Short Clawed Lark: "Spotty" revisited

My posting on the Short Clawed Lark (Mirafra chuana) on the 15^th October 2011 was on a particular individual I dubbed "Spotty". You can follow this link for that report:

http://mafikengbirds.blogspot.com/2011/10/short-clawed-lark-final-frontier.html

I have been monitoring the bird since then and I am happy to report that it is still in the same spot.

Although, there is another pair in the area; its call is still prevalent, displaying in fluttering flight  low over grass, clapping wings and taking refuge at the top of the bushes. In Setswana (Chuana the local people and language) the bird is called Mantsiditsidi.

Lets take cognisant of the fact that the bird is near threatened.

Spotty on 25th May 2013 (calling at the top of the bush)



The unmistakable black spot underneath

 The charming acrobatic display



Short-clawed Lark: the final frontier

Having enjoyed the flight displays and shrilling utter over the past few days in one area, I guess, this is a Short-clawed Lark spot. It is in the outskirts of Dibono Village, near the Disaneng Dam. This particular individual, identifiable with the  a black spot in the underparts; I will dub him "Spotty".
On this hot and windy day from my GPS I took the following readings:

S 25º 49.223’

E 025° 22.236’

 A call from an elevated perch (just before midday) cannot be missed

The outpost for scanning his territory

Active even in the heat of the day; persistently calling



Short-clawed Lark: the search continues

In search of the bird again; I went back to the spot at Dibono Village near Disaneng Dam. After a frantic search and listening around, the bird ultimately called. It was around midday. Approaching the area where the call came from I found the bird on top of a bush calling. Seeing me it flew further down the open grass land and perched on a bush. For a moment; while I was watching, it rose up high into the air and dropped steeply on a flight display. Looking around further there was another one uttering a shrill on top of a bush. At long last the search had come to a close. A new spot for Short Clawed Larks.

Open grassland and scttered bush where the search ended

A familiar pose and a call uttered from the top of a bush

Short-clawed Lark - threatened or near threatened?

Today while birding near Disaneng Dam, just in the outskirts of the village of Dibono, I heard the call of a Short- clawed Lark. This is a spot ±80 km away from Botsalano Game Reserve; where the species is in reasonable occurence and just a mere ±40km from Mahikeng.

Short-clawed Lark - endemic to the region.

Though known to be existing only in two disjointed populations in South Africa besides the South Eastern parts of Botswana, the Short-clawed Lark (Certhilauda chuana), “chuana” bearing reference to the Tswana people, is thought to be undergoing a localized range contraction and population reduction. On the other hand its distribution may also be influenced by seasonal or eruptive movements.It is endemic to the region.
Roberts VII Bird Guide book regards it as "near threatened" while its status  in the IUCN Red List it is evaluated as "Least Concern".
Any information on this species is hereby sort from any where or any source.

Cape Longclaw: The bird with bright orange bib

My patience was rewarded this week when I managed to take a shot of the Cape Longclaw out of the grass. The bird is vey much illusive. It hides in the tall grass and occasionally peeps out to see any intruder. Instead of flushing it out of the grass I waited patienly for it to come out. The bird is endermic to Southern Africa.

Cape Longclaw out of the tall grass

Cape Longclaw with the bright orange bib

Common Greenshank at Disaneng Dam

Following the Molopo River from the Modimola Dam down to the Disaneng Dam in search of more migrants was full of surprises. Just before the begining of the Disaneng Dam I came across a colony of cattle egrets and among them was this Common Greenshank; a first in the area of its group. At a glance I could not see it as it was totaly blended with the suroundings. What a camouflage.They breed in Northern Europe and migate to Africa.They are widespread in Southern Africa.

Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank

Common Greenshank taking a nap



Burchell's Starling at Disaneng Dam

Past two days had the temperatures dropping down drastically and birding was a bit uneasy.Spotting two Burchell's Starlings at Disaneng was a real bonus.

Hopping around on a cold chilly morning

Hopping around

Red-billed Oxpecker at Disaneng Dam

My Birding today was quite an exciting one as I spotted a flock Red-billed Oxpeckers at the Disaneng village.I have never seen these birds around that area in the past six years of my birding there.



Large red bill and the bare yellow skin around the eye.

Scrambling over the animal's body to get ticks.

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk at Disaneng Dam

Today while birding at Disaneng Dam near the village of Dibono I came across a pair of Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks. A first in the area.



One was a sub adult of the Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk



Adult Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk on a comfortable look-out post

 

 

Swallow-Tailed Bee-eater Juvenile

Today while chasing the Great Scimiterbill at Disaneng Dam, I came across this Swallow Tailed Bee-eater juvenile. Athough it was overcast and drizzling I managed to get a shot of it.

Dusky Lark at Disaneng Dam

On the 9th January 2011 close to the village of Dibono I spotted this Dusky Lark



Blue Cheeked Bee-eater

A summer visitor at one particular spot at Disaneng Dam.

Common Greenshank at Disaneng Dam

On the 29th December 2010 I spotted an injured Common Greenshank at Disaneng Dam.

Pink Colored Cattle Egret at Disaneng Dam

On the 4th January 2009 while atlasing around the Disaneng Dam I came across this pink colored cattle egret which was among other normal cattle egrets.

On the 27th April 2009 I saw it again in the same area. The photos I took of it were not so good in both instances.

Today once more I came acros this funny bird still among other cattle egrets perched on top of a thorn tree. This time I manged to take some photos of it even though it was at a distance.

I am looking for someone who can give me an expalanation on this finding.