Tierpoort Dam now part of the extended family

After yet another successful day at Tierpoort Dam I think it is only fair to include it as part of the extended family of spectacular birding sites we have been privileged to visit thus far.

The morning started off nice and early with the only negative point, as with the previous trip, being that the sun was rising over the water causing a bit of trouble to identify the waders.

The air was filled with hundreds of South African Cliff-Swallows and Barn Swallows which stretched their wings before setting off for a good day of foraging.  The Sparrows where very chirpy (excuse the pun) and was only out done by the honking of the Egyptian Geese dabbling about on the surface of the dam.

Even though the main aim of the trip was for Barbet to finally add the Blue Korhaan to her list I also made use of the opportunity to do a bit of atlasing.  For both of us it turned out to be a rewarding day.  I racked up a good total of 66 species for the card and Barbet finally got her Blue Korhaan!

Unfortunately they were a bit far for the camera and so the picture quality is not the best.

The next stretch of road provided us with loads of African Pipit and Ruff along the shores of the Dam.  At a point the road turns away and up a slight incline.  Here we had a Bokmakierie calling its heart out from the top of a bush.  Down below him two Karoo Scrub-Robins where giving one another the run-around.

Not too much further we found some Red-breasted Swallows and at a small bay along the dam there was a few Levaillant's Cisticolas performing.  Suddenly a flash of colour broke through the bushes. . . My first African Stonechat for the Free State, normally I only see them up at Rietvlei when visiting Kingfisher.

We were now at the end of the pentad and decided to enjoy some coffee before heading back to see if the Korhaans where still around.  We barely sat off when a Pipit caused some confusion it was quite large and had relatively large bill with bold facial markings.  We thought it might be Kimberley Pipit but unfortunately it was perched on the fence and eventually disappeared without us being able to study its behaviour.  The Conclusion:  Pipits = Confusion!!!

The Blue boy and girls were still happily foraging and after spending a bit of time with them we had to return home.

A wonderful day of colour, lifers and Pipits/Confusion.  Birding is such an addictive pleasure!