Amur Falcons roost in Mafikeng

Male and Female Amur Falcons that roost at the Mafikeng CBD on a telephone line



Lesser Kestrels roost in Mafikeng

Lesser Kestrel on a telephone line. They are found in great numbers during the day. 

Kestrel Count Day

Today (22nd February 2011) is the official Kestrel Count Day in South Africa and volunteers are all out counting Kestrels from  their roost trees. The following pictures were taken today just before and as they left for the day from their roost tree. This roost tree is in Hatchard Street in Mafikeng CBD. I arrived at the tree with members of the Mafikeng Bird Club at 05h00 to witness the lift off. The roost has Lesser Kestrels in the majority,the Red Footed Falcons following the latter in numbers and the Amur Falcons in the minority.The first group arrived at the roost tree on the 13th November 2010 and they were Lesser Kestrels and later on bigger groups started arriving from their wintering grounds in Europe and Asia.  Click on the following link for more information

http://www.africanraptors.org/amur-falcon-migration-route-finally-plotted/.

Click to enlarge the image

The large group lift-off at 05h30

The first group lift-off at 05h16

At 05h10 before lift-off -just some twittering in the tree

Water ponds all over for birding

After the recent heavy rains, water has collected in ponds all over and birds are gathering in great numbers. You do not have to travel far for a shot of some of these beautiful feathered friends.  Below are some of the photos I took in some of the ponds in and around Mafikeng.( alongside some roads)

Please click on the image to enlarge it.

 

Little Egret - looking around

               

Grey Heron a bit confused

Blackwinged Stilt - water in abundance

                             

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



Caspian Tern at Modimola Dam

An uncommon summer visitor

Suddenly it was a pair

Blue Cheeked Bee-eater

A summer visitor at one particular spot at Disaneng Dam.

Great White Pelican at Modimola Dam

A surprise spotting of a Great White Pelican at Modimola Dam. Strange enough the dam has plenty og Pink Backed Pelicans. A spotting of a Great White one was a surprise.

Pin Tailled Whydah

Karoo Thrush

Common Greenshank at Disaneng Dam

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

Spurwinged Goose at Modimola Dam

Spurwinged goose with its spurs visible on the wings.

This goose was spotted in the company of Sacred Ibises, African Spoonbill, Egyptian Geese, Whiteface Ducks and Red Knobbed Coots

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.

Southern Yellow- Billed Hornbill

Southern yellow-billed horn bills are mostly found in great numbers at the Botsalano Game reserve situated 35 km from Mafikeng. Look at its massive bill.

Another spot of interest in Mafikeng is the Cookes Lake where white and reed cormorant are in abundance.

Lesser Flamingos at Modimola Dam

Today I witnessed a very colourful and interesting spectacle. Flamingos together with their young were hovering over the Modimola Dam for several hours and finaly flew off towards the South

Mafikeng Botanical Park

Mafikeng Botanical Park has new residents

The Mafikeng Botanical Park is home to a pair of Egyptian Geese. They are normaly seen with their chicks frolicking around the lawn particularly in the morning. They are quite cute said one onlooker. Eight cute little chicks.

Capped Wheatear at Modimola Dam

Something for a twitch

I have just seen a Capped Wheatear for the first time around the Modimola dam on Sunday 26th April 2009. I went back to the same spot where I saw it the following day on Monday and it was still there fighting with Cape Sparrows for its newly found teritory. I have never seen this bird in this area in the last five years I have been doing birding there.