10/09/2019
Unearthing the Moeka Floodplain:
After yesterdays successful twitch of the Greater Sand Plover at Rust de Winter dam, we headed west to follow up on the conditions of this 'hidden' gem. Picking up great Wider Gauteng birds like Yellow-bellied Greenbul and Terrestrial Brownbul along the way in Pienaarsrivier.
The area we've dubbed the 'Moeka Floodplain' is situated within typical thorn veld much like that surrounding Kgomo-Kgomo. Although we haven't covered it thoroughly enough just yet, it has already produced arid and open savanna 'specials' like Barred Wren-Warbler, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Cape Penduline Tit, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Violet-eared and Black-faced Waxbill, Greater Kestrel, Long-tailed Paradise and Shaft-tailed Whydah, Southern Pied Babbler, Great Sparrow, Yellow Canary, Buffy Pipit, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark and countless Temminck's Coursers.
There is plenty of suitable habitat, come summer and the rain, for some interesting birds and we expect it to be good for rallids, a variety of warblers, cuckoos, wagtails and harriers, and rare waders for example.
The waterlogged areas, which are yet to flood from rainfall, are already holding large numbers of waterbirds and waders at the moment, and with Kgomo-Kgomo and Mkhombo currently dry, this could be a great season to bird this area frequently. Yesterday we picked up a trio of Greater Painted Snipe and over 250 waterfowl covering a variety of species.
Estimated wader counts for this early in the season were already looking good:
Ruff: 100+
Little Stint: 50+
Wood Sandpiper: 150+
Common Greenshank: 20+
Marsh Sandpiper: 5
African Snipe: 50+
Greater Painted Snipe: 3
Pied Avocet: 20+
Black-winged Stilt: 30+
See attached a few habitat photos and a rough guide on how to access the various areas we've managed to cover so far. A scope and gumboots are recommended as well as vehicles capable of travelling off-road to access the better parts of the floodplain (3 & 4).
![GAUTENG HALF-DAY TRIP 🇿🇦29 June 2019Species: 95+HIGHLIGHTS:Red-chested Flufftail [2]African Grass Owl Marsh Owl [4]Orang...](https://img4.travelagents10.com/331/644/638270603316444.jpg)
