Atlasing - December 2008

Here are some of the more interesting sightings I had during the past few days while atlasing in the Pretoria area.

2008/12/04 (Wonderboom NR) - pleasantly surprised by the state of this reserve - long views of Black Cuckoo and then had Diederick, Red-Chested and Klaas's calling, Spotted Thick-knee breeding, Rock Martin and the highlight Striped Pipit (on the south side of the fort).

2008/12/08 - 2535_2815 (West of Roodeplaatdam) - As in most pentads Diederick, Red-chested and Black Cuckoo and Violet-backed Starling (M and F).

2008/12/10 2530_2820 and 2530_2815 (North of Roodeplaatdam)- Gabar Goshawk, Lesser Grey Shrike, Bearded Woodpecker, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Jacobin Cuckoo and Great Spotted Cuckoo (Imm).

2008/12/11 2510_2830 en 2505_2835 (Rust-de-Winter) - Jacobin Cuckoo, African Spoonbill, Gabar Goshawk (2 imm), Lots of Amur Falcons, Lesser Grey Shrike, Levaillant's Cuckoo, Bennett's Woodpecker, Common Swift. The 2505_2835 pentad is fantastic (have a look on P194 of The Chaimberlain Guide to birding in Gauteng, the road marked point 20-21, but go even more north by taking the road to the small village of Rapotokwane. I think it might even be possible to go further north but I had to return home and could not investigate further - I will spend a full morning later in this pentad).