Rihann Geyser and Ben Fouche
Kameelfontein Birding Trip
The farm Kameelfontein is situated ±4 km east of the Roodeplaat Dam, north-east of Pretoria and is situated within the 2528CB quarter degree grid cell (q.d.g.c.) and 2535_2825 pentad.
The farm was visited on 3 August 2013 to assess the area for possible future birding outings to this area and for purposes of gathering data for the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2).
Large areas have burnt due to veld fires that swept through area not so long ago. The road that lead to the farm offered some great views for bird species such as Crimson-breasted Shrike, White-bellied Sunbird, Fiscal Flycatcher, Groundscraper Thrush, Burnt-necked Eremomela and African Wattled Lapwing.
The birding trip started in the area surrounding the nursery with bird species that can be seen such as: Black-headed Oriole, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Canary, Black-collared Barbet, Streaky-headed Seedeater, Kalahari Scrub-Robin just outside the western fence of the nursery, overflying Pearl-breasted Swallow, African Grey-hornbill, Amethyst Sunbird, Southern Boubou, Brown- and Black-crowed Tchagra and even some close-up views of a Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird feeding on the fruits of a parasitic plant.
The beautiful wetland and dam area added birds such as: Cape Grassbird, Common Moorhen, Lesser Swamp Warbler, calling Lesser Honeyguide, Malachite King-fisher, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Little Grebe, African Black Duck, Black Crake, Bronze Mannikin, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Brown-throated Martin and Pearl-breasted Swallow foraging over the open water of the dam on the property, African Palm-swift, Common Waxbill, Red-collared Widowbirds still in none breeding plumage and Cardinal Woodpecker. In woodland areas birds such as Chestnut-vented Tit-babblers, White-throated Robin-chat, Rattling Cisticola, Neddicky and Chinspot Batis were seen in our time here.
All and all not a bad winter day birding trip with a total of 80 species that was seen in about 4 hours. This was truly a delightful birding trip.