Life Birds from the Ramble - Tankwa
I started the trip in Cape Town needing 61 new birds to get to 1,500 life birds. So this trip was a bit less Ramble and a little more chase. I think that made my guides happy -- that is after all what they do -- yet clients as many birds as they can. And so it went. I finished the trip with 1,509 birds -- very impressive feat for my guides given it was winter -- the least birdy season -- and I had been to Kruger twice before (once in winter).
Vince and I started in the Tankwa -- a semi-desert habitat north east of Cape Town. It was very remote, kind of dusty and has a very low species density. However, the ones that are here are choice and mostly endemic, so off we went.
Day 1 -- drove up from Cape Town and birded a bit along the way.
Namaqua Warbler singing away in a Marsh
Piping Cisticola or Neddicky across the road from the marsh
Fairy Flycatcher -- up the road a piece
Layard's Warbler hanging out near the Fairy Flycatcher
Karoo Lark singing from the rocks above
Rufous-eared Warbler joined the party
One more celebrant - Karoo Chat
Further down the road the Karoo Eremomela(s) popped up
On the way into the Guest Farm we spotted a few Black-headed Canaries
and a Southern Anteater Chat
On down the road
The Guest Farm entrance - Vince unlocking the gate
My residence -- The Barn
The next morning we searched the cliffs for a Cinnamon-breasted Warbler
Finally found it!
A Lark-like Bunting gave us a better look
This was a species that Vince told me -- no way -- but we rambled further down the road than he had ever been and this was our reward -- Ludwig's Bustard -- we saw THREE of them! Never say Never!
We looked hard for the Spike-heeled Lark and finally found them.
Saw and heard these Tractrac Chats (heard is important, it is how they are named)
Our last life bird of the day -- lucky to see them as the wind was picking up.
Woke the next day to fog and rain expected. We were lucky to pick up these Protea Canaries.
We missed an opportunity for a Cape Rockjumper due to fog, but managed to spot a Cape Rock Thrush instead.
Found 18 birds out of a possible 32 but reasonable 15 -- we did well. Thanks Vince...
A video compliation of this part of the trip...
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