Pink-backed Pelicans at Modimola Dam

Sunday morning birding walk is always a joy to me. This flock of Pink-backed Pelicans were just perched in my path and preening each other. As I approached they started flying off in a spectacular way.

Pink-backed Pelicans flying off

A good number of  Pink-backed Pelicans congregated



Grey Heron at Modimola Dam

While birding at Modimola Dam this morning I came across this Grey Heron lazing away on a rock. With the recent good rains the shoreline is under water and waders are almost absent. Red-knobbed coots dominate the waters.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron preening herself

Bokaa Dam birding in Botswana

Yesterday I visited the Bokaa Dam in Botswana for some birding. In the four hours that I spent there I listed 47 species. The place is teeming with bird life. I was just about to leave when a  flock of Marabou Storks came flying in. It was about sixty of them.

Yellow billed Kite

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater



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.



Click the image to enlarge it

Just landed and looking around

Just landed

Moving around in groups. A juvenile and an adult