Life birds from the Ramble - East

Sep 4

3 min read

Arrived in White River with 43 birds to find to reach my Life bird goal of 1,500. Andrew was ready to go but skeptical we could find that many species given the constraints (winter, multiple visits to area already). We started out with lots of enthusiasm and had no new birds on the way to our first rest camp.

The Route...

The next morning we had a new bird at the camp - Bearded Scrub-robin.

At our first pan - I spotted a Buffy Pipit

The second pan yielded Violet-eared Waxbills

Our morning sit at Sirheni had a flyover of the Obama -- oops the Ovambo Sparrowhawk...

After searching unsuccessfully last trip, we found the Retz's Helmetshrike this time!

One of my favorite Kruger birds finally found -- Southern Crested Guineafowl -- like a cross between Tina Turner and Elvis!

Not great shots, but we finally saw the much sought-after Brown-necked Parrots flying out of their morning roost.

An immature Lesser Moorhen in the Klopperfontein Dam

ID's from a photo -- Red-collared Widowbird (in non-breeding plumage)

This species - Tropical Boubou -- sounds like a truck backing up -- Beep Beep Beep...

Lemon-breasted Canary at Baobab Hill

At the Bridge near Pafuri Camp we spotted a Bat-like (Bohm) Spinetail..

Holub's Golden Warbler was in the same spot

This Purple-banded Sunbird was in the Pafuri Picnic area

The backlit Southern Yellow White-eye was another find at the Picnic area.

Although we were disappointed not to see the Racket-tailed Roller, the Arnot's Chat was the prize of the day...

We had a Freckled Night jar on our night drive, but sadly no photo. They are quick. The next day we set out to find the Racket-tailed Roller. Carl the guide from our night drive took us to the spot and called the bird -- we had 15 minutes with the bird...

On the way back to Punda Maria - right outside the camp, these birds walked in front of us...

On the way to the Game Lodge we saw a Gray-rumped Swallow fly by...

In the middle of the night both Andrew and I hear the Southern White-faced Owl.

The next morning we discovered this little African Barred Owlet

Next stop was a Boat trip at Blyde River Dam. It was lovely to get out on the water and see a few birds...

There were three Verreaux's Eagles looking for Rock Hyrox

A Half-collared Kingfisher zipped by low to the water -- it's tiny!

Back at Andrew's place a Black-and-white Mannikin

A hike in the Forest near White River yields several birds

There were two Narina Trogons who followed us around

A Lesser Honeyguide perched so close no photo was possible.

Got good looks at the Olive Bushshrike

Andrew managed this photo of the African Crested Flycatcher (Blue)

There was an African Firefinch party

The Chorister Robin-chat was singing away

This Forest Canary with a couple of friends was at the trail head.

Back in Andrew's neighborhood this Streaky-headed Seedeater was feeding

Up on the mountain this Rock-loving (Lazy) Cisticola was singing away

A Fan-tailed Widowbird was perched up for us.

Before we reached the Kruger gate a Gabar Goshawk flew by...

Andrew called in a Trumpeter Hornbill -- which cleaned our house of Hornbills!

Picked up the three African Skimmers south of Lower Sabie

Only 4 birds left to 1,500 when we arrived in Barberton to see these Black-bellied Starling at our rest stop!

Up in the Mountains we met the Olive Woodpecker (where we ran the table with Woodpeckers)

Andrew heard this species for @45 minutes on the way up the hill, but never saw it. We stopped for breakfast and I looked across the street and saw these birds I didn't recognize. Andrew confirmed they are the Gurney's Sugarbird -- just one to go!