Page 5 - 24 January 2025

THE REPORTER 24 JANUARY 2025 · PAGE 5

descended towards the
water from the trees in large
flocks, only to swerve and fly
back to perch when they saw
the juvenile Lanners. This
carried on for more than half
an hour. The two parent
birds were desperate to
catch supper for the family.
They tried to get the juveniles
to fly back to their tree,
eventually the one did. The
other stubbornly stayed at
the waterhole. A Pale
Chanting Goshawk joined
him at the water and the
juvenile Lanner became
Our Kgalagdi holiday had a aggressive and tried to Lanner Falcons (Edelvalk) perched at Polentswa before launching an Lanner Falcons (Edelvalk) attacking the flocks of
few very special moments, attack the Goshawk. I think attack. smaller birds.
and that does not include the the Lanner family went
moment a Lion walked without supper that night!
passed the Jimny, very At Cubitje Quap waterhole a
closely and then decided ro pair of Cape Crows had a
mark his territory against a very crafty plan to get an easy
very nearby tree. The guy meal. The Lanners would
turned his huge rear-end hunt and when they hit a
towards the Jimny and bird, the crows would grab it
started his territorial from them.
marking. His aim was rather
off and the poor Jimny At Kij Kij waterhole we saw a
received part of the marking! Kori Bustard coming to
drink. He walked amongst
We loved visiting the water the flocks of little birds
holes. Other than the Lanner coming in to drink and flying
Falcons hunting. We off. He looked very innocent,
watched the flocks of Red-
headed Finches, Cape and suddenly grabbed a bird
and ate it. The little birds
Sparrows, Red-billed were then a lot less trusting.
Queleas, Common Ring The Kori circled the A Tawny Eagle (Roofarend) coming in to land. Bateleur (Berghaan) drinking
Doves and the Namaqua waterhole not getting a
Doves fleeing from the chance to grab another little
hunters. I felt very sorry for bird. He eventually knelt
these little birds that were
desperate for drink. down and drank, then circled
around again in the hopes of
The Namaqua Sandgrouse another snack, but with no
always announced their success.
arrival with their beautiful call
before they landed. Sometimes we saw Grey-
backed Sparrow-weavers
Sometimes we were lucky and Stark’s and Sabota
and had a Bateleur or a Larks amongst the birds
Tawny Eagle or two arrive.
coming to drink.
One day at the Polentswa One of my favourite birds is
waterhole we had a number
of vultures come down to the Crimson-breasted A Lappet-faced Vulture (Swartaasvoël) and a White-backed
Shrike, it is very striking and I
drink, Lappet-faced as well love its call. I call it the Vulture (Witrugaasvoël) drinking together at the Polentswa
as White-backed Vultures. remote-control bird because waterhole.
We saw a juvenile Black- of the call that sounds like Lappet-faced Vultures (Swartaasvoëls)
chested Snake-eagle that the sound of a car opening
was clearly unwell. He when you press the remote.
moved around the waterhole
for the next few days, we left An unexpected bird was a
the area and do not know Yellow Wagtail at the Mata
what happened to it. Mata bird-hide. A fellow
Eastern Cape birder, Jorrie,
At the Rooiputs waterhole
there was a resident family of told us about an African
Lanners, two adults and two Crake that had taken up
juveniles. The one evening residence in the camp.
the two juveniles were sitting Sadly, we did not get to see it.
near the waterhole. The Being a birder really adds to
flocks of small birds a visit to any national park.

We loved watching the little Scaly-feathered Finches
(Baardmannetjies) early in the mornings. They would
cuddle together and groom each other on a branch in the
early morning sun.
Secretarybird (Sekretarisvoël)

We saw this Spotted Eagle Owl (Gevlekte Ooruil) on its
nest a few times.

The Kori Bustard (Gompou) that snacked on a little bird at Crimson-breasted Shrike (Rooiborslaksman) - my remote
Two days later we saw these two fluffy chicks in the nest. the water hole. control bird.