View of the wetland area in front of the Wattled Crane Hide
Sally and I visited Karkloof Conservany (close to Howick, KZN) for an afternoon of birding from their Wattled Crane Hide.
We arrived at 16h00 and stayed till closing at 18h30. During that time we recorded 34 different bird species – mostly waterbirds. A pair of Grey Crowned Cranes did a flypast and not to be outdone a pair of Wattled Cranes also appeared as we were about to leave. They were feasting on a newly tilled field. Even a Blue Crane was heard calling overhead. White Storks and Bald Ibises were seen in the surrounding fields.
Also visible on an irrigation system in a distant field were a pair of Lanner Falcons. Notable waterbirds included White-backed Ducks, numerous Cape Shovelers, South African Shelducks to name a few.
Here are some bird photos taken during our time there.
African Darter shaking offAfrican Darter shaking offCape ShovelerCape ShovelerGrey Crowned CraneGrey Crowned Cranes Grey Crowned Cranes Grey Crowned Cranes One of a pair of African Darters being attacked by Blacksmith LapwingsLittle GrebePurple HeronPurple HeronRed-billed TealA pair of Red-billed TealsRed-knobbed CootRed-knobbed CootRed-knobbed CootSouth African Shelducks (female with white head, male grey-headed)South African ShelducksSouth African ShelducksGrey HeronWattled CraneWattled CranesWattled CranesWattled CraneAfrican Darter drying off over the wetlandWhite StorkYellow-billed Duck with a greenish tinge to its billA distant pair of Lanner Falcons
Bushwillow Park campsite is spectacular. Grassy, large flat sites, good hot water with great views and surrounded by mistbelt forest. It is located just beyond the Karkloof Conservancy 20 kms from Howick.
View
View from the mistbelt forest including one of the two cottages
View up through the campsite with the mistbelt forest as a background.
Looking down at the campsite and clubhouse
The clubhouse
View towards the clubhouse
Campsites towards the ablutions
Eleven of us braved the conditions – cold but not wet thankfully.
Some arrived early on the Thursday and enjoyed an extra day birding around the campsite. One of the first things noted was the abundance of seed available in the long grass attracting a host of Euplectes species (out of breeding plumage) and numerous Thick-billed Weavers.
Over the long weekend a lot was packed in.
Friday, everyone else arrived and enjoyed a stroll around the campsite followed by an evening braai.
Birds seen and photographed around the campsite include:
African Black Ducks
African Black Duck
African Stonechat
African Swee Waxbills
African Swee Waxbill
African Swee Waxbill
Amethyst Sunbird
Cape Wagtail
Black-backed Puffback
Cape Grassbird
Cape Grassbird
Diderick Cuckoo
Drakensberg Prinia
Drakensberg Prinia
Collared Sunbird
Collared Sunbird
Common Waxbill
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Lazy Cisticola
Fork-tailed Drongo
Giant Kingfisher
Malachite Sunbird
Malachite Sunbird
Malachite Sunbird
Olive Woodpecker
Red-winged Starling
Southern Black Tit
Southern Black Tit
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
Thick-billed Weaver
Village Weaver
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler
There was an exciting experience observing a host of Red-billed Queleas. Walking down a path with long grass on either side, Red-billed Queleas were seen and heard in numbers. At one point on the left going down they all flew up at once creating a loud “whooshing” sound. Then immediately on the other side behind there was a similar louder “whooshing” sound. It drew immediate attention. Expecting that there was another large flock of Queleas everyone looked round to see only 2 birds creating this noise. A Lanner Falcon hot on the heels of probably a Speckled Pigeon. No luck for the Lanner but we enjoyed the spectacle.
Saturday morning, a trek up one of the trails behind the campsite – an arduous walk through the mistbelt forest. It was all uphill and very steep in places – sometimes slippery. Going up was one challenge but coming down probably more so especially for those with dicky knees. The birding was quiet but those birds seen were special in particular Olive Woodpecker and Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler.
In the afternoon there was a visit to the Karkloof Conservancy and its two hides followed by another evening braai. Karkloof did not disappoint: Southern Bald Ibis and all three species of Cranes being the star attractions.
Some birds photographed at the Karkloof Conservancy:
Walk to Karkloof Conservancy bird hides
Twitcher’s Delight
White-faced Ducks in a row
Wattled Lapwing
South African Shelduck – male
South African Shelduck – female
Sacred Ibis
Little Grebe AHV
Black-winged Lapwings
Black-winged Lapwing
Wattled Cranes
Wattled Crane
Grey-crowned Cranes
Blue Crane
Blue Crane
Blue Crane
Blue Crane
Bald Ibis
Bald Ibis
Bald Ibis
Sunday, a stroll round Benvie on a cold and overcast morning – a garden paradise with many specials seen.
The rest of the day was downtime in and around the campsite.
Benvie Gardens
Benvie Gardens
Benvie Gardens
Samango Monkey – Big Daddy
Knysna Turaco
Knysna Turaco
Long-crested Eagle in silhouette
Mountain Wagtails
Olive Thrush
Southern Boubou
Bush Blackcap
Orange Ground-Thrush
Chorister Robin-Chat
Monday, a time to do last minute birding and to reflect and prepare for departure.
In all 94 bird species were seen and or heard including many of the specials in the area.
Some of the special birds seen and or heard included Bush Blackcap; Olive Bushshrike; Forest Canary; Blue, Grey-crowned and Wattled Cranes; Grey Cuckooshrike; African Black Duck; Lanner Falcon; African Goshawk; Scaly-throated Honeyguide; Southern Bald Ibis; Cape Parrot; Drakensberg Prinia; Chorister Robin-Chat; South African Shelduck; Red-necked Spurfowl; Malachite Sunbird; Orange Ground-Thrush; Knysna Turaco; Mountain Wagtail; Dark-capped Yellow-Warbler; Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler; Swee Waxbill; African Wood-Owl; Olive Woodpecker.
Birds are our Story 