25 July 2024

It was a beautiful morning, and everyone arrived for the sit-in in eager anticipation. We went to the hide first where a Lesser Swamp Warbler entertained us while the Little Rush Warbler chuckled away but stayed hidden. The first few people in saw the Common Moorhen as it disappeared into the reeds, it also showed itself briefly later in the morning.

A surprise was hearing a Water Thick-knee but even more exciting was hearing a very vocal African Rail giving it’s normal call as well as one that I hadn’t heard before! A female African Stonechat flitted around but there was no sign of her mate.

As usual there were a number of walkers, we wandered around the perimeter of the water body through lovely lush forest with a closed canopy. We were entertained by an African Dusky Flycatcher and Spectacled Weaver on the way while Olive Sunbird serenaded us.  Imagine our surprise when on turning the corner an African Goshawk flew straight at us before swerving at the last minute and heading off into the thick bush unfortunately not in view.

Where the forest thinned out and some sun got in, we found a Erythrina in bloom and were rewarded by a suite of sunbirds which included Olive, Collared, Amethyst, and a lovely view of a Grey Sunbird with his red pectoral tufts showing.  The water is not very visible, and we only walked a about halfway along the South side of the water before the coffee started calling and we headed back to the hide.

While some of the people decided to go for a walk the others stayed in the hide. We added a few more birds such as flybys of Black-headed Heron, Egyptian Goose and a fair-sized flock of Spur-winged Goose.

There were quite a few Red Bishops (one showing a touch of red around the back of the neck), a couple of shy Red-billed Queleasand an African Swamphen which didn’t want to come out into the open.

Pics – Southern Red Bishop female (Tammy Harding)

Peek-a-boo, I see you – African Swamphen being shy (Tammy Harding)

The opposite was a beautiful Malachite Kingfisher which hung around for a while even diving for a small fish.

Other birds seen included Bronze Mannikins and a couple of Thick-billed Weavers.

When the walkers came back they brought back some bones and a feather which they found under a tree – the dinner of the Goshawk?

We then moved to the picnic site for our hot beverages – the coffee was very welcome as the wind was starting to pick up although it was sheltered there. We added Sombre Greenbul and Fork-tailed Drongo to the list.

Report by Jenny Norman