28 October 2021

After looking at the weather predictions the day before it was put to the vote and decided that instead of cancelling, we would rather have the outing on the following day (Friday). One booked member couldn’t make it then, but the rest could.

The day dawned sunny with a bit of cloud, so it had been a good choice. We set up on the far side of the reed filled pond and straight away were entertained by displaying Thick-billed Weavers in the reeds, seemed to be plenty of the beautiful males but only one female. 

The noisy Village Weavers were building in the tree above and were very busy.

An active pair of African Paradise Flycatchers seemed to be collecting food for a nest as they were back and forth all morning.

We managed to find all three Mannikin species, with Magpie and Bronze Mannikin being seen a few times, the hardest to locate was the Red-backed Mannikin with only one bird seen all morning.  

There was a very confiding female Greater Double-collared Sunbird active in front of us, but the male only showed himself occasionally (once even with his yellow pectoral tufts on display).

A couple of the black birds were also around, Southern Black Flycatcher and Fork-tailed Drongos.

When we eventually got back to the cars, there was a gorgeous male Klaas’s Cuckoo in the trees in front of us – I was surprised that we hadn’t seen it earlier with all the weavers around!

A total of 42 birds were seen during the morning. 

Written by Jenny Norman with photos by Jane Morris