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	LBJ's Field Course - Larks, Pipits and Cisticolas Next Course: 19 - 21 February 2010	Book/Ask for information
Cancellation! 2 places available. Introduction This will be the 9th LBJ's Field Course presented by Etienne Marais in the Ezemvelo Area. The weekend will focus on a exciting range of challenging and difficult bird groups, including Cisticola's, Larks and Pipits. Learning about LBJ’s involves the development of a knowledge base about the birds in question: What key features to look for, habitats, calls and most importantly GIZZ (General Impression of Shape and Size). However the knowledge element alone will not help you master these groups. An introductory lecture focuses on some key aspects of each group and key species which occur in the wider Gauteng Region. Participants will receive a course booklet which includes a set of detailed notes on the identification of Larks, Pipits and Cisticolas. In these notes you will find some pointers which you will not find in the field guides (Not yet anyway!). The field work is focussed on getting excellent and sustained views of the birds in question and usually we get to see at least 9 Cisticolas, and 12 Larks/Pipits in the field. For reports on previous weekends see Oct 2006. or the course in February 2007. At some points during the field sessions, you will be required to do some work on your own. This is essential in order to put the skills and theory into practice! To date we have seen 12 Lark species, 6 Pipit species and 10 Cisticola species in the area, which is why it is perhaps unsurpassed as a base for this field course. After participating in this weekend, you will be able to identify a range of LBJ's with far greater confidence, and will have mastered the process required to get to grips with the more difficult birds Ezemvelo and Surrounds - an area of huge birding potential. Ezemvelo offers excellent birding in grassland and transitional bankenveld habitats. The Wilge River cuts through kloofs and krantzes, creating habitat for riverine species, including African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher and Black Duck, as well as a host of woodland and bushveld birds. Kloofs, kranztes and rocky outcrops hold Verreaux's Eagle, Alpine Swift, Striped Pipit and both Cape and Short-toed Rock-Thrush. Gauteng's only African Goshawks occur in wooded kloofs in this area. Extensive vleis hold Red-chested Flufftail and numerous warblers, including Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, which is common here. The grassland is excellent for larks, including endemic Eastern Clapper, Melodious, Spike-heeled and Eastern Long-billed Lark. While Ezemvelo is itself a very productive area, nearby grasslands provide added diversity and increase the chance of a seeing an amazing number of 10 Larks and 10 Cisticolas! While looking for these species there is also the chance of bumping into species like Denham's Bustard, Blue Crane and Temminck's Courser Move a little northwards and the overall diversity starts to become staggering, as one enters the wooded valleys of Mabusa, and the burkea and acacia savannahs of Mdala and Mkhombo. Southern Pied Babbler, Barred wren-Warbler and Southern White Crowned-Shrike are just a few of the hundreds of different bushveld birds present in these reserves. Excellent sub-tropical floodplain habitat often produces 'Nylsvley-like' congregations of water-birds.

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Introduction