Page 4 - 28 November 2025

PAGE 4 · THE REPORTER 28 NOVEMBER 2025

them when they flew to their
little chick. It was already
fledged and able to fly, but
still dependant on its parents
for food. A real little "mini-
me" with a short little tail and
the tell-tale yellow gape of a
juvenile. Such a treat
We are extremely grateful watching this family. So cute
that The Reporter has been when it does the usual tail-
very, very busy the last 2 wagging with that very short
months. I printed calendars tail.
this week, with the intention Cape Wagtails (Gewone
of binding them during the Kwikkie) are extremely
weekend. Billy kindly adaptable birds that can be
punched the 100 calendars found in a variety of habitats,
for me, which is a big portion from natural areas near
of the work. As I left on Friday water to urban gardens. Ground Woodpecker (Grondspeg) Bokmakierie Cape Grassbird (Grasvoël)
the calendars accusingly C a p e W a g t a i l s a r e
stared at me, pricking my monogamous, territorial, Just a short note. It is
conscience as I was already and their nests can be found breeding season and you may
planning a birding outing for in both natural and man- see many young newly fledged
Saturday in my mind. made structures like tree birds on the ground. Please
The original plan was to work branches, bushes, and even don’t pick them up unless they
on the trailer then face the wall holes (or Uncle Koos’ are in danger. If you do pick
pile of calenders. It did not garage).. them up, place them out of
take much to convince Kevin We met some of Coreen and harm’s way as close to where
that we needed an outing, so Minky's horses. They were you found them as possible.
coffee, rusks and cameras very friendly and wanted to Their parents will feed them,
packed and off we went. join us on our drive, some they are not abandoned. Too
We decided on the Bottlenek actually running along the many people think that they
road. The scenery is fence. I could not help taking are doing a good or kind deed
spectacular and we often photographs of them. by “saving” them. Don’t, you
have lovely feathered We turned back at the top of may very well be signing their
surprises along that route. the pass. The bird species on death warrant.
The rock formations are the trip back were very Thank you for bearing with me
something to see. I posted a different from the ones we on my rambles.
photograph of a scene along saw earlier the morning.
the road on two fascinating We spotted a small group of Till next time. Grey Crowned Crane (Mahem)
rocks. Fransie van Zyl com- Drakensberg Siskins (Berg-
mented “Klip soen” under pietjiekanarie). We heard the
the photograph. I like that calls of the Ground Wood-
name “Kissing Rocks”. We pecker and then spotted
once saw the elusive Swee them. There were three of
Waxbill (Suidelike Swee) them. We were able to watch
along that road and are them, but then a tractor
always hopeful that we will d r o v e u p a n d t h e y
have another sighting of d i s a p p e a r e d . I w a s
them. photographing two of them
So after a few unavoidable on a rock when the tractor
chores, off we went. The and baler came driving up
Cape Grassbird (Grasvoël) the road. My shutter-speed
were extremely active and was much too low and I
singing their distinctive missed capturing the flash of
song. yellow and red as the birds
We did not see many raptors, flew off.
but the smaller birds were Further down the road we
active. Birds like Cape spotted a pair of Verreaux's Cape Wagtail (Gewone Kwikkie) juvenile. Cape Wagtail (Gewone Kwikkie) juvenile being fed by one
Weavers (Kaapse Wewers), Eagles (Witkruisarend). of the parents.
Red (Rooivink) and Yellow They were being mobbed by
Bishops (Kaapse Flap), Cape Crows. They flew off
African Pipit (Gewone and one landed on the side
Koster), and a few Cape of the mountain. They are
Buntings (Rooivlerkstreep- majestic birds of prey and
koppie). The colourful Yellow have enormous powerful
Bishops (Kaapse Flap) were beaks!
around, flashing their bright Even though we had to rush
yellow backs. back to finish the chores we
We spotted a pair of Cape had left behind, it was a
Wagtails. We were watching wonderful day out in nature.

Sentinel Rock Thrush Kevin’s photograph of a Yellow Bishop African Stonechat (Gewone
(Langtoonkliplyster) (Kaapse Flap) with his yellow back Bontrokkie)

The “Kissing Rocks”

Drakensberg Siskin
(Bergpietjiekanarie)
Photograph:
Kevin Meise Pintail Whydah (Koningrooibekkie) Verreaux's Eagle (Witkruisarend)