Black Kites in Lichtenburg

On the 12th February 2011 I visited the Lichtenburg Game Breeding Centre again to check on the Black Kite population I saw there the week before. Indeed the number had increased.  I managed to take  a photo of this juvenile who seemed to be amused by my presence.In the group there were some Yellow-billed Kites as well. It has always been a challenge to distiguish between the two.

Juvenile Black Kite

The juvenile Black Kite in full view

African Stonechat in Lichtenburg

Today I visited the Lichtenburg Nature Reserve and it was to my amazement to find African Stonechats in big numbers. Lichtenburg being 60km away from Mafikeng.This species is not found in Mafikeng but with the recent burst the distribution may cover Mafikeng

Abdim Stocks pass Mafikeng

Today at midday, 30th January 2011, the first group of about fifty Abdim Stocks pitched up 25km West of  Mafikeng on their usual annual migratory path. This is contrary to the usual late November or early December arrival and passing the town. Their annual path is through the villages of Masutlhe and Modimola from across neighbouring Botswana. They are two months late this season. The question is;

• Are they on their way to the North or South?

If they are on their way to the North it means they are now migrating back. The question is;

• Why did they avoid their usual annual path on their way South?

If they are only on their way South now, it means they are late or it is just another late group.
This are the questions I would like to answer in the next few days or weeks. I will keep you posted.



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Just landed and looking around

Just landed

Moving around in groups. A juvenile and an adult

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