Page 10 - 31 October 2025

PAGE 10 · THE REPORTER 31 OCTOBER 2025

frogs. In this area they
mainly breed from October
to February. They excavate a
small burrow in a waterside
bank, ideally at the waters
edge.
They have been seen
carrying frogs almost as big
I don’t know about you all, as themselves to their
but life seems to have picked chicks. Frogs, like fish, are
up the pace. The year is a l w a y s c a r r i e d h e a d
rushing to an end. I cannot outwards so that the food
believe that our annual can be pushed head first
closing and Christmas is just into the chick’s mouth. This
a few weeks away. And just is essential in the case of fish,
like that another week otherwise the spines of the
passes us by without getting fish would get stuck in the
out to go birding. chick’s throats. The adults
This forced me to look back appear to spend most of
through my photographs their day carrying food to the
taken through the years. I chicks.
had to get my “bird” fix The Malachite Sunbird
somewhere, so in the breeds mainly from October Malachite Sunbird (Jangroentjie), 1 October 2023, looking Malachite Sunbird (Jangroentjie) Barkly East, 19 January
for insects in the sticky anthers of Capparis tomentosa
2025
evenings we often watch to January. They build a
some of Lynette Rudman’s 14cm oval nest, with a side
wonderful “Birding with entrance. It is most
Lynette” Youtube channel. commonly suspended from
I also enjoy Richard van a branch or grass tuft, made
Haght’s Youtube channel. from a variety of plant
He is very knowledgeable, is material bound with cob
a great photographer and his web.
videos’s are top class. I have They usually announce their
been enjoying visiting our arrival to your garden with
beloved Kruger National loud distinct call. The males
Park with him. He always has love sitting on the top of a
the bird names on the bush calling. At prime
screen, and this helps feeding sights, like the two
beginners as well as other stands of Red Hot Pokers
birders.
near town, the males fight
During my looking through and squabble and call loudly.
old photographs I enjoyed If a poor female arrives, the
seeing our photographs of m a l e s p u r s u e h e r
the two “Malachites” that mercilessly. They move away
come to this area. They are to warmer areas during the
the Malachite Sunbird very cold months. According
(Jangroentjie), of which we to the apps they generally Malachite Sunbird (Jangroentjie) female, Barkly East. 26 Malachite Sunbird (Jangroentjie) our garden Barkly East (8
have many photographs and move less than 200km. January 2025. We love watching and photographing the April 2023). A male in eclipse plumage.
the Malachite Kingfisher Sunbirds at the two Red Hot Poker “sites” in town. The one
(Kuifkopvisvanger). Both are I have seen and heard a few is at the Golf Club and the other near the old town dam.
beautiful birds. males in town, so I know they
are back. At the beginning of
A little more about the
Malachite Kingfisher. Size the breeding season the
14cm from beak tip to tail males stake out their
tip. This little bird has bright territory by perching on top
blue upper parts, orange of bushes and calling loudly.
breast and belly and the They are known to be very
crown is mottled turquoise. aggressive towards other
The throat and side of the males and even males of
face is white. It has a long other sunbird species.
sturdy bright red bill and Please let me know of any
legs. The immature bird has interesting or unusual
a black bill. sightings, especially now
They are mostly solitary when the summer visitors
birds. They feed on fish, arrive.
crabs, insects, tadpoles and Till next time.

Malachite Kingfisher (Kuifkopvisvanger) juvenile, Barkly East
town dam, 17 February 2024. A pair used to breed at the dam.
Their nest was most probably in the wall, this must be one of Malachite Kingfisher (Kuifkopvisvanger), Rietkloof road,
their chicks. Sadly, with all the tree chopping and activity, I Barkly East, 27 April 2022. The wind was blowing his
don’t t know if they will breed there this year. “kuif”, clearly showing where he gets his Afrikaans name

On 27 March 2021 I posted the following on Facebook: This little sweetheart seems very lost. She
spends a lot of time in our tiny garden. The weather has been cold and she looks so lost, all wet and
cold. She is too trusting. We are constantly chasing cats and dogs. I think she is running out of food. Malachite Sunbird at our "feeder", our little Guineafowl Aloes.
Kevin, Clayton and I tried to fashion a feeder for her. Hopefully she will use it tomorrow morning. (Jangroentjie). (28 November 2021)