26 - 28 March - BirdLife Northern Gauteng
Special Fundraising Trip to Memel, led by Etienne Marais
March in Memel is Cosmos time - and some areas offered
the most incredible fields of these flowers.
Participants: Rynetta Coetzee,
Andrew and Ruth Pike, Philip and Amanda Calinikos, Gerda de Bruin,
Emmie Ackerman, Elize Venter, Rene Ehlers. Leader: Etienne
Marais
10 Members of the BirdLife Northern Gauteng took
part in a special "fund-raising" weekend from 26 to
28 March. Although not the optimal time for birding, late rains
had left the country in superb condition and the wonderful scenery
was complimented by some great birding highlights, and quite
a few lifers for most of the group. The weekend was supported
by Mahem
Guesthouse, where Jimmy and Sylvia Saunders looked after
us superbly. Mahem has good, comfortable accommodation, extensive
"birdy" garden and a stately dining room and lounge.
Jimmy was a lot of help, particularly as regards arranging access
to private land (which is a must in this area), and his irrepressible
enthusiasm added substantially to the whole experience.
The first afternoon was taken up with a visit to the superb Seekoeivlei
Wetlands. En-route we were detained by a covey of Greywinged
Francolin and a family party of Spike-heeled Larks. The lookout
at Waterval, must be one of the most beautiful sundowner spots
anywhere. The scopes came out and with the warm sun on our backs
we enjoyed the challenges of scanning the oxbows below - revealing
South African Shelduck, African Snipe, Grey Crowned Crane, Southern
Bald Ibis, and many other birds. The Ibis started to come in
to roost, just as we were about to leave, and one large tree
eventually seemed to hold about 60 of these birds! We moved northwards
and flushed a group of Blue Korhaan. Another viewsite further
up the wetland provided a most remarkable collection of birds
coming into roost.
One tree was chockablock with African Darters, while flocks of
Glossy Ibis joined huge number of Cattle Egrets a short distance
away. What was interesting here was that a vast number of Pied
Starlings were seen arriving, together with a few substantial
flocks of Indian Mynahs - at a roost with no human habitation
in sight! Several Crowned Cranes appeared to gather in a tree
before coming down into the vlei in front of us, where they were
heard uttering that other Crane call - the one that sounds just
like the track on Guy Gibbons sounds for White-winged Flufftail!
We arrived back at Mahem well after dark, where we enjoyed a
delicious dinner prepared by Sylvia.
The next morning, we headed out South of Memel, and despite a
brief brain lapse on the part of the leader, were soon experiencing
a fine cracking views of first
a Black Harrier, which sailed over our heads, and shortly afterwards
of a group of Denham's Bustard, which were seen at unusually
close range for this shy and splendid bird. Minutes later we
encountered a pair of superb Lanner Falcons, which seemed oblivious
of our presence. Soon afterwards we had good scope views of Blue
Korhaan and Sentinel Rock Thrush, and then enjoyed the challenge
of sorting out a host of swifts in a mixed flock which included
Horus and African Black Swift.
The Rudd's Lark which had been calling just two days earlier,
had apparently gone underground, and attempts to find this bird
in one of the fields in which they breed proved unsuccessful.
Next up was a pair of Blue Crane, with a young bird in tow -
this in a wide valley,
where carpets of cosmos provided extraordinary colour to one
of the most scenic places imaginable. We then headed down a valley
and stopped to scan boulder-strewn hillsides and mini-scarps
on the edge of the valley. Shortly afterwards we had an excellent
patch of birding as a Ground Woodpecker was disturbed from its
perch on a fence post. Several more ground Woodpeckers offered
good scope views, and in the same area we saw both Mountain Wheatear,
Buff-streaked Chat and African Pied Starling. Shortly afterwards
we had wondrously close views of Southern Bald Ibis.
The elusive Rudd's Lark - one of the specials of Memel.
We then headed up towards the edge of the escarpment, where the
landscape changes once again, as one skirts steep-sided valleys
decorated with patches of ouhout forest. Our lunch spot is close
to the top of Normandien Pass - and what a spot this is! Despite
a day full of wonderful landscapes, this spot still had the capacity
to take ones breath away.
One stands on the edge of the escarpment and can see a wide panaroma
of the escarpment, while just below tall yellowwoods reach up
as if to invite one down into the scarp forest below, where we
saw Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, African Olive Pigeon and
Bar-throated Apalis, while also hearing Cape Batis, and other
forest birds.
A picnic spot like no other!
The drive back followed the Klip River valley, which offers many
wetlands, bridges, ponds and hillsides. One area, adorned with
Cosmos provided views of no less than 5 Euplectes species (bishops
and widows). We then headed back to a delicious "tea"
in the wonderful garden of Mahem, before the group were eager
to get out and do some more birding. This second trip of the
day was in the direction of Vanger Vlei - a national heritage
site near Mullers Pass and Ncandu Forest. The drive up to Vanger
vlei produced some more superb scenery, more cranes and a few
more species for our list. As we arrived at a little bridge across
the vlei, those in the front vehicle had cracking views of a
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, which perched on a fence post. The
bird then took off and provided adequate views to everyone else
in the group. The vlei was full of warblers, good views being
had of African Reed Warbler. We then headed up towards the escarpment,
and took a brief detour into the area around Moorfield, where
access to Ncandu Forest is possible. A short way down the pass,
another lookout offers nice views into another kloof filled with
fine scarp forest.
The Garden at Mahem - not a bad spot for a bit of relaxation
after a hard session of birding!
We then rushed back to
Vanger Vlei for sundowners, and what sundowners they proved to
be as we encountered a very large Barn Swallow roost in the process
of coming into roost! Opinions varied as to the actual numbers
of birds present, but at times virtually the while sky seemed
to be filled with birds. Given the size of the reedbed and the
degree of focus adjustment, which still produced the same result,
the higher estimates of one million birds seem quite plausible.
The flock also included a large number of Sand Martins.
The drive back was dedicated at looking for Cape Eagle Owl, but
apart from a large looking owl, which we did not adequately see,
the other two owls we encountered were both Spotties, the last
of which was hunting from a telephone pole just a stones-throw
from Mahem.
Sunday saw another early start - this time focussed on the area
more to the SE of Memel, towards Kranskop. Here we birded on
a private farm, where misty conditions hampered our efforts to
see an African Rock Pipit which called from a tantalising distance
along the edge of a mini-escarpement. Here we saw Drakensberg
Prinia,. Malachite Sunbird, Wailing
Cisticola and Yellow Bishop.
We then searched the road verges a bit further up and were rewarded
when a Yellow-breasted Pipit flushed from the road. Soon afterwards
we found two birds next to an interesting looking vlei, which
flew off some distance, allowing for only fleeting looks by some
of the group.
The last bird that we recorded together as a group was Redbilled
Quelea, although individually several of the group saw new species
like Secretary Bird, as they made there way home by various interesting
routes. We all left with the feeling that the Memel area has
more to offer from a birding point of view, than it is ofen given
credit for - we would all like to do it again in high spring
- and would unreservedly recommend Mahem Guesthouse as a place to stay.
Overall the group saw 114 species and a further 10 species were
"heard". To download the list of birds
seen (excel file, 24KB) CLICK
HERE
Memel Getaways is the local tourism information centre for Memel
and its district.
For information on accommodation facilities, and on all tourism
related activities in the area, visit Memelgetaways.co.za.
BirdLife Northern Gauteng - a proud member of
the BirdLife family.
cracking views of first
a Black Harrier, which sailed over our heads, and shortly afterwards
of a group of Denham's Bustard, which were seen at unusually
close range for this shy and splendid bird. Minutes later we
encountered a pair of superb Lanner Falcons, which seemed oblivious
of our presence. Soon afterwards we had good scope views of Blue
Korhaan and Sentinel Rock Thrush, and then enjoyed the challenge
of sorting out a host of swifts in a mixed flock which included
Horus and African Black Swift.
where carpets of cosmos provided extraordinary colour to one
of the most scenic places imaginable. We then headed down a valley
and stopped to scan boulder-strewn hillsides and mini-scarps
on the edge of the valley. Shortly afterwards we had an excellent
patch of birding as a Ground Woodpecker was disturbed from its
perch on a fence post. Several more ground Woodpeckers offered
good scope views, and in the same area we saw both Mountain Wheatear,
Buff-streaked Chat and African Pied Starling. Shortly afterwards
we had wondrously close views of Southern Bald Ibis.
We then rushed back to
Vanger Vlei for sundowners, and what sundowners they proved to
be as we encountered a very large Barn Swallow roost in the process
of coming into roost! Opinions varied as to the actual numbers
of birds present, but at times virtually the while sky seemed
to be filled with birds. Given the size of the reedbed and the
degree of focus adjustment, which still produced the same result,
the higher estimates of one million birds seem quite plausible.
The flock also included a large number of Sand Martins. 
Wailing
Cisticola and Yellow Bishop.