Zululand and the Kruger

A Summary

Paul and Sally Bartho

The purpose of this final chapter in our saga through Zululand and the Kruger is:

to show a detailed Bird List of birds we saw in each place we visited – as an Excel spreadsheet. Highlighting the birds we considered special.
to display the possibly contentious and mystery birds we encountered and photographed – feedback always welcome.
to identify our worst sighting on the trip.
to comment on a few observations we made.
to post a summary of photos of birds and animals we saw on our trip.

Click here to see our bird list for each area we visited.

Next are some photos of birds which require ID. Have a go if you are interested and make your comments in the assigned place beneath each photo.

1 Ndumo.

2 In Tsendze

2 Tsendze

3 Mkuze

4 Western Shores, Isimangaliso. Thought to be a Black-backed Cisticola

5 Mkuze

6 Tsendze

7 Tsendze

8 Ndumo. African or Red-chested?

9 Tawny Eagle – is it, Tsendze

10 Tawny Eagle – is it, Tsendze

10 Is it a Roller on the nest, if so which? Or is it another bird?

Then we have birds which are contentious. Again have a go if you are interested and make your comments in the assigned place beneath each photo.

1 Lesser Spotted Eagle – Ndumo

2 Red-necked/Swainsons Spurfowls -hybrids – Satara

2 Red-necked /Swainsons Spurfowls -hybrids – Satara

3 Tawny Eagle – Pafuri

4 Wahlberg’s Eagle – pale phase -Skukuza

5 Booted Eagle – Crocodile Bridge

6 European Honey-Buzzard – Ndumo

7 Booted Eagle – Western Shores, Isimangaliso

8 Grey-rumped Swallow – Shingwedzi

9 Common Buzzard – Ndumo

Definitely the worst sighting of our trip occurred as we reached the turn-off from the main road to Pafuri Picnic site. Right on the corner we saw three Common Mynahs.

Highlights and Observations:

We never saw nor heard a Woodlands Kingfisher between 22 October and 19 November – the whole time we were in the Kruger. Our first sighting was in Ndumo.

Woodland Kingfisher - all mouth as it tries to scare off a Broad-billed Roller — Woodland Kingfisher – all mouth as it tries to scare off a Broad-billed Roller

We did not see an European Roller until Eastern Shores, Isimangoliso on 24 November and it was the only one we saw.

European Roller

Red-backed Shrike had only just started appearing in the Kruger when we reached Pafuri on 5 November. Only a few more were seen on our way south.

Yellow-billed Oxpeckers were seen as far south as Balule – mainly on Buffalo. There was a time not long ago when you needed to be in the Punda Maria region to be lucky to see one.

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Eurasian Golden Orioles were seen in pairs on four occasions -Tsendze; Shingwedzi; Skukuza and Ndumo.
By far the best camp we stayed at was Tsendze. The staff are exceptional, the habitat varied and interesting, the campsite full of Owls in the many tall trees. Balule and Malelane are two other campsites that we will visit again.
On the S114 heading N/S to Skukuza a Cocqui Francolin was heard – try as we may we were unable to see it – Sally’s current bogie bird. However this led us to an excellent sighting of a Stierling’s Wren-Warbler nearby.

Stierling’s Wren-Warbler

Being at the right place at the right time – that is how we were lucky enough to see the African Finfoot as we crossed the Sabie Bridge on the way to Skukuza.

African Finfoot

Our Owl sightings started in Mkuze with a great view of a juvenivle Pel’s Fishing-Owl followed by Verreaux’s at Crocodile Bridge; Spotted Eagle Owl in Ndumo; Scops, Barred and Pearl-spotted in a number of places.

Pel’s Fishing-Owl

Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl

Spotted Eagle-Owl – juvenile

Pearl-spotted Owlet

African Barred Owlet

African Scops-Owl

In Mkuze there was a Crowned Plover on its nest right beside the road – it had 2 eggs. Two days later there was nothing to be seen.

Crowned Lapwing eggs

Crowned Lapwing on nest

An amazing hairstyle of an African Paradise-Flycatcher and an Afro-styled Brown Snake-Eagle in Punda Maria.

African Paradise-Flycatcher

Brown Snake-Eagle

Exceptionally dark colourations of Laughing and African Mourning Doves in Tshokwane Picnic site and in the Satara camp.

Laughing Dove

Laughing Dove – very dark looking

African Mourning Dove – dark form

On the S100, N’wanetsi River Road, we came across what at first we believed to be a pair of Red-necked Spurfowls – we were excited. However we later found out that they were hybrids. This poses further questions: Why a pair of hybrids together? Brothers, sisters, brother and sister or a mating pair? Mating pair – more questions!

2 Red-necked/Swainsons Spurfowls -hybrids – Satara

2 Red-necked /Swainsons Spurfowls -hybrids – Satara

We had four different sightings of Greater Painted-Snipes. A sole male at the Sweni hide, Satara; a pair of males on the Tsendze loop; another pair of males on the walk below the Mopani restaurant; and two males and a female together on the S93 just north of Olifants.

Greater Painted-Snipe – Sweni Hide

Greater Painted-Snipes – Tsendze Loop

Greater Painted-Snipes – Mopani

Greater Painted-Snipes – nr. Olifants

Greater Painted Snipe area – nr. Olifants with mystical tree.

The Green Sandpiper at the Sweni bridge on the main road south of Satara was observed by us on a number of occasions.

Green Sandpiper

Two Red-chested Cuckoos were seen together in the Pafuri Picnic site – a male paying attention to a juvenile. Shouldn’t be offspring so it is assumed that the juvenile was a female coming of age and being swooned by an adult male.

Red-chested Cuckoos – male and female (juvenile) presumeably in courtship

Also near the Pafuri Picnic site we observed 2 squabbling Eagles – on settling in the same tree we noted that they were both African Hawk-Eagles – an adult and a rufous juvenile.

African Hawk-Eagle – parent

African Hawk-Eagle – juvenile

We had the challenge of identifying a Harrier seen in the distance at the Thongonyeni waterhole on the Tropic of Capricorn loop just north of Mopani. Luckily not a female but a juvenile – a Pallid Harrier.

Pallid Harrier – juvenile

In St. Lucia we found a pair of Bar-tailed Godwits along the mud flats at the mouth of the Lake St. Lucia estuary. There were also 13 African Black Oystercatchers on the beach. Many other waders and Terns were also seen.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwits – a pair

African Black Oystercatchers

In Ndumo there was a female Little Bittern dashing between the reeds right in front of the Nyamithi Hide. At the Vulture restaurant on separate occasions we noticed an adult and then a juvenile Palm-nut Vulture.

Little Bittern

Little Bittern flying

Palm-nut Vulture – juvenile

Palm-nut Vulture

Interesting animal sightings include:
- a one tusker Elephant with a very long tusk
- Elephant – one tusker
- a Civet in broad daylight unconcernedly foraging right next to us. It had a sore back right leg and was limping. This was the only lifer that either of us had on our trip. As we watched we did not notice an elephant approaching directly towards us from the other side until it was just metres away. Mega hasty retreat was called for – adrenalin does wonders to focus you.
- African Civet
  
  African Civet
  
  African Civet
- a male Leopard coming for a drink at Lake Panic Hide, Skukuza.
- Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
  
  Leopard – Lake Panic
- Dwarf Mongooses around our campsite at Malelane.
- Dwarf Mongoose
  
  Dwarf Mongooses
- Hippos resting in peace at Sweni Hide
- Hippos resting in peace
- Numerous very large herds of Buffalo. One herd was over a kilometre long and it appeared to be over 20 animals across most of the way – must have been thousands of animals.
- A rather interesting Waterbuck – rather suave and foppish!
- Waterbuck with crooked horn – rather suave and foppish

Some of the other animals photographed:

African Elephant

Black-backed Jackal – juvenile

Blue-headed Lizzard

Small herd of Buffalo

Camouflaged Crocodile

Crocodile

Dead Snake

Dwarf Chameleon

Elephants searching for water – digging a perfectly round hole.

Grey Duiker

Hippo Heaven

Hippo

His Majesty

Lion – his majesty

Hyena pup

Klipspringer

Nyala – young male

One rather fat Crocodile

Reedbuck

Slender Mongoose with his snail

Snake

Steenbok

Sun Spider

Tsessebe

White Rhino – resting his head on rock.

Zebra with full mouth of water

There is one photo which does not appear real – it looks as if a tree has uprooted itself and is coming straight for us.
Mystical Tree – where is it going.
However the “piece-de-la-resistance” is definitely the two magical mystical photos of the Pennant-winged Nightjars we saw while at Punda Maria.
Pennant-winged Nightjar

Pennant-winged Nightjar

And finally an album of some of the other bird photos follows:

African Cuckoo

African Cuckoo Hawk – juvenile

African Darter – poised just like a snake.

African Firefinch

African Fish-Eagle

African Fish-Eagles – juveniles at nest

African Goshawk

African Green-Pigeon

African Harrier-Hawk – juvenile

African Harrier-Hawk – adult

African Hawk-Eagle

African Hoopoe

African Jacana

African Pygmy-Kingfisher

African Spoonbill – shows why the bird is called a “Spoon”bill

African Wattled Lapwing

Arrow-marked Babbler

Ashy Flycatcher

Barn and Lesser Striped Swallows

Bateleur – flashing

Bateleur – juvenile. And the remains of a Burchell’s Coucal.

Bateleur

Bearded Scrub-Robin

Bennett’s Woodpecker

Black Crake

Black Cuckooshrike – female

Black Cuckooshrike – male

Black Heron – fishing

Black-backed Puffback

Black-bellied Bustard

Black-bellied Bustard in flight

Black-bellied Bustard

Black-collared Barbet

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Black-headed Oriole

Black-shouldered Kite

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Broad-billed Roller

Brown Snake-Eagle

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Brown-headed Parrots in flight

Brown-headed Parrots

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Brubru

Burchell’s Coucal

Cape Glossy Starling

Cape Sparrow

Cape Vulture -tagged

Cattle Egret

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Chinspot Batis

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Collared Pratincole

Comb Duck – male

Common Fiscal – female

Common Ostrich

Common Ringed Plover

Common Sandpiper

Common Waxbill

Crested Barbet

Crested Guineafowl

Crowned Eagle

Crowned Hornbill

Curlew Sandpiper

Cut-throat Finches

Dark Chanting-Goshawk

Diderick’s Cuckoo – male

Diderick Cuckoo – female

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Dusky Indigobird

Eurasian Hobby

Lovebirds -European Bee-eaters

Giant Kingfisher – male or female or both

Glossy Ibis

Golden-breasted Bunting

Goliath Heron – ducking

Goliath Heron

Gorgeous Bushshrike

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Greater Blue-eared Starling?

Greater Honeyguide

Green Woodhoopoe

Green-backed Heron

Green-winged Pytilia in transformation

Green-winged Pytilia

Grey Go-away-bird having a dust bath

Grey Go-away-bird.

Grey Heron

Grey Penduline-Tit

Grey Plover

Grey Plover in flight

Grey Waxbills

Grey Waxbill

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Groundscraper Thrush

Hamerkop nest

Helmeted Guineafowl

Hooded Vulture

House Sparrow

Jacobin Cuckoo

Jameson’s Firefinch

Kittlitz’s Plover

Klaas’s Cuckoo

Lappet-faced Vultures – loved the colour of the head gear

Lappet-faced Vulture

Lesser Masked Weaver

Lesser Sand Plover

Lesser Striped Swallow

Levaillant’s Cuckoo

Little Sparrowhawk

Long-billed Crombec

Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah

Malachite Kingfisher – in a dive

Malachite Kingfisher – returning from a dive

Malachite Kingfishers

Marico Sunbird

Marsh Sandpiper

Martial Eagle

Martial Eagle – juvenile

Meve’s Starling

Mocking Cliff-Chat

Narina Trogon

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Pale Flycatcher

Pied Avocet

Pied Kingfisher

Pink-backed Pelican

Pink-throated Twinspot

Purple Roller

Purple Swamphen on the way to the beach

Purple-banded Sunbird

Purple-crested Turacos

Red-billed Hornbill

Red-billed Oxpecker

Red-breasted Swallow

Red-crested Korhaan

Red-eyed Dove

Red-headed Weaver – juvenile

Red-winged Starling

Ruddy Turnstone

Sabota Lark

Saddle-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork in flight

Sanderlings

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Common Scimitarbill

Secretarybird

Southern Banded Snake-Eagle

Southern Boubou

Southern Ground-Hornbill

Speckled Mousebird

Spectacled Weaver.

Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Thick-knee

Squacco Heron

Striped Kingfisher

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Tawny Eagle -striped

Trumpeter Hornbill

Village Indigobird in transition

Village Weaver

Violet-backed Starling – female

Violet-backed Starling

Vultures and Jackals

Wahlberg’s Eagle – Pale Morph

Wahlberg’s Eagles in courtship

Wahlberg’s Eagles procreating

Water Thick-knee with 2 chicks

Wattled Starling

Western Osprey

White-backed and Cape Vultures

White-browed Robin-Chat

White-browed Scrub-Robin

White-crowned Lapwing showing its spurs

White-crowned Shrike

White-fronted Bee-eater

White-fronted Plover

White-headed Vulture in flight

White-headed Vulture

White-throated Robin-Chat

Wire-tailed Swallow

Yellow Weaver

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Yellow-billed Egret

Yellow-billed Kite

Yellow-billed Stork

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Yellow-throated Petronia

Again I hope you have enjoyed the read and the photos.

Paul & Sally.

2 Comments Add yours

John Bremner says:

22 December 2014 at 10:48

Thanks Paul and Sally for sharing your trip with us. Realy good set of reports and photos.

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Norman says:

22 December 2014 at 05:13

What an incredible trip you guys had. Great sightings, great photo’s.

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BirdLife eThekwini KZN

Zululand and the Kruger

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