What a Day!
After a very misty and rainy Saturday, Sunday was almost perfect.
Twenty members made the 6am start at the Mbona entrance gate and they were not disappointed.
Before the group got away a Yellow-crowned Bishop was spotted. Almost the first of 94 species seen.
From the entrance gate to the estate the group headed first for Ben Vie. At the end of a soggy walk a number of specials were seen including Orange Ground-Thrush, Chorister Robin-Chat, Knysna Turaco, and Red-backed Mannikin. Buff-spotted Flufftail was heard.
The group then headed for the Mbona estate through the back entrance and birded all the way to Mike’s cottage at the end. Again many specials were seen including African Crowned Eagle, Bush Blackcap, Forrest Canaries, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Red-necked Spurfowl, Dusky Indigobird, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Giant Kingfisher and Red-throated Wryneck. And then on the way out, a few of us were treated to a viewing of a Narina Trogon. Others an Olive Woodpecker and 3 Wattled Cranes at the Karkloof Conservancy.
The day before at Karkloof Conservancy 8 Grey Crowned Cranes and 30 White Storks were seen at one hide. And at the other hide a juvenile Red-knobbed Coot had us all confused for a while – see poor photo.
Attached are some photos of Mbona and its habitat as well as some of the birds we managed to snap!
Many thanks to Mike White for letting us use his cottage after the outing to have our refreshments. The views are superb.
Birds are our Story 