Page 12 - 23 May 2025

PAGE 12 · THE REPORTER 23 MAY 2025

that is easy to identify,
almost like a squeaky toy.
They are tiny little birds with
a very short tail, white
eyepatch and chin. The
forehead, moustache stripe
and throat are black. They
have a black and white
On many of our walks barred breast and flanks.
around the golf club, we hear The beak is red in the male
and see the little African and dusky brown above and
Quailfinches (Gewone pinkish red below. The belly
Kwartelvinkie) flying around. is reddish brown. The female
They are almost impossible is much more plain than the
to see on the ground. We male.
were fortunate to have seen The African Quailfinch is a African Quailfinch (Gewone Kwartelvinkie) showing the African Quailfinch (Gewone Kwartelvinkie). Barkly East
them drinking at the new unique bird known for its male and female. Mountain Zebra National Park 26 April 2021
dam in town, Barkly East. distinctive appearance and September 2020
This was a very special treat habits. It's the only waxbill
for us and we were able to species that nests on the
take many photographs of ground, and its diet primarily
them and spent a long while consists of seeds and small
lying on our stomachs on the insects. They are very
side of the dam wall widespread throughout
watching them.
South Africa.
We once bumped into them I read an article that had this
in the Mountain Zebra to say about their name: “It is
National Park in Cradock at a true finch, classified with
one of the picnic spots that other waxbills in the family
have a nice little dam for the Estrildidae, but one could
birds to drink at. not be blamed for thinking
otherwise, in appearance African Quailfinch (Gewone Kwartelvinkie) male. African Quailfinch (Gewone Kwartelvinkie) male.
There is especially one area
at the local Golf Club in and behavior, it very much
Barkly East where African resembles a minute quail.”
Quailfinches seem to be We have not had much time One of the flocks of
plentiful. We hear them and to do birding, but have been Bald Ibises
then see them flying enjoying the garden birds (Kalkoenibis) that
overhead, calling loudly. and those around town. The have been seen
They have a habit sitting Southern Bald Ibises have feeding around
tight, and are usually only been foraging around town town. It is nice to
seen when flushed when and even on the verges of see the immature
they are almost underfoot or town. We have bumped into birds amongst
our dogs almost run over them at the golf course and them.
them. Quailfinches are even along in Copeland
gregarious and are mostly Street.
seen in little flocks. They My apologies for the lack of
have a very particular call “bird news”.
Till next time

Speckled Mousebird (Gevlekte Muisvoël). A bird that I
have mixed feelings about. When I look at my poor
spinach stalks, or half eaten fruit, I am tempted to swop
my camera for a different weapon.

Speckled Mousebird (Gevlekte Muisvoël). Looking very
photogenic while innocently feasting on berries.