Page 12 - 22 November 2024

PAGE 12 · THE REPORTER 22 NOVEMBER 2024

LOCAL

BIRD

CH
WAT

I appreciate any interaction
about my bird watch page or
about birds in general. I was
extremely excited to receive
t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g
photographs from Theuns
Botha.
They are of a Three-banded
Plover nesting on the road.
Yes, you read correctly - on
the road. The bird made its The road to their farm, where the little bird decided to make its nest.
nest in the middle of the
road.
Theuns says they have being
seeing the little bird for about
two to three weeks. When
they come close it flies up
and stays close, and returns
when they pass. Theuns and
T.C. decided to investigate
on Tuesday. They found the
birds nest and there were two
very well camouflaged eggs
in the nest. Amazing that
they have not been stood on
or driven over!
Three-banded Plover (Driebandstrandkiewiet). This is a Three-banded Plover (Driebandstrandkiewiet). The actual Long-crested Eagle
At least now people are photograph I took at our local town dam. bird nesting on the road (Langkuifarend)
aware of the nest. Such a is extremely small!) They
wonderful find, well done hatch in 26-30 days and the
Theuns and T.C. Kev and I o f f s p r i n g , a l t h o u g h
were meeting friends who precocial (chicks that can
were taking us to see an area
walk, run, and swim after a
we had never before seen.
few hours of hatching) they
We were meeting at remain dependent on the
Mountain Shadows Hotel, parents for 40-42 days.
but first made a quick detour
up Ruitjies to see if we could We did not see the eagles,
see the Verreaux’s Eagles but near to town spotted a
and also up Bottlenek and L o n g - c r e s t e d E a g l e
further to see the little Plover. (Langkuifarend). It had
The bird was sitting very well caught a rodent and we Sentinel Rock Thrush (Langtoonkliplyster)/ We had a lot of Spur-winged Goose (Wiidemakou)
watched it swallow it hole,
camouflaged in the middle sightings of these birds.
before we could even get our
of the road, but flew off as
cameras in focus. The
soon as we approached. It swallows were full up and
came back and attempted to sitting perched and enjoying
distract us with a very good the early morning sunrays.
injured bird performance.
We did not see the nest and We had a wonderful day with
eggs and did not want to great friends. The new road
disturb the little bird by we travelled had spectacular
getting too close. All we have scenery and some equally
is a very far off photograph of great bird. Drakensberg
the Three-band Plover. Siskins (Bergpietjiekanarie),
Drakensberg Rockjumpers
The following information (Oranjeborsberglyster),
was taken from the BirdPro Ground Woodpeckers
App which is available on (Grondspeg), Malachite Drakensberg Siskin (Bergpietjiekanarie) two females Drakensberg Siskin (Bergpietjiekanarie) male
Google Play. Sunbird (Jangroentjie_,
The Three-banded Plover Canaries, Buntings and
(Driebandstrandkiewiet) is many more. We did not get
about 18cm from tip of beak photographs of them all
to tail. The two breast bands though. Thank you Theuns,
divided by a white band Joyce and TC and friends for
around its neck and the red- an absolutely wonderful day.
eye-ring are distinguishing Back at home the Streaky-
features of this little plover. headed Seedeaters have
The forehead is white been frequenting our feeder
extending to a white eyebrow the last few weeks. They do
and line to the hind neck. sometimes visit, but lately we
Above it is a dark brown. The have quite a few birds visiting
face and upper throat are a few times every day.
grey. The rest of the They are about 16cm and Cape Bunting (Rooivlerkstreepkoppie) Cape Weaver (Kaapse Wewer)
underparts are white. The
have a bold white eyebrow
eyes are yellow, the red bill is
stripe. In breeding season
tipped with black and the they are usually found in
legs and feet are reddish pairs. The nest is a cup of
grey. mixed fibres inside and
They are always found near covered with bark strips on
water. They feed on small the outside. It is concealed in
terrestrial and aquatic the fork of a tree. Three eggs
invertebrates, mainly insects are laid that hatch in 12 to 15
and spiders but also days. The chicks are fed for
crustaceans, molluscs and about 17 days.
small worms. Enjoy this wonderful,
beautiful word we live in.
T h e l i t t l e e g g s a r e
approximately 25mm. (That Till next time Greater Striped Swallow (Grootstreepswael) White-throated Swallow (Witkeelswael)