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200 species seen in a day!



On 10 Jan, three birders set out to try and see 200 species in a day, in the wider Pretoria area. This milestone may be straightforward for well-drilled power-birders who rely on hearing birds, but Dave and Steve wanted to see each bird well, and Dave was also busy testing a new application for I-pac, which may revolutionise bird record-keeping.

As it turned out, we recorded just on 220 species, of which 201 were seen. SOme of the highlights of the day:
  • A superb male Pallid Harrier about 5km along the Zaagkuildrift Road
  • Olive Tree Warbler seen towards Kgomo-Kgomo
  • Sharp-billed HOneyguide calling from the top of a tree at the same locality.
  • Several Monotonous Lark calling just north-east of Hammanskraal. (near where the Dusky was last year!)
  • Four owl species, including African Grass Owl seen hunting at dusk.
  • Tinkling Cisticola in the Seringveld - NOTE that the new Sasol has the map for this species completely wrong!
  • 10 Raptor species, including Greater Kestrel, Black Sparrowhawk and Gymnogene.
  • Great Reed Warbler calling from thorn thickets near the elands river on the Uitvlugt Loop.
  • About 300 Glossy Ibis coming in to roost at Dickin's Pan, 30 Blackcrowned Night Herons on the secondary pan.

Regards and best birding in 2003.
Etienne Marais





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Web Site Updated 31 May 2006 © Indicator Birding
e-mail: etienne@birding.co.za