Ever since I started joining the members of the Free State Birdclub on outings I'm officially hooked. It is so wonderful to be able to go on outings and share the same passion with like-minded people.
Today was no exception and we had another highly successful outing to the Krugersdrift dam which also forms part of the Soetdoring Nature Reserve.
The morning started with probably about a hundred or more Lesser Kestrels trying to perch on the shrubs on a small hill inside of Bloemfontein. On the way to the dam we had a quick glimpse of a Jacobin Cuckoo darting across the road in front of us.
Upon our arrival at the gate we were greeted by dozens of Rufous-naped Larks and Zitting Cisticolas calling up the veld in a cacophony of whistles, chirps and zits. The odd one or two White-browed Sparrow-Weavers put in a note or two while the Swallows (Greater Striped, Red-breasted and White-throated) graced us with their appearance.
Shortly after our arrival a steady stream of cars started arriving and to our misfortune we were informed that there was a major angling competition taking place. Almost every inch of the northern shore of the dam was covered with cars, tents, fishing rods, anglers and their extended families! Our luck in finding a good number of waders plummeted exponentially. . .
The previous rainy season was exceptionally wet and in turn the dam was filled to the brim. The grass cover was extensive and very rank. Along with this we did not have high hopes of finding one of our target species the Kimberley Pipit. But even with all these factors counting against us we were still determined to make the most out of the day.
A couple of special sightings comes to mind. The first was when we had the opportunity to watch a pair of African Pipits building their nests. I also enjoyed only my second sighting of African Stonechat in the Free State. Just before departing from the northern shore we decided to pay a visit to a spot with a little less anglers and was this a great decision. We had plenty of Red-capped Larks and African Pipits busy foraging on the bare patch next to the water. Joining them was at least two Kimberley Pipits which we confirmed after lots of scanning, checking behaviour, listening to the call, comparing size and loads of debating. To say the least I was ecstatic!!!!!!!!!
From here we proceeded to the southern shore, here we also encountered a couple of anglers but they were well spaced with large gaps in between.
Little did we know that the rush of waders would soon start! As we stopped on a slight rise and quickly scanning to see whether it would be worthwhile to get out of the vehicles we caught sight of a special little Plover, Common Ringed to be exact (special at least to me). Unfortunately it disappeared shortly after spotting it and we had to be entertained by its cousins the Three-banded and Kittlitz's Plovers. A bit more Pipit spying manifested and after satisfying our thirst we continued in search of some more waders.
Not too long afterwards we came across a good congregation of Little Stints, a Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Kittlitz's and Common Ringed Plovers. A tern flew past but by the time we got it in the scope it was too far off to make a positive identification.
A little further though we were rewarded with lovely views of some White-winged Terns among a handful of Caspian Terns. Only then do you appreciate the size of the Caspian Tern. It is truly huge compared to the White-winged and Whiskered Terns.
In a small little bay just to the left of them there was a massive congregation of Little Stints and then we saw them, two Ruddy Turnstone's!!! They did not stick around for long but it was very special seeing these birds especially since they are very uncommon in the interior of the country.
Some other nice sightings for the rest of the day included large flocks of both South African Shelduck and Whiskered Terns. On our way back out at the gate we decided to have a nice picnic before returning home and with that ended off another wonderful and highly successful day outing with the members of the Free State Birdclub!
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