vi godtede os med bl.a. Maccoa Duck, flamingoer,  Cape Teal,  Southern Pochard, Cape Shoveler og meget mere. Ved den nærliggende strand er der fine klitter og en klithedelignende vegetation, der her kaldes fynbo, men som kan få enhver jyde til at føde sig hjemme. Her så vi vores første Southern Right Whale - Sydkaperen, der på denne årstid er ganske almindelig i False Bay på østsiden af Cape-halvøen.

Onsdag 1. oktober
I det første dagslys kørte vi mod nord mod West Coast National Park. Trafikken i Cape Town er nogle steder ret kaotisk, så det er altafgørende at komme af sted før myldretiden. 
Allerede ved de første stop, før vi nåede West Coast Nat. Park, sås mange fugle, bl.a. den utroligt smukke Black Harrier og Namaqua Sandgrouse. Selve West Coast Nat. Park er utrolig smuk med fynbo-vegetation og de fuglerige vådområder Berg River estuary og Langebaan Lagoon, hvor vi så mange vadefugle, bl.a. velkendte arter som Lille Kobbersneppe, Islandsk Ryle, Krumnæbbet Ryle og Strandhjejle blandet med lokale krydderier som Kittlittz`s Plover. Men den fugl, der gjorde størst indtryk i West Coast Nat. Park, var utvivlsomt de mange Black Korhaan, som vi så fantastisk godt. Her var også mange strudse, og en p-plads ved kysten imponerede med udsigten til mange forbi- flyvende Kap-suler. Her så vi også Cape Long-billed Lark. Ved restauranten midt i nationalparken havde Cape-væverne travlt med at bygge reder. 
Da vi imidlertid endnu ikke havde set hverken Lesser Flamingo eller Chestnutband-banded Plover, fortsatte vi til Veldrif, hvor en række fuglerige salinaer bød på begge de to ønskede arter. Efter endnu en lang, men god dag kørte vi i aftenlyset de 200 km tilbage til Cape Town.

Torsdag 2. oktober
Dagens mål var Karoo-området nord for Kapstaden. Karoo er en tør halvørken, der er typisk for store dele af Sydafrikas indre, og et besøg i Karoo bør derfor være med i enhver rundrejse i Sydafrika, men det er en lang en-dags tur fra Kapstaden - ca. 250 km hver vej. Vi kørte via Ceres til Karoopoort og derfra videre til Tankwa-Karoo syd for Tweefontein langs grusvejen R355, hvor vi havde flere stop med vekslende udbytte i det smukke og særegne Karoo-landskab. Her så vi bl.a. Acacia Pied Barbet, Layard’s og Chestnut-vented Titbabbler, Pririt Batis og Pale-winged Starling samt den sky sanger Namaqua Warbler. Andre specialiteter var Karoo Korhaan, Karoo Eremomela, Rufous-eared Warbler samt den kærhøge-lignende lyse Sanghøg, Pale Chanting Goshawk. Også flere Springbuck sås i det smukke ørkenlandskab. 
På vej tilbage krydsede vi gennem et meget smukt bjergområde, hvor vi så et par Verreaux’s Ørne siddende fint på klippevæggen. 

Fredag 3. oktober
Vi startede dagen med et besøg i Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, der ligger lige op ad Taffelbjerget. I den smukke have, der byder på plantearter fra hele Sydafrika, så vi bl.a. et væld af Cape Sugarbirds. Der var også flere Orange-breasted Sunbirds. Derefter delte vi os i to hold - det ene hold besøgte Taffelbjerget med tovbanen, mens det andet tog på havfugletur syd for Kap-halvøen. De kold havstrømme i farvandet syd for Kapstaden er meget næringsrige og et af de bedste i verden for havfugle. Men der er slanger i havfugleparadiset - vejret er som regel meget dårligt. Blæsende og med høje bølger. Da vi ankom til havnen i Simons Town, og så vores overraskende lille båd, kunne man næsten mærke søsygen komme snigende. Og da guiden på båden fortalte, at vi skulle glemme alt om at bruge kikkert og kamera, da der som regel var så bølgegang, at vi skulle bruge begge hænder for at holde fast, så vi ikke faldt ud af båden, var det med nogen nervøsitet, at vi sejlede ud i den rolige False Bay. Men selv efter at have rundet Cape Point, blev vejret ved med at være roligt. Der var kun langsomme dønninger, der ganske vist var et par meter høje, så da vi fandt nogle trawlere, kunne vi i ro og fred sidde på dækket og nyde havfuglene i kikkert og tage fotos af albatrosser og storskråper. Guiden og kaptajnen beklagede, at der var så få havfugle på grund af det atypiske gode og rolige vejr, som betød, at der ganske enkelt ikke var vind nok, til at havfuglene ville lette. Normalt er der på havfuglesejlads ud for Kap Det Gode Håb en vrimmel af havfugle, der passerer båden så tæt, at kikkert er overflødig. Til gengæld sidder næsten  alle passagerer om bord desperat og koncentrerer sig om at holde fast, mens de er søsyge og med jævne mellemrum kaster op. 
Vi foretrak derfor det rolige vejr, hvor vi kunne bruge vores kikkerter til at nyde fuglene. Vi så også flere Sydkapere, bl.a. en, der sprang helt fri af vandet, samt pelssæler og pingviner. Da vi kom i land og blev forenet med det andet hold, besøgte vi pingvin-kolonien ved Boulders i Simons Town - en flot afslutning på en god dag.

Lørdag 4. oktober
På den sidste hele dag drog vi mod øst. Vi kørte først til Hottentots-Holland Bjergene ved Sir Lowrys Pas ca. 60 km. øst for Kapstaden. Her gik vi en længere tur i det klipperige terræn nord for vejen og fandt bl.a. Cape Rockjumper. Derefter fortsatte vi til den smukt beliggende turistby Hermanus, der er kendt som det bedste sted at se hvaler i Sydafrika, og vi så da også op mod en snes Sydkapere i bugten - bl.a. flere hvaler, der sprang fri af vandet og en mor med en unge, der kom svømmende tæt forbi os. Dagen og dermed også rejsen blev afsluttet ved en af Sydafrikas kendte turistattraktioner, Waterfront i Cape Town, hvor vi spiste afskedsmiddag på en græsk restaurant. 

Søndag 5. oktober
Det var næsten helt vedmodigt, da vi for sidste gang mødtes til tidlig morgenmad kl 6 og med pakkede biler knap en time senere kørte til rejsens sidste mål - Cape of Good Hope National Park. Vi besøgte både Cape Point og det nærliggende Cape of Good Hope. Det sidstnævnte er faktisk det bedste til havobs, da man her kan stå lavt. Vejret var typisk for Kap-området - blæsende og med byger. Af fugle sås bl.a. Giant Petrel, White-chinned Petrel og mange Kapsuler.  I den smukke og særegne fynbo-vegetation med mange blomstrende proteaer sås bl.a. flere fine Malachite Sunbird og mange Cape Sugarbirds. 
Selv på rejsens sidstedag fik vi en ny turart, da en vandrefalk sås fint ved Cape Point. Der var også nye pattedyr, da vi fik set både Bontebok og Mountain Zebra. Ved middagstid kørte vi tilbage, og en time senere var vi ved lufthavnen. Efter at have taget afsked med Adam, fløj vi 15.30 mod nord. Første stop var Johannensburg, hvor vi mellemlandede i en time for at få flere passagerer ombord. Derefter fortsatte vi direkte til Amsterdam. Vores sydafrikanske eventyrrejse var endegyldigt forbi.

Mandag 6. oktober
Efter en begivenhedsløs flyvetur med skift i Amsterdam, ankom vi planmæssigt til Kastrup Lufthavn kl. 9. 

BIRDS    (Fugle)

E = Endemic, NE = Near-endemic, BE = Breeding-endemic

Taxonomy and nomenclature based on Birds of the World: A Checklist by James F. Clements. Fifth Edition. 2000 (and updates).

Ostrich						Struthio camelus              Struds
This, the world’s largest bird was first seen in the Satara area of the Kruger National Park. Our highest count was of 30+ birds in the West Coast National Park north of Cape Town.
 NOTE: The subspecies S. c. molybdophanes of dry East Africa is regarded by some authorities as a distinct species; Somali Ostrich. The form we observed would remain with the nominate Common Ostrich S. camelus. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Jackass (African) Penguin (NE)			Spheniscus demersus
Our first bird was seen in the surf near Strandfontein. Good numbers of 500+ were encountered around  Boulders Beach on the Cape Peninsula. One of the highlights of the trip was watching these curious creatures at point blank range.

Little Grebe (Dabchick)				Tachybaptus ruficollis         Lille Lappedykker
Our first sighting was at Wakkerstroom, where fifty birds were seen; further sightings were at the Karkloof, Impendle, Sani Pass and in the South Western Cape.

Great Crested Grebe					Podiceps cristatus             Toppet Lappedykker
A pair seen Fickland Pan, Wakkerstroom and ten at Strandfontein.

Eared (Black-necked) Grebe			Podiceps nigricollis     Sorthalset Lappedykker
Fifty birds were seen at Strandfontein and a further ten were seen at Velddrif on the West Coast.

Black-browed Albatross                                   Thalassarche melanophris          Sortbrynet Albatros
Two birds were seen on the pelagic trip off Cape Town.

Shy Albatross		Thalassarche cauta
The commonest of the albatrosses with as many as seventy-five seen on the pelagic. We enjoyed stunning views of adults and juveniles flying right past the boat. 
NOTE: Some authorities split the Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta (the form we observed) into two further species, Salvin’s Albatross T.c..salvini and Chatham Island Albatross T.c.erimita. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

[Atlantic] Yellow-nosed Albatross			Thalassarche chlororhynchos
We enjoyed superb views of seven on the pelagic. The head of this species is suffused with grey and this was particularly noticeable.
NOTE: Some authorities split the Yellow-nosed Albatross into the Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross T. chlororhynchos, the nominate form, and the Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross T. carteri. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

[Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross]	Thalassarche [chlororhynchos] carteri
Two adult birds were seen on the pelagic trip. 
NOTE: refer to the above species.

(Southern) Antarctic Giant Petrel			Macronectes giganteus
Two birds were seen very well on the pelagic trip.

Northern Giant Petrel				Macronectes halli
Twenty-five birds were seen flying and sitting on the water. We also enjoyed good views of this species.

White-chinned Petrel				Procellaria aequinoctialis
Very common with an estimated 500 birds seen on the pelagic trip, with a further three off Cape Point.
NOTE: Spectacled Petrel P.conspicillata  used to be considered conspecific with White-chinned Petrel but is now considered a full species.

Greater (Great) Shearwater				Puffinus gravis                              Storskråpe
Great views of 75 birds of this handsome pelagic species which was observed fairly frequently in deeper waters off the Cape.

Sooty Shearwater					Puffinus griseus                      Sodfarvet Skråpe
Great views of at least twenty birds. In flight their distinctive silvery under wings were particularly noticeable.

Cape (Pintado) Petrel				Daption capense
Approximately ten of these beautiful petrels were seen during the pelagic off Cape Town.

Soft-plumaged Petrel				Pterodroma mollis	
A single individual of this uncommon species was seen on the pelagic.
NOTE: Some authorities split the Soft-plumaged Petrel into three species namely; the nominate Soft-plumaged Petrel, P. mollis, breeding Tristan, Gough, Marion group with usually complete chest band; Fea’s Petrel P. feae, breeds Cape Verde Island and Bugio, Desertas Islands off Madeira and Porto Santo Islands off W Africa, the chest band is broken and less well defined. Zino’s Petrel P. madeira, breeds highlands of Madeira, migrates to W. Africa. The birds off South Africa are of the nominate form.

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel				Oceanites oceanicus           Wilsons Stormsvale
Five birds were seen on the pelagic off Cape Town.

Great (Eastern) White Pelican			Pelecanus onocrotalus                  Hvid Pelikan
Birds were seen at Mkuzi, Muzi Pan, Strandfontein and on the West Coast with peak numbers of twenty birds seen near Hermanus.

Pink-backed Pelican					Pelecanus rufescens
Two were seen at Muzi Pan, five at the St Lucia Estuary, with a further 30 seen in Durban.  There are only two regular breeding populations in Southern Africa, one at Mkuzi and the other is in the Okavango Swamps in Botswana.  The global population is estimated to be between 4000 and 6000 pairs.

Cape Gannet  (BE)					Morus capensis
First seen at sea off the West Coast and as many as three hundred birds were seen on the pelagic. The highest count was of 1000 birds seen off Cape Point. 

Great (White-breasted) Cormorant		Phalacrocorax carbo (lucidus)     Skarv
This species was seen at several localities including wetland sites both at the coast and inland. Peak numbers were of 70 on the pelagic, with smaller numbers at several other sites.
NOTE: The white-breasted African subspecies of the widely distributed Great Cormorant P. carbo is sometimes considered a different species; P. lucidus.

Cape Cormorant (BE)				Phalacrocorax capensis
As many as five thousand birds were seen off Cape Point and a thousand during the pelagic seabird trip.

Bank Cormorant (E)					Phalacrocorax neglectus
One bird was seen at Kommetjie with a further ten off the Cape Point. Our highest count was of  thirty birds during the pelagic seabird trip.

Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant			Phalacrocorax africanus
Recorded on most days at almost all wetlands sites in Eastern South Africa.  Peak numbers of 40 were recorded in the Wakkerstroom area on the 20th January.

Crowned Cormorant (NE)				Phalacrocorax coronatus
Our first sighting was of three birds at Kommetjie with a further sighting of five during the pelagic seabird trip.

(African) Darter					Anhinga melanogaster (rufa)
Our first birds were two seen in the Kruger National Park with further sightings throughout the tour. Our last bird was seen soaring over Sir Lowry's Pass.
NOTE: The resident African form P. rufa is sometimes lumped with the Asian P. melanogaster and the enlarged species called Darter. Clements uses the latter treatment of lumping these forms.

Gray Heron						Ardea cinerea                                   Fiskehejre
Seen at most localities, with peak numbers of eight in the Wakkerstroom area.

Black-headed Heron					Ardea melanocephala
Commonly recorded throughout South Africa on an almost daily basis, with good numbers of twenty in the Impendle area.

Goliath Heron					Ardea goliath
Our first sighting of the largest heron in the world was of two in the Kruger NP with a further sighting of one at St Lucia and two at Durban Bayhead.

Purple Heron						Ardea purpurea                           Purpurhejre
Single birds were seen in the Kruger NP with a further two at Wakkerstroom and one at Strandfontein.
NOTE: The Cape Verde Islands A. p. bournei is sometimes split off as Cape Verde Purple Heron or Bourne’s Heron.

Great (White) Egret					Ardea alba                                Sølvhejre
Single birds were seen in the Kruger NP, Muzi Pan, St Lucia and two in the Karkloof. 
NOTE: The nominate Old World Great Egret may be split from the New World A. a. egretta which would become American Egret. This split is as yet not recognised by Clements.

Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret			Egretta intermedia
One bird was seen in the Sani Pass area.
 NOTE: This group may be split into 3 species, the Africa Yellow-billed Egret (E. brachyrhyncha) (the form we recorded), Plumed Egret (E. plumifera) and the nominate Intermediate Egret.  This split is as yet not recognised by Clements.

Little Egret						Egretta garzetta                       Silkehejre
Our first encounter was in the Kruger NP with others seen throughout the tour. The highest count was of fifty birds seen near Hermanus.
NOTE: Clements lumps Little, Western Reef (E. gularis) and Madagascar’s Dimorphic (E. dimorpha) Egret into a single species. This treatment is not widely accepted.

Cattle Egret						Bubulcus ibis                            Kohejre
Commonly recorded throughout South Africa, with a peak count of one hundred at Muzi Pan.
NOTE: This group may be split into 2 species, the nominate Common Cattle Egret and the Asian/Australasian Eastern Cattle Egret (E. coromanda).  This split is as yet not recognised by Clements.

Striated (Green-backed) Heron			Butorides striatus
A total of ten birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Black-crowned Night-Heron			Nycticorax nycticorax              Nathejre
Our only sighting of this cosmopolitan species was of three at Wakkerstroom.

Hamerkop						Scopus umbretta
This unusual bird, which is placed in its own family - Scopidae, was seen in the Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom and at Bayhead, Durban. We also observed their enormous nest structure on several occasions.

Yellow-billed Stork					Mycteria ibis
We observed this species on three days in the Kruger NP with one other bird seen at St Lucia.

African Openbill (-ed Stork)			Anastomus lamelligerus
Our highest count was 50 in the Kruger NP with one other sighting of a single bird at Muzi Pan.

White Stork                                                                Ciconia ciconia                    Hvid Stork
Three birds were seen near Tygerberg, Cape Town. This location is Africa’s only breeding site for this species!

Black Stork						Ciconia nigra                        Sort Stork
We observed one bird in the Kruger NP. Although fairly widespread this is a particularly scarce bird in Southern Africa, where it is a resident cliff-nesting species.

Woolly-necked Stork				Ciconia episcopus
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP. Our highest count was of 40 birds seen in Zululand with an out of range bird at Howick near Pietermaritzburg.

Saddle-billed Stork					Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Two of these magnificent birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Marabou Stork					Leptoptilos crumeniferus
We recorded this species in small numbers in the Kruger NP and in Mkuzi GR.

Sacred Ibis						Threskiornis aethiopicus
Commonly recorded at wetlands throughout Eastern South Africa and the South Western Cape, with our highest numbers of fifty at wetlands near Hermanus.
NOTE: The Malagasy T. e. bernieri and Aldabran T. e. abbotti are sometimes split off as Madagascar White Ibis (T. bernieri)

Southern Bald Ibis  					Geronticus calvus
Our first sighting of this stunning endemic was of thirty birds in Wakkerstroom. One was seen in Impendle and a further seven at Sani Pass. One of the world’s greatest birds!

Hadada Ibis (Hadeda)				Bostrychia hagedash
This noisy bird was recorded daily at all locations throughout Eastern South Africa.

Glossy Ibis						Plegadis falcinellus                  Sort Ibis
Our first sighting was of five at Strandfontein, thereafter birds were seen daily around the Cape Peninsula. 

African Spoonbill					Platalea alba
We found our first ones in the Kruger NP.  A peak number of 15 were seen in Wakkerstroom.

Greater Flamingo					Phoenicopterus ruber            Flamingo
Up to a 1000 birds were seen at Strandfontein with a further 2000 at the West Coast NP.
NOTE: Old World P. roseus may be distinct from New World P. ruber.

Lesser Flamingo					Phoenicopterus minor
Our only sighting was of 200 seen at the West Coast NP.

White-faced Whistling-Duck			Dendrocygna viduata
Small numbers were seen at several localities in Eastern South Africa with peak numbers of fifty at Muzi Pan.

White-backed Duck					Thalassornis leuconotus
Our only sighting was of approximately 100 birds at a roadside pan en route to Sani Pass.

Egyptian Goose					Alopochen aegyptiacus             Nilgås
Commonly recorded at wetlands throughout South Africa, with peak numbers of forty in the Sani Pass area.

South African Shelduck (E)				Tadorna cana
We enjoyed good views of five birds at Wakkerstroom with a further six in the Western Cape.

Spur-winged Goose					Plectropterus gambensis
Commonly recorded at wetlands throughout  South Africa, with a peak of fifty at Muzi pan.

African Black Duck					Anas sparsa
Our first sighting of this scarce river duck, was of a pair at Wakkerstroom. Other sightings were in the Creighton and Sani Pass areas.

Cape Teal						Anas capensis
Our highest count was 200+ birds seen at Strandfontein.

Yellow-billed Duck					Anas undulata
Commonly recorded at wetlands throughout South Africa, with highest numbers of 50 recorded at Wakkerstroom.

Mallard                                                                      Anas platyrhynchos                  Gråand
One bird was seen at Strandfontein. An introduced species to southern Africa.

Red-billed Duck (Teal)				Anas erythrorhyncha
Birds were found at Wakkerstroom, Muzi Pan and Strandfontein.

Cape Shoveler (NE)					Anas smithii
This near-endemic was encountered for the first time in the Wakkerstroom area, with a further ten birds near Sani Pass and a peak count of 100 at Strandfontein in the Cape.

Southern Pochard					Netta erythrophthalma
Birds were recorded at Wakkerstroom, in the Sani Pass area and at Strandfontein.

Maccoa Duck						Oxyura maccoa
Our only sighting was of approximately one hundred at Strandfontein.

African Cuckoo-Hawk				Aviceda cuculoides		
We enjoyed views of a single bird in flight at Bonamanzi. 

Black-shouldered (-winged) Kite			Elanus caeruleus                       Blå Glente 
Recorded on most days at most sites throughout Southern Africa. Our highest count was thirty birds seen on the drive between Hilton and Creighton.

Black [Yellow-billed] Kite				Milvus [migrans] parasitus             Sort Glente
Recorded on most days at most sites throughout the tour. We saw particularly good numbers in Zululand with twenty birds daily.
NOTE: This locally breeding form of the Black Kite M. migrans is considered by most authorities as a distinct species, M. parasitus.

African Fish-Eagle					Haliaeetus vocifer
Our first sightings of this magnificent bird were in the Kruger NP (4 daily) with further sightings in Zululand, Creighton and Durban. 

Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture)			Gypaetus barbatus                   Lammegrib
We were fortunate to find two of these world-class raptors at Sani Pass. One of them showed off well for the whole group.

Hooded Vulture                 				Necrosyrtes monachus
Our only birds were eleven seen in the Kruger NP. 

(African) White-backed Vulture			Gyps africanus
Several birds were seen in the Kruger NP, Mkuzi and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR.

Cape Griffon (Vulture) (BE)			Gyps coprotheres
We saw twenty birds at the JG Strydom Tunnel with a further four in Mkuzi GR and five at Sani Pass.

Lappet-faced Vulture				Torgos tracheliotus                       Øregrib  
Birds were seen both in the Kruger NP and Mkuzi Game Reserve.

White-headed Vulture				Trigonoceps occipitalis
Three birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Black-breasted Snake-Eagle				Circaetus pectoralis
One bird was seen in Mkuzi and another between Muzi Pan and Bonamanzi.
NOTE: This resident Central and Southern African species is regarded by some authorities to be a form of Short-toed Eagle C. gallicus.

Brown Snake-Eagle					Circaetus cinereus
Recorded in the Kruger NP and in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR.

Fasciated (Southern Banded) Snake-Eagle	Circaetus fasciolatus
We observed a pair of these rare eagles soaring over the road near St Lucia.

Bateleur						Terathopius ecaudatus
Up to five birds were seen daily in the Kruger NP and two at Mkuzi. One of the world’s classiest raptors!

African Marsh-Harrier				Circus ranivorus
We enjoyed good views of several in the Karkloof, Wakkerstroom, West Coast NP and Cape Point NR.

Black Harrier (E)					Circus maurus
We enjoyed sightings of three at the West Coast NP. A stunning endemic raptor.

African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene)		Polyboroides typus
Five birds were seen in the Kruger NP and one at Mkuzi GR.

(Southern) Pale Chanting-Goshawk (NE)		Melierax canorus
We enjoyed sightings of this near-endemic in the Tankwa Karoo NP area.

Gabar Goshawk					Melierax gabar
One was seen in the Kruger NP and one in the Mkuzi GR. The Mkuzi bird was an all black melanistic phase individual.

African Goshawk					Accipiter tachiro
One bird was seen each at Hilton, Sani Pass and Kirstenbosch Gardens.
NOTE: The West African forms are sometimes separated as Red-chested Goshawk (A. tousseneli).

Little Sparrowhawk					Accipiter minullus
Three birds were seen in Mkuzi GR.

Ovampo Sparrowhawk                                             Accipiter ovampensis
One bird was seen perched in the Kruger NP. A rare Accipiter.

Rufous-chested (Red-breasted) Sparrowhawk	Accipiter rufiventris
We had good views of a bird flying in the Karkloof and another at Kirstenbosch.

Black Sparrowhawk                                                   Accipiter melanoleucus 
Two of these huge raptors were seen on the drive to Hermanus.

Eurasian (Steppe) Buzzard				Buteo buteo                      Steppevåge
Five birds were seen in the West Coast Park and a further two in the Tankwa Karoo. 
NOTE: Steppe buzzard (B.b.vulpinus) is sometimes considered distinct from the nominate Eurasian Buzzard B.buteo..

Jackal Buzzard (E)					Buteo rufofuscus
Small numbers were seen daily in the KZN Midlands and in the Western Cape. Peak numbers of this attractive endemic raptor was ten seen on the day trip to Sani Pass.

Tawny Eagle						Aquila rapax                        Rovørn
The only birds of the trip were seen in the Kruger NP (nine) and one near Kruger NP.
NOTE: The nominate African Tawny Eagle A. r. rapax may be split from the Asian Tawny Eagle A. r. vindhiana. This split is as yet not recognised by Clements.

Wahlberg's Eagle					Aquila wahlbergi
Several were seen in the Kruger NP, with one each at Mkuzi GR and Muzi Pan.

Verreaux’s (Black) Eagle				Aquila verreauxii                 Verreaux´s Ørn
Two birds were seen perched on rocks in the passes near Ceres. This striking species specializes in hunting rock Hyraxes.

African Hawk-Eagle					Hieraaetus spilogaster
Five birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Martial Eagle						Polemaetus bellicosus
Three birds were seen in the Kruger and one in Mkuzi. Africa’s largest raptor.

Long-crested Eagle					Lophaetus occipitalis
A total of twelve seen in the KZN Midlands with some superb sightings of birds perched on roadside fences and telephone poles.

Crowned Hawk-Eagle				Stephanoaetus coronatus
One bird was seen near St Lucia, This magnificent bird, Africa’s most powerful raptor, specializes in hunting monkeys.

Secretary-bird					Sagittarius serpentarius
We were very fortunate to see a total of eight on this tour. Our first birds were four in Wakkerstroom, two in the Karkloof, one in Creighton and one near Impendle. 

Eurasian (Rock/Common) Kestrel			Falco tinnunculus                       Tårnfalk
One bird was seen on the drive to the Kruger and one near Wakkerstroom with further sightings of small numbers daily in the Western Cape.

Lanner Falcon					Falco biarmicus                           Lannerfalk
One was seen on the drive to the Kruger with further sightings at the Karkloof, Creighton and Sani Pass.

Peregrine Falcon					Falco peregrinus             Vandrefalk 
A bird was seen at Cape Point NR. A national rarity.
.
Taita Falcon                                                               Falco fasciinucha
One bird was seen at the J.G. Strydom Tunnel. We had excellent and prolonged scope views of this, Africa’s rarest raptor.

Crested Francolin					Francolinus sephaena
Up to ten birds were seen daily in the Kruger NP.

Red-winged Francolin				Francolinus levaillantii
Three birds were seen in Wakkerstroom.

Grey-winged Francolin (E)				Francolinus africanus
A pair was seen near Carolina and a group of ten birds was seen in the Wakkerstroom area.

Cape Francolin (E)					Pternistes capensis
Birds were seen every day in the Cape with a peak of thirty in the West Coast NP. Several individuals on West Coast NP were particularly tame and approachable.

Natal Francolin (NE)				Francolinus natalensis
Recorded only on the Kruger where the highest count was thirty birds.

Red-necked Francolin (Spurfowl)			Francolinus afer
One bird seen briefly flying across the road on the drive between Creighton and Durban.

Swainson’s Francolin (Spurfowl) (NE)		Francolinus swainsonii
Commonly seen in the Kruger NP with a further six in the Wakkerstroom area.

Common Quail					Coturnix coturnix                    Vagtel
A male was seen at Impendle NR and others were heard at Tiennie Versveld Wildflower Reserve.

Helmeted Guineafowl				Numida meleagris
Recorded on most days at many sites throughout Southern Africa, with peak numbers of one hundred and fifty around Wakkerstroom. The bold individual which perched upon a rock and proclaimed his territory at Kirstenbosch was particularly mentionable. 
NOTE: The nominate N. m. meleagris Helmeted Guineafowl, is sometimes regarded as distinct from the western (N. m. galeata) West African Guineafowl and the southern, which we recorded, (N. m. mitrata) Tufted Guineafowl. Clements does not as yet recognise these splits.

Crested Guineafowl					Guttera pucherani
Flocks were seen daily in Mkuzi GP and at Bonamanzi.
NOTE: The West African form is sometimes split off as Western Crested Guineafowl (G. edouardi).

Kurrichane (Small) Buttonquail			Turnix sylvatica                    Løbehøne 
The front vehicle was fortunate to see two of these shy birds scuttling off in the Kruger NP.

(Southern) Gray Crowned-Crane			Balearica regulorum
Fifty-five of these impressive birds were seen in the Karkloof, ten at Creighton and a further six at Impendle. 
NOTE:  This southern species is sometimes lumped with Black Crowned Crane B. pavonina of West Africa.

Blue Crane (E)					Anthropoides paradisea
We enjoyed superb sightings of four in Wakkerstroom, eight in the Karkloof, three on the West Coast and two near Hermanus. South Africa’s national bird

Wattled Crane					Grus carunculatus
Six birds were seen in the Karkloof area. A globally-threatened species.

Buff-spotted Flufftail		Sarothrura elegans
The low hooting call of this species was heard at St Lucia, but despite our best efforts, no views were obtained.

African (~Water/Cape) Rail				Rallus caerulescens
One was seen briefly by some in the Wakkerstroom area.

Purple Swamphen					Porphyrio porphyrio                 Sultanhøne
Our first sighting was of ten birds seen at the Wakkerstroom Vlei with a further two at Strandfontein.
NOTE: This cosmopolitan species is currently in taxonomic review and several forms are expected to be recognised as distinct species. The form we recorded would then become African Swamphen (P. madagascariensis.) Other forms to be recognised may include Indian Swamphen (P. poliocephalus,) Philippine Swamphen (P. pulverulentus) and Eastern Swamphen (P. melanotus).

Black Crake                                                               Amaurornis flavirostris
Several birds were seen in the Kruger NP. A very bold and attractive rallid.

Common Moorhen					Gallinula chloropus           Grønbenet Rørhøne
Our first bird was seen in the Kruger NP. It was encountered at most wetland sites in the KZN Midlands with ten birds near Sani Pass.

Red-knobbed Coot					Fulica cristata                     Kamblishøne
Good numbers of up to five hundred were seen at Wakkerstroom and elsewhere in wetlands throughout South Africa.

African Finfoot					Podica senegalensis
We had good views of a male at the Hluhluwe River, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. A great bird and highly sought-after.

Kori Bustard						Ardeotis kori
We found one bird in the Kruger NP. This huge bird is the world’s heaviest flying species.

Stanley (Denham’s) Bustard			Neotis denhami		
Four birds were seen at Impendle NR, but our most memorable sighting was of a male in full display to two females in the Karkloof.

Blue Bustard (Korhaan) (E)			Eupodotis caerulescens
This endemic was seen very well in the Wakkerstroom area, with a total of twenty-six individuals observed.

Karoo Bustard (E)					Eupodotis vigorsii
Four birds were seen on our trip to the Tankwa Karoo. We had excellent views of this species, which is often very difficult to find.

Red-crested Bustard (Korhaan) (NE)		Eupodotis ruficrista
We had good views of several in the Kruger NP.
NOTE: The southern Red-crested Bustard E. ruficrista used to be lumped with the East African Buff-crested Bustard E. gindiana and the western Savile’s Bustard E. savilei. All three of these species are now recognised by Clements.

Black Bustard (Southern Black Korhaan) (E)	Eupodotis afra
We enjoyed good views of four in the West Coast NP.

Black-bellied Bustard (Korhaan)			Eupodotis melanogaster
One bird was seen in Mkuzi GR.

African Jacana					Actophilornis africanus
Our first sighting was of one in the Kruger NP with a peak of twenty in the park. Good numbers were also recorded in Zululand

African (Black) Oystercatcher (E)			Haematopus moquini
We enjoyed superb views of several at Kommetjie, around Boulders Beach, and Hermanus on the Cape Peninsula. Its numbers total 4800 and although one of the rarest Oystercatchers in the world it is commonly seen on the Cape Peninsula.

Black-winged Stilt					Himantopus himantopus           Stylteløber
Our first bird was seen in the Kruger NP, ten at Muzi Pan, four at Strandfontein and ten at the West Coast NP.

Pied Avocet						Recurvirostra avosetta               Klyde
Our first sighting was of five at Strandfontein and later, twenty birds at the West Coast NP.

Water Thick-knee (Dikkop)				Burhinus vermiculatus
Our first sighting was in the Kruger NP with ten more seen at the St Lucia Estuary.

Spotted Thick-knee (Dikkop)			Burhinus capensis
A single bird was seen at Midmar GR at night and others during the day at Strandfontein and near the West Coast NP.

Collared (Red-winged) Pratincole			Glareola pratincola
We saw thirty birds at Muzi Pan.

Blacksmith Plover (Lapwing)			Vanellus armatus
Recorded almost daily at nearly all wetlands throughout South Africa.

Black-winged Lapwing (Plover)			Vanellus melanopterus
One bird was seen at Wakkerstroom and others in the Karkloof, Creighton and Impendle.

Senegal (Lesser Black-winged) Lapwing (Plover)   Vanellus lugubris
Four birds were seen near Muzi Pan. An uncommon species, here at the southern extension of its range.

Crowned Lapwing (Plover)				Vanellus coronatus
Fairly common in short grasslands in Kruger NP and Mkuzi GR, with further sightings in the Wakkerstroom area and two on the Cape Peninsula.

(African) Wattled Lapwing (Plover)		Vanellus senegallus
A single bird was seen in the Karkloof area.

Black-bellied (Grey) Plover				Pluvialis squatarola         Strandhjejle
Twenty birds were seen in the West Coast NP.

Common Ringed Plover				Charadrius hiaticula        Stor Præstekrave
Ten birds were seen at the West Coast NP.

Kittlitz’s Plover					Charadrius pecuarius
Three birds were seen at Muzi Pan and ten at the West Coast NP.

Three-banded Plover				Charadrius tricollaris
Small numbers at most wetland sites, the first were seen in the Kruger NP.

White-fronted Plover				Charadrius marginatus
Up to four were seen at the St Lucia Estuary, with ten along the West Coast.

Chestnut-banded Plover				Charadrius pallidus
Five birds were seen at Velddrif on the West Coast.

African (Ethiopian) Snipe				Gallinago nigripennis
We had good views of twenty at Wakkerstroom and four at Muzi pan.

Bar-tailed Godwit					Limosa lapponica      Lille Kobbersneppe
Three birds were seen at the West Coast NP.

(Common) Whimbrel				Numenius phaeopus    Lille Regnspove
Ten birds were seen at the West Coast NP.

Marsh Sandpiper					Tringa stagnatilis        Damklire
Our first sighting was in the Kruger NP with others at Wakkerstroom and at the West Coast NP.

Common Greenshank				Tringa nebularia          Hvidklire
Several were seen in the Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom and the West Coast NP.

Wood Sandpiper					Tringa glareola             Tinksmed
We observed small numbers at most wetland localities. Peak counts of ten were seen at Wakkerstroom.

Common Sandpiper					 Actitis hypoleucos        Mudderklire
Small numbers were seen in the Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom and Muzi Pan.

Ruddy Turnstone					Arenaria interpres          Stenvender
Two birds were seen at St Lucia and thirty at the West Coast NP.

Red Knot						Calidris canutus           Islandsk Ryle
Twenty were seen in West Coast NP.

Sanderling						Calidris alba                 Sandløber
Ten birds were seen at the West Coast NP.

Little Stint						Calidris minuta             Dværgryle
Twenty-five birds were seen at Muzi Pan, one at Wakkerstroom and thirty at the West Coast NP.

Curlew Sandpiper					Calidris ferruginea    Krumnæbbet Ryle
Fifty birds were seen at St Lucia and a 1000 at the West Coast NP.

Ruff							Philomachus pugnax   Brushøne
Twenty were seen at Wakkerstroom, five at St Lucia and one at the West Coast NP.

Brown (Subantarctic) Skua				Stercorarius antarctica
Good views of ten birds were obtained on the pelagic boat trip off Cape Town.

Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skua)			Stercorarius parasiticus        Alm. Kjove
One bird was seen on the pelagic trip and two were scoped at Cape Point NR.

Cape (Kelp) Gull (NE)				Larus [dominicanus] vetula
Commonly recorded along the South and West Coast of South Africa.
NOTE: Recent work suggests that the Kelp Gull complex L. dominicanus may be split into as many as four species, the form we saw would become Cape Gull L. vetula which breeds in South Africa.

Gray-headed Gull					Larus cirrocephalus
Five birds were seen en route to the Kruger NP, one at Muzi Pan, four at St Lucia and one hundred near Hermanus.

Hartlaub’s Gull (E)					Larus hartlaubii
Good numbers were seen around the Cape Peninsula with a peak of five-hundred at the West Coast NP.

Caspian Tern						Sterna caspia            Rovterne
One bird was seen at the West Coast NP with a further two on the pelagic trip.

Sandwich Tern					Sterna sandvicensis    Splitterne
Ten birds were seen at Kommetjie with a further twenty at Hermanus.

Greater Crested (Swift) Tern			Sterna bergii
Commonly seen around the Cape Peninsular with a peak of fifty on the pelagic.

Common Tern					Sterna hirundo            Fjordterne
Twenty birds were seen at Kommetjie, ten at the West Coast NP and an estimated five hundred were seen on the pelagic trip.

Arctic Tern						Sterna paradisaea       Havterne
One bird was seen on the pelagic trip.

Little Tern						Sterna albifrons          Dværgterne
One bird was seen at Velddrif.

Whiskered Tern					Chlidonias hybridus  Hvidskægget Terne
Ten birds were seen at Muzi Pan.

White-winged Tern					Chlidonias leucopterus  Hvidvinget Terne
Small numbers were seen at Strandfontein and at the West Coast NP.

Namaqua Sandgrouse (NE)				Pterocles namaqua
Our first encounter was of eight birds near the West Coast NP with a further four in the Tankwa Karoo.

Double-banded Sandgrouse                                       Pterocles bicinctus
Two birds were seen in the Kruger NP, rather briefly, however.

Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)				Columba livia          Tamdue
Common in urban centers. An introduced species.

Speckled (Rock) Pigeon 				Columba guinea
Commonly recorded in urban centers, rocky areas and fields throughout Southern Africa. We enjoyed good sightings of several at Wakkerstroom.

Rameron Pigeon (African Olive-Pigeon)		Columba arquatrix
Our first sighting was of two hundred in the Karkloof area with a further five at Kirstenbosch.

African Mourning Dove				Streptopelia decipiens
Small numbers were seen well around Satara in the Kruger NP. This is the most southern limit of this species range.

Red-eyed Dove					Streptopelia semitorquata
Widespread and common in South Africa, our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Ring-necked Dove (Cape Turtle-Dove)		Streptopelia capicola
Widespread and common throughout Southern Africa with peak numbers of 100 seen in Mkuzi GR.

Laughing (Palm) Dove				Streptopelia senegalensis  Senegaldue
Common in urban centers, we saw several in the Kruger NP, throughout the Cape Peninsula.  

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove			Turtur chalcospilos
Commonly recorded in the Kruger and Zululand Bushveld areas.

Tambourine Dove					Turtur tympanistria
Six birds were seen in Mkuzi with a further two seen in Hluhluwe GR.

Namaqua Dove					Oena capensis
Our only birds were seen in the Kruger NP. A dry country species.

African Green-Pigeon				Treron calva
We enjoyed a good sighting of two in the Kruger NP and ten near Muzi Pan.

Cape (Brown-necked) Parrot (E)			Poicephalus robustus
Two birds were seen in the Karkloof, a good find! This species is now one of South Africa’s rarest birds, with a world population of less than 600 individuals.
NOTE: This nominate brown-necked Podocarpus forest form of the Cape Parrot has been split off from the more widespread grey-headed savannah form (P. suahelicus), and is now considered to be one of the most endangered birds in Africa with a declining population of less than 600 individuals.

Brown-headed Parrot		Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
This attractive green parrot was seen well on several occasions in Kruger NP.

Livingstone's Turaco (Lourie)			Tauraco livingstonii
We had great views of six in the St Lucia area.
NOTE: This species was previously considered a subspecies of either Knysna Turaco (Tauraco corythaix) or Green Turaco (Tauraco persa), depending upon the taxonomy followed.

Knysna Turaco (Lourie) (E)			Tauraco corythaix
One bird was seen in the Karkloof.
Note: This species used to be lumped under the Green Turaco (T. persa), now split into four full species the others being Knysna Turaco T. corythaix, Livingstone’s Turaco (T. livingstonii) and Schalow’s Turaco (T. schalowi).

Purple-crested Turaco (Violet-crested Lourie)	Tauraco porphyreolophus
Several were seen at Mkuzi and Hluhluwe Game Reserves. We had superb and intimate views of drinking birds in Mkuzi GR.

Gray Go-away-bird (Lourie)			Corythaixoides concolor
This dry country species was observed in the Kruger NP and one bird in Mkuzi GR.

Red-chested Cuckoo					Cuculus solitarius
One bird was seen in the Karkloof.

Klaas' (Klaas’s) Cuckoo				Chrysococcyx klaas
Two birds were seen in the Kruger NP, one in Mkuzi and one at St Lucia.

African Emerald Cuckoo				Chrysococcyx cupreus
We saw a female at St Lucia.

Dideric (Diderik) Cuckoo				Chrysococcyx caprius
Unfortunately only heard in the Kruger NP. This species had just returned from migration.

Burchell's Coucal					Centropus burchelli
Up to six were seen in the Kruger NP.
NOTE: Clements has just recognised the widely accepted split of the southern dark-browed Burchell’s Coucal C. burchelli from the northerly White-browed Coucal C. superciliosus.

Barn Owl						Tyto alba                    Slørugle
This cosmopolitan species was heard in the Kruger NP.

African Scops-Owl					Otus senegalensis
One bird was seen in the Kruger NP, at a day roost in Satara. We had superb scope of this cute owl!
NOTE: The African races are sometimes still lumped with European Scops Owl (O. scops).

Southern White-faced Owl				Ptilopsis granti
We had distant views of one on our night drive at Satara in the Kruger NP.
NOTE: Clements and other authorities have recently split White-faced Owl on a geographical basis, approximately at the Equator. The genus has also been changed from Otus to Ptilopsis.

Pel's Fishing Owl                                                       Scotopelia peli
This spectacular bird was seen near Muzi Pan. A rare bird this far south and one of the highlights of our tour.

Spotted Eagle-Owl					Bubo africanus
We saw a juvenile near Hilton, Pietermaritzburg, during the day.
NOTE: Clements splits the northern, dark-eyed form Grayish Eagle-Owl (B. cinerascens) from the more southerly yellow-eyed Spotted Eagle-Owl B. africanus. This split is not widely accepted.

African Wood-Owl					Strix woodfordii
Two birds were found roosting at Bonamanzi. We were fortunate to all enjoy scope views.

Pearl-spotted Owlet					Glaucidium perlatum
Three birds were seen in the Kruger NP. Another owl of which we had great diurnal views.

Marsh Owl						Asio capensis        Kapugle
Three birds were seen at Midmar GR at night.

Fiery-necked Nightjar				Caprimulgus pectoralis
One bird was seen on the night drive at Mkuzi GR.

Square-tailed (Mozambique/Gabon) Nightjar	Caprimulgus fossii
Two birds were seen near Mkuzi GR.

Alpine Swift						Tachymarptis melba     Alpesejler
Recorded near the Kruger NP, Mkuzi, Hluhluwe and on the Cape Peninsula.

African (Black) Swift				Apus barbatus
Twenty birds were seen en route from Johannesburg to the Kruger. Five were seen in the Creighton area and ten both at Sani Pass and in Cape Town.

Little Swift						Apus affinis                    Lille Sejler
Seen at many localities, particularly large numbers of five hundred were seen in the Kruger NP.

White-rumped Swift					Apus caffer                     Kaffersejler
Our first birds were found in the Kruger NP with others seen in Wakkerstroom, Mkuzi, Tankwa Karoo and Sir Lowry’s Pass.

African Palm Swift                                                      Cypsiurus parvus
Four birds were seen in the Kruger NP and twenty at St Lucia.
	
Speckled Mousebird					Colius striatus
Recorded almost daily, only in Eastern South Africa.

White-backed Mousebird (NE)			Colius colius
Small numbers were seen near the West Coast Park and Tankwa Karoo.

Red-faced Mousebird				Urocolius indicus
Fairly common and seen in the Kruger NP and Zululand game reserves.

Malachite Kingfisher				Alcedo cristata
Six birds were seen in the Kruger NP with another in Wakkerstroom.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher				Halcyon albiventris
Birds were seen in the Kruger, Mkuzi, Bonamanzi and Hluhluwe areas. 

Striped Kingfisher					Halcyon chelicuti
Great views of this small kingfisher were obtained at Mkuzi GR.

Giant Kingfisher					Megaceryle maxima
Three birds were observed in the Kruger NP.

Pied Kingfisher					Ceryle rudis             Gråfisker
First seen in the Kruger NP with other sightings at Wakkerstroom and in the West Coast Park.

Mangrove Kingfisher                                                Halcyon senegaloides
One bird was seen and another heard at Bayhead Mangroves NR. A rare bird! We were very fortunate to see this winter migrant which seemed to have hung around a little later than usual so that we could tick it!

White-fronted Bee-eater				Merops bullockoides
Six of these beautiful birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Little Bee-eater					Merops pusillus
We observed six birds in the Kruger and six at Mkuzi GR.

Lilac-breasted Roller				Coracias caudata
Commonly seen in the Kruger with other birds in Mkuzi GR. One of Africa’s most popular and colourful birds!
NOTE: The Ethiopian C. c. lorti might be split as Blue-breasted Roller.

Rufous-crowned (Purple) Roller	Coracias naevia
Several were seen in the Kruger NP.

Eurasian (African) Hoopoe				Upupa epops                        Hærfugl
We recorded this unique species in the Kruger, Mkuzi, Hilton and in the West Coast Park.
NOTE: The Hoopoe complex has had a confusing taxonomic history, with one to four species being recognised by various authorities. Clements splits the group into two forms, Madagascar (U. marginalis) and Eurasian U. epops The white-winged African form is often split by other authorities as West African Hoopoe (U. senegalensis) with the fourth species, the one we observed, being African Hoopoe (U. africana). However, the most generally accepted treatment is that of three species, Madagascar, Eurasian and African. 

Green (Red-billed) Woodhoopoe			Phoeniculus purpureus
This noisy bird was seen in the Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom and Mkuzi.

Common (Greater) Scimitar-bill			Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Five were seen in the Kruger and six in Mkuzi.

Red-billed Hornbill					Tockus erythrorhynchus
Our only birds were seen in the Kruger NP where this species is quite common.
NOTE:  Red-billed Hornbill has recently been split into two species the nominate T. erythrorhynchus which occurs through most of Southern Africa and Damara Hornbill (T.  damarensis) which occurs in far Western Namibia.

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (NE)		Tockus leucomelas
Seen daily in the Kruger NP and Mkuzi GR.

Crowned Hornbill					Tockus alboterminatus
Sightings were in Mkuzi, Hluhluwe GR and Dhlinza Forest.

African Gray Hornbill				Tockus nasutus
Our only sightings were in the Kruger NP.

Trumpeter Hornbill					Ceratogymna bucinator
Birds were seen in the Kruger, Mkuzi, St Lucia, Hluhluwe and in Dhlinza Forest.

Southern Ground Hornbill                                         Bucorvus leadbeateri
Three of these fabulous birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

White-eared Barbet					Stactolaema leucotis
Six birds were seen in St Lucia and one in Dhlinza Forest.				

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Golden-rumped Tinker Barbet) Pogoniulus bilineatus
Four birds were seen at St Lucia.

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird				Pogoniulus chrysoconus
We found one in the Kruger NP.

Red-fronted Tinkerbird				Pogoniulus pusillus
We saw five birds in Mkuzi and one bird in Dhlinza.

(Acacia) Pied Barbet (NE)				Tricholaema leucomelas
Two birds were seen in the Kruger NP and two at Katbakkies.

Black-collared Barbet				Lybius torquatus
Recorded fairly frequently in the Kruger and Zululand game reserves. 

Crested Barbet					Trachyphonus vaillantii
Our first great sighting was in the Kruger NP with another four in Mkuzi GR.

Greater Honeyguide					Indicator indicator
Two birds were seen in Mkuzi GR.

Scaly-throated Honeyguide                                        Indicator variegatus                                      
Three birds were seen in Bonamanzi GR. We had splendid views of this uncommon species.

Rufous-necked (Red-throated) Wryneck		Jynx ruficollis
One of these great birds was seen in Wakkerstroom, three at Impendle and one at Sani Pass.

Golden-tailed Woodpecker				Campethera abingoni
Birds were seen in the Kruger, Mkuzi and Bonamanzi.

Ground Woodpecker (E)				Geocolaptes olivaceus
We obtained superb views of two of these unusual, endemic woodpeckers in Wakkerstroom and a further five on Sani Pass.

Cardinal Woodpecker				Dendropicos fuscescens
Our first sighting was in the Kruger NP. Other sightings were in Mkuzi and Bonamanzi.

Bearded Woodpecker				Dendropicos namaquus
Three of these impressive birds were seen in the Kruger with a further two at Mkuzi.

Olive Woodpecker					Mesopicos griseocephalus
Two were seen Dhlinza Forest and a further two at Sani Pass.

Bennett's Woodpecker                                                Campethera bennettii
Two were seen in the Kruger NP, on the lawns of Satara Camp.

African Broadbill		Smithornis capensis
One of the undisputed highlights of the trip was finding a pair in Bonamanzi which were observed in the telescope for an extended period. A difficult bird.

Rufous-naped Lark					Mirafra africana
We saw two birds in the Kruger NP with another heard in Hluhluwe.

Sabota Lark (NE)					Mirafra sabota
We found several in the Kruger NP and Mkuzi GR.
NOTE: Some authorities consider the thick billed form, Bradfield’s Lark M. bradfieldi of Western Southern Africa a separate species. This is not widely accepted.

Rudd's Lark (E)					Heteromirafra ruddi
Up to four were seen well and more heard high in display flight, Wakkerstroom area. A globally endangered species and classed as the world’s rarest lark!

Cape (Long-billed) Lark (E)			Certhilauda curvirostris
We found one bird in the West Coast NP.
NOTE Recent vocal and biochemical evidence suggests that the Long-billed Lark complex consists of 5 allo-species, named Benguela C. benguelensis, ranging from the northernmost populations south to the Brandberg, Karoo C. subcoronata, Spitzkoppe south through the Karoo to the eastern Cape, Cape C. curvirostris, winter-rainfall areas north of Cape Town, Agulhas C. brevirostris, winter-rainfall areas in the vicinity of Cape Agulhas and Eastern C. semitorquata, eastern Cape north-eastwards through KZN to Mpumalanga.

Karoo Lark (E)					Certhilauda albescens
One bird was seen at Velddrif and another in the Tankwa Karoo.

Spike-heeled Lark                                                       Chersomanes albofasciata
Several were seen in Wakkerstroom with a further three birds in the Tankwa Karoo.

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark (Finchlark)	Eremopterix leucotis
Ten birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark (NE)			Eremopterix verticalis
Up to five hundred birds were seen in flocks in the Kruger NP. Primarily a species of the dry west, this was an easterly movement of this species due to the prolonged drought.

Red-capped Lark					Calandrella cinerea
We had fantastic views of up to twenty at Wakkerstroom with further sightings near the West Coast NP.
NOTE: The African Red-capped Lark complex (C. cinerea) was lumped within the Greater Short-toed Lark complex (C. brachydactila) but is now considered distinct by most authorities.  Several distinctive groupings have now been split off from Red-capped Lark, including Blanford’s Lark of Ethiopia (C. blanfordi).

Large-billed (Southern Thick-billed) Lark (E) 	Galerida magnirostris
Recorded at Sani Pass, Langebaan and the West Coast NP.

Plain (Brown-throated) Martin			Riparia paludicola
Seen at Wakkerstroom, Karkloof, Impendle, Sani Pass and in the West Coast NP.

Banded Martin					Riparia cincta
Our only birds were seen near the West Coast NP.

Gray-rumped Swallow				Hirundo griseopyga
Six birds were seen in the Kruger and two Muzi Pan.

Rock Martin						Hirundo fuligula
Two birds were seen en route to the Kruger with further sightings at Wakkerstroom, Mkuzi, Sani Pass, West Coast NP and Sir Lowry's Pass.
NOTE: This confusing polytypic complex is being reviewed for multi-species splitting. Within the African populations, three potential species exist. The southern African nominate form H. f. fuligula would remain as Rock Martin and the more northern populations would become Red-throated Rock Martin (H. pusilla). Palaearctic birds would become Pale Crag Martin (H. obsolete). Clements does not as yet recognise any of these splits.

Barn Swallow						Hirundo rustica     Landsvale
One was seen in the Kruger NP and twenty were seen in the Wakkerstroom area.

White-throated Swallow				Hirundo albigularis
Recorded in small numbers at Wakkerstroom, the KZN Midlands and in the Western Cape.

Wire-tailed Swallow					Hirundo smithii
Our only birds were seen in the Kruger NP.
NOTE: This species complex is likely to be split based on the African nominate form that would become African Wire-tailed Swallow and the Asian Wire-tailed Swallow that would be H. filifera.  Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Blue Swallow						Hirundo atrocaerulea
One bird of this globally threatened species was seen at one of their breeding areas, Impendle NR. 

Pearl-breasted Swallow				Hirundo dimidiata
We observed six birds in the West Coast NP.

Mosque Swallow                                                        Hirundo Senegalensis
Two birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Red-breasted Swallow                                               Hirundo semirufa
Several were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings of two each in the Mkuzi GR and Hluhluwe GR.

Greater Striped-Swallow (BE)			Hirundo cucullata
An intra-African migrant that was seen at most high altitude grassland sites.  Several were seen in the Karkloof, Creighton and Wakkerstroom areas as well as the arid Western Cape.

Lesser Striped-Swallow				Hirundo abyssinica
Recorded daily at all lower elevation locations visited in Eastern South Africa, with highest numbers of twenty in Mkuzi GR.

South African (Cliff) Swallow (BE)			Hirundo spilodera
Our only birds were seen in the Wakkerstroom area.

Black Sawwing (Swallow)				Psalidoprocne holomelas
Four were seen near Muzi Pan, two near Sani Pass and one at Kirstenbosch.
NOTE: The Black Sawwing complex is sometimes split into eight full species with the South African form being retained in P. holomelas.

African Pied Wagtail				Motacilla aguimp
Recorded in the Kruger NP and St Lucia.

Cape Wagtail						Motacilla capensis
Regularly recorded at most wetland locations throughout South Africa.

Yellow-throated Longclaw				Macronyx croceus
Recorded at lower elevation grassland locations, our first sighting was at Hluhluwe with another at Bonamanzi GR 

Orange-throated (Cape) Longclaw (E)		Macronyx capensis	
Recorded at Wakkerstroom, Karkloof, Impendle and in the Western Cape.

Yellow-breasted Pipit (E)				Anthus chloris
Two birds were seen in the Wakkerstroom area. This rare and unusual bird, restricted to a few pristine upland grasslands in South Africa, with a sister species in the highlands of Kenya (Sharpe’s Longclaw), forms an ancestral link between Longclaws and Pipits.

Yellow-tufted (African Rock) Pipit (E)		Anthus crenatus
We found this endemic in the Wakkerstroom area and enjoyed scope views as the mist swept in..

African (Grassveld) Pipit				Anthus cinnamomeus
Regularly recorded at most grassland locations throughout Southern Africa. Peak numbers were fifty in the Wakkerstroom area.
NOTE: African pipit taxonomy is in rather a disarray and much further research is required in the phylogeny of this grouping. Several forms which are considered subspecies are likely to become full species in their own right and several new forms are surely still to be described. The identification of two new species of pipits from an urban hockey field in Kimberley, South Africa, provides an excellent illustration regarding how little is know about African pipits and how little attention has been paid to them.

Plain-backed Pipit                                     	Anthus leucophrys
One was seen in the Kruger NP, four in the Karkloof, three at Sani Pass and two at Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Buffy Pipit                                                                   Anthus vaalensis
Two birds were seen in the Karkloof.

Bush (-veld) Pipit     		Anthus caffer
One bird was seen at Mkuzi GR. This species is very uncommon and seldom seen.

Gray Cuckoo-shrike					Coracina caesia
We had great views of two birds in Dhlinza and one in the Karkloof forest.

Black Cuckoo-shrike					Campephaga flava
One female bird was seen briefly in the Kruger NP.

Common (Dark-capped, Black-eyed) Bulbul	Pycnonotus barbatus (tricolor)
Recorded daily at virtually all locations visited in Eastern Southern Africa.
NOTE: Another very confusing polytypic species complex. Several Asian and African forms have already been recognised as distinct species within the super-species Common Bulbul P.  barbatus. The form that we saw in South Africa, P. tricolor has been split as Dark-capped Bulbul by some authorities. Clements does not recognize this split.

Cape Bulbul (E)					Pycnonotus capensis
Our first birds were seen at Strandfontein with several more elsewhere in the Southern Cape.

Sombre Greenbul (Bulbul)				Andropadus importunus
A bird that is far more often heard than seen. Our first bird was seen in the Kruger Park and our last was seen in Kirstenbosch.

Yellow-bellied Greenbul (Bulbul)			Chlorocichla flaviventris
We saw several at Mkuzi GR and St Lucia.

Terrestrial Brownbul (Bulbul)			Phyllastrephus terrestris
Birds were seen in Mkuzi, St Lucia and Bonamanzi.

Eastern (White-throated/Yellow-spotted) Nicator	 Nicator gularis
We were very fortunate to see three in Mkuzi GR.  This species can be particularly elusive and we really did have incredible views.

Cape Rock-Thrush (E)				Monticola rupestris
One bird was seen at the JG Strydom Tunnel with further sightings at Wakkerstroom, Howick, Sani Pass and the West Coast NP.

Sentinel Rock-Thrush (E)				Monticola explorator
We had superb views of three birds in Wakkerstroom, six on top of Sani Pass and one at Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Orange Ground-Thrush				Zoothera gurneyi
Our first sighting was of two birds scoped in the Karkloof, and then one at Xumeni Forest. Another very elusive species to which we were treated to brilliant views (after much hard work!)

Spotted Ground-Thrush				Zoothera guttata
We were extremely fortunate to find two at Dhlinza Forest, including one bird scoped on the nest.

Kurrichane Thrush                                                     Turdus libonyanus
Our first two were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings at Mkuzi and Bonamanzi.

(Southern) Olive Thrush				Turdus olivaceus
This species was found in Dhlinza, the Karkloof, Creighton, Sani Pass and in the South Western Cape.
NOTE: This polytypic species complex may be split into many as ten different species, and several are already generally accepted e.g. Taita Thrush (T. helleri). The main north/south split is likely to be in Tanzania with the northern birds becoming Northern Olive Thrush (T. abyssinicus) and the nominate form being called Southern Olive Thrush. Karoo Thrush (T. smithi) occurring in Western South Africa has recently been split from the nominate group. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

[Karoo Thrush] (E)					Turdus smithi
One bird was found at Wakkerstroom.
NOTE: Refer to the previous species.

Orange-breasted (Drakensberg) Rock-jumper (E) Chaetops aurantius
We had good views of four birds on Sani Pass. A stunning endemic.

Cape Rockjumper (E)                          		Chaetops frenatus
Two birds were found at Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Rock-loving (Lazy) Cisticola			Cisticola aberrans
Only heard in Wakkerstroom.
NOTE:  Clements lumps this species with Rock-loving Cisticola (C.a.emini).  

Rattling Cisticola					Cisticola chinianus
Recorded almost daily at Bushveld locations in Southern Africa.  We saw up to thirty in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi.

Red-headed (Grey-backed) Cisticola (NE)		Cisticola subruficapillus
Recorded only in the South Western Cape where many were seen.

Wailing Cisticola					Cisticola lais
Seen in the Impendle and Sani Pass areas.
NOTE: This species is often split from Lynes Cisticola C. l. distincta which occurs in East Africa.

Winding (Rufous-winged, Black-backed) Cisticola Cisticola galactotes
We had good views of one at St Lucia.
NOTE: The Okavango-Zambian race of the widespread Winding Cisticola C. galactotes, has recently been accorded full species status as Luapula Cisticola C. luapula. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Tinkling (Levaillant’s) Cisticola			Cisticola tinniens
Regularly recorded at most wetland locations throughout South Africa. We had good views of several at Impendle NR, Karkloof, Wakkerstroom and in wetlands in the Western Cape.

Croaking Cisticola					Cisticola natalensis
Heard only in Hluhluwe GR.

Piping Cisticola (Neddicky)				Cisticola fulvicapillus
Heard only in Mkuzi and then seen at the West Coast Park and Sir Lowry's Pass.
NOTE: Some authorities lump this species with Tabora, Long-tailed Cisticola (C. angusticaudus), of East Africa.

Red-faced Cisticola                                        	Cisticola erythrops
This reed-haunting species was heard at several localities including Kruger NP and Hluhluwe GR, but not seen.

Zitting (Fan-tailed) Cisticola			Cisticola juncidis    Cistussanger
Two birds were seen in the Kruger, one at Muzi Pan and one at Strandfontein. 

Cloud Cisticola					Cisticola textrix
We enjoyed good views of four at the Tiennie Versveld NR.
NOTE: The sub-species of Cloud Cisticola C.t.textrix we observed may be given full species status in time as its call and heavily streaked chest are different from forms further north in South Africa.

Wing-snapping (Ayres') Cisticola			Cisticola ayresii
Two birds were seen in the Wakkerstroom area.

Tawny-flanked Prinia				Prinia subflava
Recorded in small numbers in the Kruger, Mkuzi, Hluhluwe and Bonamanzi.

Karoo Prinia (E)					Prinia maculosa
One bird was seen at Sani Pass and commonly seen in the Western Cape with a peak of fifty birds in the West Coast Park.
NOTE: This species used to be lumped with Drakensberg Prinia (P hypoxantha) as Spotted Prinia but is now considered a separate species by most authorities including Clements.

Drakensberg Prinia (E)				Prinia hypoxantha
Two birds each were seen at Wakkerstroom, Impendle, Xumeni and Sani Pass. 
NOTE: Refer above Karoo Prinia.

Namaqua Prinia (Warbler) (E)			Phragmacia substriata
Two birds were seen in a riverbed on the way to the Tankwa Karoo Park. A localized southern African endemic.

Rufous-eared Warbler (E)				Malcorus pectoralis
One bird was seen in the Tankwa Karoo. A beautiful little endemic warbler.

Bar-throated Apalis					Apalis thoracica
Seen at Dhlinza, Karkloof and Xumeni forests and at the West Coast NP.
NOTE:  Some forms of Bar-throated Apalis are sometimes split off as Namuli Apalis A. lynesi and Taita Apalis (A. fuscigularis).  There is likely to be further splitting of this group.

Yellow-breasted Apalis				Apalis flavida
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with several others at St Lucia, Bonamanzi and in Mkuzi GR.
NOTE: This widespread polytypic African species is likely to be split into three or more species. Clements does not as yet recognise any split. The form we recorded would remain in the nominate grouping.

Rudd’s Apalis (E)					Apalis ruddi
We had superb views of a pair in Mkuzi GR.

Green-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Warbler) 	Camaroptera brachyura
Our first bird was seen in the Kruger NP with others seen in Mkuzi and St Lucia.
NOTE: Most authorities now recognise the nominate green-backed forms of this widespread African warbler as distinct from the grey-backed forms C. brevicaudata. We encountered the green-backed form in South Africa. Clements still lumps these two groups.

African Bush (Little Rush, African Sedge) Warbler Bradypterus baboecala
One bird was seen at Strandfontein with another near Hermanus. 

African Marsh (Reed) Warbler                                 Acrocephalus baeticatus
Two were seen well at Katbakkies picnic site in the Tankwa Karoo.  

African Scrub (Barratt's) Warbler (E)		Bradypterus barratti
Seen at both Xumeni Forest and Sani Pass.

Victorin’s Warbler (E)                              		Bradypterus victorini
Two birds were seen at Sir Lowry’s Pass. Another beautiful endemic warbler.

Cape Grassbird (E)					Sphenoeacus afer
This attractive warbler, sporting a bedraggled tail was seen at Creighton, Impendle and Sani Pass.
 
Lesser Swamp (Cape Reed) Warbler		Acrocephalus gracilirostris
One bird was heard in Wakkerstroom, and four birds were seen at Strandfontein.

African (Dark-capped) Yellow Warbler		Chloropeta natalensis
Two birds were seen at Impendle and one at Sani Pass.

Fairy Warbler (Flycatcher) (E)			Stenostira scita
This delightful bird was seen incredibly well on Sani Pass and another was seen in the Tankwa Karoo.

Burnt-neck (-ed) Eremomela			Eremomela usticollis
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with two others in the Mkuzi GR.
 
Karoo Eremomela (E)                              		Eremomela gregalis
We were very fortunate to see this difficult species at Eierkop in the Karoo.

Cape (Long-billed) Crombec (Sylvietta)		Sylvietta rufescens
First seen in the Kruger NP with other sightings in Mkuzi GR and the Tankwa Karoo. 

Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler		Phylloscopus ruficapilla
Two birds were seen in the Karkloof with another heard at Xumeni Forest.

Layard’s Warbler (Tit-babbler) (E)		Parisoma layardi
Five birds were seen on Sani Pass and another in the Tankwa Karoo.

Rufous-vented Warbler (Tit-babbler) (NE)	Parisoma subcaeruleum
Seen both in the West Coast NP and in the Tankwa Karoo

Pale (Pallid/Mouse-coloured) Flycatcher		Bradornis pallidus
Eight birds were seen in Mkuzi and one bird at Bonamanzi.
 
Chat Flycatcher (NE)				Bradornis infuscatus
Two birds were seen in the Tankwa Karoo.

Southern Black-Flycatcher				Melaenornis pammelaina
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi GR.
 
Fiscal Flycatcher (E)					Sigelus silens
One bird was seen in Hluhluwe and two in the Tankwa Karoo.

African Dusky Flycatcher				Muscicapa adusta
Four birds were seen in the Karkloof, two in Xumeni and two at Kirstenbosch Gardens. 

Ashy (Blue-grey) Flycatcher			Muscicapa caerulescens
We had good views of several birds at Mkuzi with others heard at Bonamanzi.

Gray Tit-Flycatcher (Fan-tailed/Lead-coloured)	Myioparus plumbeus
One bird was heard in the Kruger NP and several were seen at Mkuzi GR.

White-starred Robin					Pogonocichla stellata
We were fortunate to find one in Xumeni forest.

Cape Robin-Chat					Cossypha caffra
Fairly common in the KZN Midlands with several seen in the Creighton and Hilton areas. This species was sighted often in the Western Cape.

White-throated Robin-Chat	 (E)			Cossypha humeralis
Three birds were seen in Mkuzi GR.

White-browed (Heuglin's) Robin-Chat		Cossypha heuglini
We had great views of up to three birds at Mkuzi GR.

Red-capped (Natal) Robin-Chat			Cossypha natalensis
Our first sighting was in the Kruger NP with other sightings at St Lucia and Bonamanzi.

Chorister Robin-Chat (E)				Cossypha dichroa
One bird was seen in Dhlinza and two in Xumeni Forests.

(Eastern) Bearded Scrub-Robin			Cercotrichas quadrivirgata
We had cracking views of several in Mkuzi GR and another sighting in Bonamanzi.

Brown Scrub-Robin (E)				Cercotrichas signata
One bird was seen exceptionally well in the St Lucia area.

Red-backed (White-browed) Scrub-Robin		Cercotrichas leucophrys
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with other sightings at Mkuzi and Bonamanzi.
NOTE: This widespread African complex is being reviewed for a 3-way split, the Southern African C. l. leucophrys group would remain as White-browed Scrub-Robin, the Central African (C. l. zambesiana) would become Red-backed Scrub-Robin and the Northern African (C. l. leucoptera) would become White-winged Scrub-Robin. Clements does not as yet recognise these splits.

Karoo Scrub-Robin (E)				Cercotrichas coryphaeus
Several were seen in the West Coast Park and Tankwa Karoo. 

African Stonechat					Saxicola torquata
Regularly seen in small numbers throughout Eastern South Africa and also recorded in the Western Cape.
NOTE: Clements recognises the split of African (S. torquata) and Common (S. rubicola) Stonechats (the latter a Palearctic species), which is not followed by all authorities. Further splitting may occur in both groups including the highland Ethiopian form (S. t. albofasciata) that may become Ethiopian Stonechat.

Buff-streaked Chat (Wheatear) (E)			Oenanthe bifasciata
We enjoyed good views of two in the Wakkerstroom area and one in the Karkloof.

Mountain Wheatear (Chat) (NE)			Oenanthe monticola
Two of these attractive wheatears were seen very well in the Wakkerstroom area and another in the Tankwa Karoo.

Capped Wheatear					Oenanthe pileata
A stunning wheatear and we were treated to as many as ten in the West Coast NP.
 
Sicklewing (Sickle-winged) Chat (E)		Cercomela sinuata
Up to ten birds were seen on the top of Sani Pass.

Karoo Chat (E)					Cercomela schlegelii
We enjoyed good views of eight birds in the Tankwa Karoo.

Tractrac Chat (NE)					Cercomela tractrac
One bird was found in the Tankwa Karoo.
 
Familiar Chat					Cercomela familiaris
We saw our first two at Sani Pass with other sightings in the Western Cape.
 
Southern Anteater-Chat (E)	Myrmecocichla formicivora
We enjoyed good views of several at Wakkerstroom.
 
Cape Batis (E)					Batis capensis
Birds were seen in the Dhlinza and Karkloof  forests.
 	
Woodward’s (Zululand) Batis (NE)		Batis fratrum
We had good views of a pair at St Lucia.

Chinspot Batis					Batis molitor
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with others in Mkuzi GR.

Pririt Batis (NE)					Batis pririt
Two birds were seen in the Tankwa Karoo.

Black-throated Wattle-Eye                                       Platysteira peltata
A pair was seen well at the Raphia Monument at Mtunzini and another found in Bayhead Mangrove NR.

African (Blue-mantled) Crested-Flycatcher	Trochocercus cyanomelas
Two birds were seen in Mkuzi GR.

African Paradise-Flycatcher			Terpsiphone viridis
Our fist birds were seen in the Kruger NP with other birds seen at Mkuzi, St Lucia and Bonamanzi.
NOTE: The northern races of this widespread African species which includes the nominate form are likely to be separated from the southern races which would become Grey-headed Paradise-Flycatcher (T. plumbeiceps). Beside plumage and distributional differences, only the northern forms display polymorphism in males. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Arrow-marked Babbler				Turdoides jardineii
Up to ten a day were seen in the Kruger NP.

Southern Black-Tit (NE)				Parus niger
First seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi, Hluhluwe and Bonamanzi.
 
(Southern) Gray Tit (E)						Parus afer
We were fortunate to see one on top of Sani Pass and two at the West Coast NP.
 
African (Grey) Penduline-Tit			Anthoscopus caroli
We saw four birds in Mkuzi GR.

Southern (Cape) Penduline-Tit (NE)		Anthoscopus minutus
One bird was seen briefly in the Tankwa Karoo.
 
Collared Sunbird					Anthreptes collaris
Our first birds were seen at Mkuzi GR with further sightings at St Lucia, Bonamanzi and in the Karkloof.

Orange-breasted Sunbird (E)			Anthobaphes violacea
As many as six were seen in Kirstenbosch, three on Sir Lowry’s Pass and ten at Cape of Good Hope NR. This is surely one of the most stunning sunbirds.

Eastern Olive-Sunbird				Cyanomitra olivacea
Four birds were seen at St Lucia, two at Bonamanzi and two at Dhlinza.
NOTE: The Olive Sunbird species complex has been split into two full species by Clements and some other authorities, namely the nominate Eastern Olive-Sunbird C. olivacea and the form in East and West Africa, Western Olive Sunbird (C. obscura). There has been a review of this split and several authorities are in doubt of the validity, which is based upon the presence, or lack there-of, of pectoral tufts in the females of the various subspecies within the complex.

Mouse-colored (Grey) Sunbird			Cyanomitra veroxii
Two birds were seen at St Lucia, one was heard at Hluhluwe with further sightings of four at Bonamanzi.
 
Amethyst (African Black) Sunbird			Chalcomitra amethystina
Two birds were seen in Mkuzi and another seen in Hilton.

Scarlet-chested Sunbird				Chalcomitra senegalensis
Four birds were seen in Mkuzi GR.

Malachite Sunbird					Nectarinia famosa
One was seen in Wakkerstroom, two on Sani Pass and up to ten daily in the Western Cape.

Southern (Lesser) Double-collared Sunbird (E) 		Cinnyris chalybea
Four birds were seen in the Karkloof, four in Xumeni Forest and commonly seen in the South Western Cape.

Neergaard's Sunbird	 (E)				Cinnyris neergaardi
After a lot of hard searching we were finally rewarded with one at Mkuzi GR. An extremely localised endemic to northern Zululand and southern Mozambique.

Greater Double-collared Sunbird (E)		Cinnyris afer
Three birds were seen at Sani Pass.

Mariqua (Marico) Sunbird				Cinnyris mariquensis
Our only sightings were in the Kruger NP.
NOTE: Some authorities split this complex into 2 full species. The C. m. suahelicus which occurs in East Africa would become Swahili Sunbird as opposed to the nominate form which would remain as Mariqua Sunbird. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Purple-banded Sunbird				Cinnyris bifasciatus
Two birds were seen in the Kruger NP and eight were seen in Mkuzi GR.
NOTE: The form N. e. tsavoensis of Kenya is sometimes split off as Tsavo Purple-banded Sunbird.

White-breasted (White-bellied) Sunbird		Cinnyris talatala
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi and Hluhluwe.

African Yellow White-eye				Zosterops senegalensis
Five birds were seen in Mkuzi and two in Bonamanzi.

Cape (Pale) White-eye (E)				Zosterops virens
Two were seen at Wakkerstroom, with ten each day at Dhlinza and in the Karkloof and recorded almost daily at most sites in the Western Cape.
NOTE: This species has recently been split into a further species, Orange River White-eye Z. pallidus which occurs in Western Southern Africa and further splitting may still occur.

Gurney's Sugarbird (E)				Promerops gurneyi
One bird was seen near Loteni, in a farm garden.

Cape Sugarbird (E)		Promerops cafer
Two were seen in Kirstenbosch, up to twenty were seen on Sir Lowry’s Pass with a further twenty seen in the Cape of Good Hope NR.

African (Eastern) Black-headed Oriole		Oriolus larvatus
First seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi, Xumeni and then heard at several other sites.

Common Fiscal (Shrike)				Lanius collaris
First seen en route to the Kruger NP with further sightings at Wakkerstroom, the KZN Midlands and Western Cape.
NOTE:  The form L. marwitzi is sometimes split off as Uhehe Fiscal occurring in East Africa.

Magpie (Long-tailed) Shrike			Corvinella melanoleuca
Up to twenty seen daily in the Kruger NP.

Brubru						Nilaus afer
Only heard in the Kruger NP with our first sighting in Mkuzi GR and another at Hluhluwe.
NOTE: This previously monotypic genus might be split 4 ways: Northern Brubru N. afer, Black-browed Brubru (N. nigritemporalis), Angola Brubru (N. affinis) and Southern Brubru (N. brubru). Only the Southern Brubru occurs in South Africa. Clements does not as yet recognise these splits.

Black-backed Puffback				Dryoscopus cubla
Our first sighting was in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi GR, St Lucia and Bonamanzi.

Black-crowned Tchagra				Tchagra senegala
Our first bird was seen in the Kruger NP with other sightings at Mkuzi and Impendle 
NOTE: Moroccan Tchagra T. s. cucullata of north-west Africa may be split from the nominate form which we recorded in South Africa. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Brown-crowned (Three-streaked) Tchagra	Tchagra australis
Good views of one in the Kruger and several in Mkuzi GR.
 
Southern Boubou (E)				Laniarius ferrugineus
Two were seen at Creighton, one at Xumeni with several others heard only.

Bokmakierie (NE)					Telophorus zeylonus
Our first bird was seen in Wakkerstroom, with further sightings at Impendle, Sani Pass and several in the Western Cape. 

Sulphur-breasted (Orange-breasted) Bushshrike	Telophorus sulfureopectus
Several were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi GR, Hluhluwe and Bonamanzi.
 
Olive Bushshrike (E)					Telophorus olivaceus
Heard at Xumeni, Dhlinza and the Karkloof Forests. This species is very difficult to observe!
 
Southern White-crowned Shrike                               Eurocephalus anguitimens
Two birds were seen near the Kruger NP.     

Four-colored (Gorgeous) Bushshrike		Telophorus quadricolor
We enjoyed great views of a bird in Mkuzi Game Reserve and stunning views at Bonamanzi.

Gray-headed Bushshrike				Malaconotus blanchoti
One bird was seen in the Kruger NP and one in Mkuzi Game Reserve where we also heard its haunting call.

White (-crested) Helmetshrike			Prionops plumatus
Good views of several flocks in Mkuzi Game Reserve.
NOTE: This species is being considered for a 3-way split. P. p. cristatus would become Curly-crested Helmetshrike, P. p. poliocephalus would become Southern Helmetshrike (the form we recorded) and the nominate P. p. plumatus would become Straight-crested Helmetshrike. Clements does not as yet recognise these splits.

Square-tailed Drongo				Dicrurus ludwigii
We recorded this forest species at Mkuzi, St Lucia, Bonamanzi and Dhlinza.

Fork-tailed Drongo					Dicrurus adsimilis
Recorded almost daily at most sites visited in Eastern South Africa with one sighting at Hermanus in the Western Cape.
NOTE: Older versions of Clements lump the forest dwelling Velvet-mantled Drongo (D. modestus) of East and West Africa within Fork-tailed Drongo D. adsimilis but the split has been recognized in recent Clements updates as well as by most other authorities.

Cape (Black) Crow					Corvus capensis
Our first bird was seen en route to the Kruger NP, recorded at higher elevation locations visited in Eastern South Africa, with highest numbers of twenty in the Impendle area.

Pied Crow						Corvus albus
Regularly seen in small numbers throughout Southern Africa with peak numbers of twenty in the West Coast NP.

House Crow						Corvus splendens
Recorded in the Durban area as well as Cape Town International Airport.

White-necked Raven					Corvus albicollis
Our first sighting was of one on Sani Pass with other sightings in Cape Town, the Tankwa Karoo and Sir Lowry’s Pass. 

Common (Indian) Myna				Acridotheres tristis
Our first two birds were seen in Johannesburg. Common in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal around urban centers. Introduced to Durban in 1900.

European (Common) Starling			Sturnus vulgaris                 Stær
One bird was seen at Wakkerstroom. Recorded daily in the Western Cape where it was introduced in the late 1800s.

Wattled Starling					Creatophora cinerea
Recorded daily in the Kruger NP with other sightings at Mkuzi and in the West Coast NP.

Cape (Red-shouldered) Glossy-Starling (NE)	Lamprotornis nitens
Recorded almost daily at most sites in Eastern South Africa with peak counts of one hundred birds in the Kruger NP.

Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling		Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Restricted to the Lowveld in South Africa where we recorded it in the Kruger NP.

Burchell's Glossy-Starling (NE)			Lamprotornis australis
Recorded daily in the Kruger NP.

Black-bellied Glossy-Starling			Lamprotornis corruscus
Small numbers were seen at St Lucia, Bonamanzi, Dhlinza and Mkuzi GR.

Violet-backed (Plum-coloured) Starling		Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
One bird was seen in the Kruger NP.

African Pied Starling (E)				Spreo bicolor
Up to one hundred and fifty were seen in the Wakkerstroom, six in the Karkloof, thirty in the West Coast Park and fifty en route to the Tankwa Karoo.

Red-winged Starling					Onychognathus morio
Recorded at most sites throughout South Africa. Our first birds were seen at the JG Strydom Tunnel.

Pale-winged Starling (NE)				Onychognathus nabouroup
One bird was seen in the Tankwa Karoo.

Red-billed Oxpecker					Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Commonly seen on game in the Kruger NP and three seen in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR.

House Sparrow					Passer domesticus            Gråspurv
Widespread and common in urban areas throughout South Africa.

Mossie (Cape Sparrow) (NE)			Passer melanurus
Our first birds were seen in Johannesburg with other sightings at Wakkerstroom, Impendle, Sani Pass and in the Western Cape. 

Cape Sparrow (Southern Gray-headed Sparrow) (NE)	Passer diffusus
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings at Mkuzi, Wakkerstroom and Creighton. 
NOTE: The Gray-headed Sparrow complex P. griseus has been split into five full species with the South African form being given the name P. diffusus.

African Yellow-throated Petronia (Sparrow)		Petronia superciliaris
Several were seen in the Kruger NP, Mkuzi GR and Bonamanzi GR.

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver				Bubalornis niger
Small numbers were seen in the Kruger NP.

Lesser Masked-Weaver				Ploceus intermedius
Our first birds were seen in the Kruger NP with other sightings at Mkuzi GR.

Spectacled Weaver					Ploceus ocularis
Our first one was seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings at Mkuzi, St Lucia, Bonamanzi and Dhlinza.

African Golden (Yellow) Weaver			Ploceus subaureus
Ten were seen in the St Lucia area with a further ten at Bonamanzi.

Southern Masked-Weaver				Ploceus velatus
Numbers were seen in the Kruger NP, Wakkerstroom, West Coast NP and the Tankwa Karoo.
NOTE: African Masked Weaver P. velatus is sometimes split into the nominate Southern Masked Weaver which we recorded and the more northerly occurring Vitelline Masked-Weaver P. vitellinus.

Village (Spotted-backed) Weaver			Ploceus cucullatus
Fairly common in Eastern South Africa with sightings in the Kruger NP, Mkuzi, Hluhluwe, Karkloof and at Hilton. 

Forest (Dark-backed) Weaver			Ploceus bicolor
Seen in forest and woodland in Mkuzi, St Lucia, Bonamanzi, Dhlinza and in the Karkloof.

Red-headed Weaver					Anaplectes rubriceps
We were fortunate to find two in the Kruger NP.
NOTE: This species complex might be split into two, the southern nominate group would remain Red-headed Weaver and the northern black-faced form which occurs in East and West Africa would become Red-winged Weaver A. leuconotos. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Cape Weaver (E)                             			Ploceus capensis
Our first birds were seen at Wakkerstroom with further sightings at Sani Pass and in the South Western Cape.

Red-billed Quelea					Quelea quelea
Small flocks were seen in the Kruger NP.

Yellow-crowned Bishop				Euplectes afer
One bird was seen in the Karkloof.

(Southern) Red Bishop				Euplectes orix
Up to one hundred birds were seen in the Wakkerstroom area with further sightings in the Tankwa Karoo and near Hermanus.

Yellow Bishop (Yellow-rumped Widow)		Euplectes capensis
Our first birds were seen in Wakkerstroom, with further sightings at Impendle, Sani Pass and in the Western Cape 

Fan-tailed (Red-shouldered) Widowbird		Euplectes axillaris
Fifty-plus recorded in Karkloof.

White-winged Widowbird				Euplectes albonotatus
Up to twenty birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Red-collared Widowbird				Euplectes ardens
Six birds were seen en route to Durban.

Long-tailed Widowbird				Euplectes progne
Recorded daily at all higher altitude sites throughout Eastern South Africa, with highest numbers of five hundred in the Wakkerstroom area. Other sightings were in the Karkloof, Impendle and Sani Pass areas. 

Grosbeak (Thick-billed) Weaver			Amblyospiza albifrons
Two birds were seen at St Lucia

Pink-throated Twinspot (E)				Hypargos margaritatus
Eight were seen in Mkuzi GR.  Localised and almost entirely restricted to Sand Forest in North Eastern South Africa and adjacent Mozambique.

Red-billed Firefinch					Lagonosticta senegala
At total of three were seen in the Kruger NP.

African (Blue-billed) Firefinch			Lagonosticta rubricata
Two were seen near Hluhluwe, two at Bonamanzi and two at Impendle NR.

Jameson’s Firefinch                                                  Lagonosticta rhodopareia
Four birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Blue-breasted Cordonbleu (Blue Waxbill)		Uraeginthus angolensis
Small flocks were seen in the Kruger NP.

Swee Waxbill (Black-faced Swee) (E)		Estrilda melanotis
We were very fortunate to see a flock of five feeding on grass seed at Xumeni Forest.
NOTE: Yellow-bellied Waxbill (East African Swee) Estrilda quartinia is sometimes lumped with the South African Swee Waxbill E. melanotis.

Common Waxbill					Estrilda astrild
Recorded in the Kruger, St Lucia, the Karkloof, Impendle, West Coast Park, Kirstenbosch and Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Zebra (Orange-breasted) Waxbill			Amandava subflava
We had good views of a small flock in the Impendle area.

Green-winged Pytilia                                                  Pytilia melba
Ten birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

African Quailfinch					Ortygospiza atricollis
First heard in the Kruger NP, but up to thirty were recorded in the Wakkerstroom area. We were treated to cracking views of several on the ground where their striking markings were clearly seen.
NOTE: This species complex might be split into two, the South African form would remain African Quailfinch and the highland Ethiopian isolate would become Ethiopian Quailfinch (O. fuscocrissa.)

Bronze Mannikin (Munia)				Spermestes cucullatus
Twenty birds were seen each at the Kruger NP, St Lucia and at Bonamanzi.

Brown-backed (Red-backed) Mannikin (Bi-coloured Munia)	Spermestes bicolor
Ten birds were seen each at St Lucia and in the Karkloof.
NOTE: This complex may be split two-ways, the southern and eastern Brown-backed Mannikin (L. nigriceps) and the northern and western nominate group which would remain as Black-and-white Mannikin. Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Pin-tailed Whydah					Vidua macroura
One bird was seen at Muzi pan and up to twenty were seen in the Karkloof.

Eastern (Long-tailed) Paradise Whydah		Vidua paradisaea
Six birds were seen in the Kruger NP.

Cape (Yellow-crowned) Canary			Serinus canicollis
Superb views of several birds in the Wakkerstroom, Karkloof, Impendle, Sani Pass and in the Western Cape.
NOTE: This species complex might be split into two, the nominate southern group would remain as Cape Canary and the form which occurs in East Africa would become Yellow-crowned Canary (S. flavivertex.) Clements does not as yet recognise this split.

Forest Canary (E)					Serinus scotops
Twenty birds were seen in the Karkloof.

Lemon-breasted Canary (NE)			Serinus citrinipectus
We were extremely fortunate to find a flock of eighty birds near Muzi Pan. A localized species only discovered in 1960.

Yellow-fronted (Yellow-eyed) Canary		Serinus mozambicus
Fairly common at most sites in KwaZulu-Natal, with highest numbers of twenty in the Bonamanzi and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR.

Yellow Canary (NE)					Serinus flaviventris
We saw one on Sani Pass and more than one hundred in the South Western Cape.

Brimstone (Bully) Canary				Serinus sulphuratus
Our first bird was seen in Mkuzi with further sightings at Bayhead and Kirstenbosch.

White-throated Canary (NE)			Serinus albogularis
Small flocks were seen in the West Coast Park.

Common Chaffinch                                                   Fringilla coelebs    Bogfinke
One bird was seen at our lodge at Afton Grove and another at Kirstenbosch. 

Cape Siskin (E)					Pseudochloroptila totta
A pair of these localized endemics seen on Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Drakensberg Siskin (E)				Pseudochloroptila symonsi
As many as thirty were seen on Sani Pass.

Lark-like Bunting (NE)				Emberiza impetuani
Up to fifty birds were seen daily in the Kruger NP. A dry country species of Western South Africa with irruptions eastwards during prolonged droughts.

Cape Bunting						Emberiza capensis
One in Wakkerstroom, ten on Sani Pass and several others in the Western Cape.

Golden-breasted Bunting				Emberiza flaviventris
Several birds were seen in the Kruger NP and in Mkuzi GR.

			
Mammals 	  (Pattedyr)

Bushveld Elephant Shrew					Elephantulus intufi
One was seen in Mkuzi GR.

Peter’s Epauletted Fruit-Bat				Epomophorus crypturus
Heard only in the Kruger NP.

Chacma Baboon					Papio ursinus
This species is fairly common in rocky and mountainous areas in Southern Africa. We saw our first group in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi, Hluhluwe, Sani Pass and our last troop were seen at Cape Point.

Vervet Monkey		Cercopithecus aethiops
Common and seen at most localities in Eastern South Africa, with good numbers in all game reserves.

Thick-tailed Bush Baby					Otolemur crassicaudatus
We had good sightings on our night drive in Mkuzi GR as well as two seen at Bonamanzi.

Scrub Hare					Lepus saxatilis
We had good views of several on the trip including two in the Kruger NP, two in Wakkerstroom and two in Mkuzi GR.

Tree Squirrel					Paraxerus cepapi
We enjoyed great views of several in the Kruger NP.

South African Porcupine					Hystrix africaeaustralis
One was seen at night in the Kruger NP.
 
House Rat					Rattus rattus
One was seen in Wakkerstroom.

Sloggett’s Rat						Otomys sloggetti
Twelve of these attractive rodents were seen on Sani Pass.

Black-backed Jackal					Canis mesomelas
Two were seen in the Kruger NP and one at Midmar GR.

Small Grey Mongoose					Galerella pulverulenta
Several were seen in the Western Cape.
 
Slender Mongoose					Galerella sanguinea
One was seen in the Kruger NP.

Banded Mongoose					Mungos mungo
Small family groups were seen in the Kruger NP and St Lucia.

White-tailed Mongoose					Ichneumia albicauda
We enjoyed great views of two on the night drive in Mkuzi GR.
 
Yellow Mongoose					Cynictis penicillata
As many as twenty were seen in the Wakkerstroom.
 
Suricate (Meerkat)					Suricata suricata
A small family group of ten were seen in the Wakkerstroom area.

Large-spotted Genet						 Genetta tigrina
Three were seen on the night drive in Mkuzi GR.
 
Small-spotted Genet						 Genetta genetta
Two were seen on the night drive in the Kruger NP.

Spotted Hyaena					Crocuta crocuta
We had great views of several during the day and on the night drive in the Kruger NP.
 
African Wild Cat					Felis sylvestris
Two were seen on the night drive in the Kruger NP.

Lion      							Panthera leo
We saw a total of fourteen in the Kruger NP. The pair roaring at night and the lioness hunting alongside our vehicle were certainly memorable experiences.

Leopard					Panthera pardalus
We had three sightings of this fabulous animal in the Kruger NP and one during the night drive in Mkuzi GR.
 
African Elephant						Loxodonta africana
Many seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings at Mkuzi and Hluhluwe GR. The Kruger elephants were very relaxed and we had some close encounters, but the Mkuzi elephants were very unfriendly.

Rock Hyrax (Dassie)					Procavia capensis
One was seen en route to the Kruger NP with further sightings at Wakkerstroom, Table Mountain and Sir Lowry’s Pass.

Cape Mountain Zebra					Equus zebra zebra
Two were seen at the Cape of Good Hope NR on our final day.

Burchell's (Plains) Zebra					Equus burchelli
Recorded in the Kruger NP, Mkuzi, Hluhluwe and Midmar GR.

Black (Hook-lipped) Rhinoceros				Diceros bicornis
One was seen in the Kruger NP.

White (Square-lipped/Graze) Rhinoceros			Ceratotherium simum
Ten were seen in Kruger NP, five in Mkuzi and eighteen in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (during one afternoon).

Hippopotamus					Hippopotamus amphibius
We had superb views of many in the Kruger NP, Muzi Pan and St Lucia.

Common Warthog					Phacochoerus africanus
Several were seen in the Kruger NP, Mkuzi and Hluhluwe GR. 

Bushpig							Potamochoerus porcus
Five were seen on the night drive in Mkuzi GR.

Giraffe					Giraffa camelopardalis
Many were seen in the Kruger NP with a further ten each in Mkuzi and Hluhluwe GR.
 
African (Cape) Buffalo					Syncerus caffer
As many as one thousand were see in the Kruger NP with a further one hundred seen in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi.

Greater Kudu					Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Several were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi and Hluhluwe–Umfolozi.
 
Nyala					Tragelaphus angasii
Approximately one hundred were seen in Mkuzi GR with further sightings in Bonamanzi and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi.
 
Bushbuck					Tragelaphus scriptus
We had good views of several in the Kruger NP.
 
Common Waterbuck					Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Several were seen in the Kruger with a further ten in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi GR.

Common Reedbuck					Redunca arundinum 
One was seen at Wakkerstroom, one at Muzi Pan and ten each in the Karkloof and Creighton areas.
 
Grey Rhebok							Pelea capreolus
One was seen in the Sani Pass area.

Black Wildebeest (White-tailed Gnu)			Connochaetes gnou
Heard only at Midmar GR, but sixteen seen at Impendle NR.
 
Blue Wildebeest (Brindled Gnu)				Connochaetes taurinus
Several were seen in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi, Bonamanzi and Hluhluwe  

Blesbok					Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi
Up to two hundred were seen en route to the Kruger NP with further sightings at Wakkerstroom and on our night drive at Midmar GR.

Bontebok					Damaliscus dorcas dorcas
We had great views of ten in the Cape of Good Hope NR and one in the West Coast NP.

Impala					Aepyceros melampus melampus
Common in all game reserves with up to five hundred in the Kruger NP with further sightings in Mkuzi, Bonamanzi and Hluhluwe.		

Springbok					Antidorcas marsupialis
Up to thirty were seen in the grasslands at Wakkerstroom, thirty at the West Coast NP and ten in the Tankwa Karoo.

Klipspringer					Oreotragus oreotragus
A pair of these fleet-footed, rock-dwelling antelopes seen in Kruger NP.

Steenbok					Raphicerus campestris
Four were seen in the West Coast NP.

Oribi					Ourebia ourebi
We saw two in the Karkloof and eight on the night drive in Midmar GR.

Red Duiker					Cephalophus natalensis
We saw one in Mkuzi and several in Bonamanzi GR.

Blue Duiker							Philantomba monticola
One was seen at Dhlinza Forest.
 
Common (Grey) Duiker					Sylvicapra grimmia
Two were seen in the Kruger NP, several in Mkuzi, one in Bonamanzi and one in Hluhluwe.
 
Southern Right Whale					Balaena glacialis
We had awesome views of several offshore in the South Western Cape. We had particularly close encounters during the pelagic and off Hermanus.

Humpbacked Whale		Megaptera novaeangliae
One was seen during the Cape pelagic

Cape Fur Seal					Arctocephalus pusillus
We had superb views of up to ten at Kommetjie, at the Cape pelagic and five near Hermanus.

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS 	(Krybdyr og Padder)

Angulate Tortoise	Chersina angulata
Thirty were seen in the West Coast NP.
 
Marsh (Helmeted) Terrapin                                                   Pelomedusa subrufa
Seen in the Kruger NP, Mkuzi GR and Muzi Pan.

Olive Grass Snake	Psammophis phillipsii
One was seen in the Kruger NP.

Stripe-bellied Sand Snake					Psammophis subtaeniatus
One specimen was found in the Kruger NP.

Striped Skink	Mabuya striata
One was seen in the Kruger NP and several in Mkuzi GR.

Rainbow Skink	Mabuya quinquetaeniata
We had great views of three in the Kruger NP.
 
Rock (White-throated) Monitor	Varanus exanthematicus
One sighting each in the Kruger and in Mkuzi GR.

Southern Tree Agama	Agama atricollis
One was seen at Bonamanzi.
 
Moreau's Tropical House Gecko	Hemidactylus mabouia
One was seen at Bonamanzi.

Cape Dwarf Gecko	Lygodactylus capensis
Two were seen in the Kruger NP and two at Bonamanzi.

Cape Dwarf Chameleon					 Bradypodion pumilum
One was found on Table Mountain.

Nile Crocodile	Crocodylus niloticus
Several were seen in the Kruger NP with a further three at the St Lucia Estuary.

Painted Reed Frog	Hyperolius marmoratus
Heard in the Kruger NP.