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WILDWINGS SOUTH AFRICA TOUR

MAMMALS AND BIRDS 20TH – 30TH JULY 2016

LEADER – RICHARD WEBB

Wildwings Davis House

Lodge Causeway Bristol BS16 3JB

+44 01179 658333 www.wildwings.co.uk

PARTICIPANTS – Ewan Davies, Les and Joan Green, Tom Parr, Mark and Fran Sullivan, and Michael Wilding

Black-footed Cat

INTRODUCTION After the success of previous Wildwings’ mammal tours to Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Estonia and India this was the first of two tours to South Africa in 2016. Focusing on some of Africa’s most enigmatic species the tour was a great success seeing 54 species of mammal (plus four ‘uncountable’ introductions). Highlights included no fewer than seven sightings of Black-footed Cat including one at point blank range, six Aardvarks, two Aardwolves, a superb pack of 11 Wild Dogs and an equally superb Brown Hyaena, Zorilla, both African Clawless and Spotted-necked Otters and a surprisingly attractive Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit. The ‘supporting cast’ included two Cheetahs stalking kudu, several Lions on kills and multiple Cape Porcupines. On the bird front we saw 191 species with highlights including a superb African Finfoot, Northern Black and Red-crested Korhaans, Double-banded Courser, and Namaqua and Yellow-throated Sandgrouse.

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I would like to thank all the group for their good company throughout the trip and Mark and Fran Sullivan, and Ewan Davies for the photographs that accompany this report. In particular thanks to the local guides and drivers who supported us during a great trip.Their efforts were really appreciated by everyone. Note: all photographs in this report are by Mark or Fran Sullivan unless otherwise indicated. Richard Webb

DAILY SUMMARIES

20th July Most of the group arrived in Johannesburg mid-morning and after checking in for the ongoing domestic flight to Kimberley transferred to the Spur Restaurant for brunch. After a five-hour stopover we were eventually back in the air for the short hop to Kimberley where on arrival we quickly transferred to the Marrick Game Farm and met up with Les and Joan who had flown in a day earlier. We were also greeted by the lodge’s two habituated Meerkats. The birders among the group had a quick wander around the lodge picking up a selection of commoner species before our first late afternoon game drive which produced a nice selection of native ungulates including Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest and South African Springbok. Smaller mammals seen included our first Yellow Mongoose, Bat-eared Foxes and South African Ground Squirrels. Several Double-banded Coursers were much appreciated by the birders. However the main reason for visiting Marrick is the night drives with Marrick having a range of difficult to see species so after dinner back at the lodge we set out on the first of our three drives. It was to be a memorable drive despite the unexpectedly cold conditions which made spotlighting a bit of a challenge.

Aardvark

Black-footed Cat After seeing the first of many Spring Hares, Cape Hares and Scrub Hares, we were quickly on the trail of our first target species a Black-footed Cat which astonishingly allowed us to approach to within a few feet giving the photograhers the opportunity to obtain some really fantastic photos. The views were far better than anything I had obtained before and totally exceeded my expectations. An outstanding start to the night drive. Extremely satisfied but keen for more we continued onwards and were soon watching the first of the two Aardvarks seen that night, and one of six seen on the trip as a whole. Although not as close as the cat it still gave us nice views. Continuing on we had a frustratingly brief and somewhat distant encounter with an Aardwolf, surprisingly the only one we saw at Marrick, African Wildcat, several Bat-eared Foxes and as we approached the lodge a total surprise with brief views of a Zorilla (Striped Polecat), an unexpected lifer for Richard. We arrived back at the lodge extremely cold but very happy with an excellent first night’s spotlighting having achieved the A to Z of mammals on our first night! Even then a surprise awaited us with a nice group of roosting Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters near the lodge.

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21st July After the excitement of the night before and an early breakfast we were back out for a morning drive around Marrick. Marrick as with many game farms in South Africa has a wide range of ungulates, some native to the área, others introduced or reintroduced to the área and we saw a range of these. This creates a dilemna as to what can be counted and what cannot be counted on a trip list. We started the day visiting an área with a number of recent introductions of species that are not native to the Kimberley área. These are not included in the species total for the tour but we still enjoyed seeing the spectacular Sable, Roan, Nyala and a single Bontebok. Further afield on the farm we had nice views of Black Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest, Zambezi (Greater) Kudu, Steenbok, South African Springbok including a stunning black individual, and the introduced Giraffe, Plains Zebra and Blue Wildebeest. Smaller mammals were represented by a Scrub Hare and South African Ground Squirrels. Birds of note including Namaqua Sandgrouse, Cape Vulture and a covey of Common (Small) Buttonquail. After lunch and some free time for people to bird around the lodge we decided against another afternoon drive and instead headed for some nearby kopjies to look for Western Rock Sengi (Elephant-Shrew) and Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit. Unfortunately we were unsuccessful although Michael did have brief views of a posible sengi scuttling through the rocks. After dinner back at the lodge we were out again for the second night drive of the trip and we were not to be disappointed. Although the views were not as close as the first night we had views of another three Black-footed Cats, at least two possibly three African Wildcats, one of which we saw quite well, another two Aardvarks plus numerous Spring Hares and smaller numbers of Cape and Scrub Hare. We had further nice views of Bat-eared Fox and distant views of a probable Cape Fox. However the highlight tonight was the seven Cape Porcupines including a nice family party. We also saw our only Bushveld Gerbil and Spotted Eagle-Owl of the trip. It was another satisfying night. .

Spring Hare

Cape Porcupine

22nd July A change of scenery this morning saw us head north from Kimberley to the town of Warrenton with Common Warthog and Yellow Mongoose seen on route. On arrival at Warrenton we were surprised to find a brand new road bridge over the Vaal River, our stakeout for otters but rather than it proving a disadvantage it proved to be an advantage, as the old bridge which we used to scan for otters was no longer busy with vehicles and pedestrians as it had been on Richard’s previous trips. Concerns that the construction work could have displaced the otters were thankfully quickly dispelled as Richard found a African Clawless Otter that a couple of the group managed to see before it disappeared into the reeds. Fortunately

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Richard re-located it shortly afterwards and everyone had distant views from the bridge. It quickly disappeared again but while we continued to look for it we amassed a good selection of waterbirds including South African Shelduck, Red-billed Teal, African Black Duck, Malachite, Lesser Pied and Brown-hooded Kingfisher and Lesser Swamp Warbler. After a couple of hours searching Joan found the same or another otter on the other side of the bridge and everyone had good views of it close to the bridge. It had been worth the wait. After a nice picnic lunch and a further post-lunch search for otters we headed back towards Kimberley. A roadside stop to look at the Greater and Lesser Flamingos on Kamfers Dam provided fortuitous when Mark spotted our only wild Meerkats of the trip on the other side of the road. We also found further South African Springbok and Red Hartebeest around the dam. After dinner we were out for our final night drive at Marrick and unquestionably the most challenging of the trip given the extremely cold conditions. Even Richard would happily have given up after an hour. However we persevered and had good views of our first Small-spotted Genet of the trip, a further three Black-footed Cats, seven more Cape Porcupines and our only Black-backed Jackals at Marrick together with a range of commoner species. However one of the highlights of the night was left to the end when as we approached the lodge we found a smart Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit, our only one of the trip. We arrived back at the lodge well satisfied with our three nights spotlighting at Marrick and thanked our local guide Johnny for his outstanding efforts in the extremely cold weather.

Smith’s Red Rock Rabbit

23rd July A largely travelling day with some time around the lodge early in the morning before transferring to Kimberley Airport for our flight back to Johannesburg. Ewan saw our first Slender Mongoose at Kimberley Airport as we departed. Arriving in Johannesburg we were met by Deon our driver for the next three and a half days. We transferred to our comfortable guesthouse in Heidelberg via a service station lunch and then had the afternoon chilling out at the guesthouse due to a lack of time for any meaningful field excursions, before an excellent dinner in a nearby Spur Restaurant.

24th July After an excellent breakfast at our guesthouse and a quick supermarket stop to pick up a picnic lunch we set out for a day at the nearby Suikerbosrand Game Reserve seeing Black-backed Jackal on route and a Yellow Mongoose along the acess road. On arrival we set out for a drive on the ‘game route’. It was extremely windy which undoubtedly hampered our

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attempts to find Oribi but we did find our first Chacma Baboons and a couple of Red Hartebeest. Things did however liven up when we descended from the hills onto the plains and found the large mixed herds of ungulates including superb rutting Black Wildebeest, and plenty of Blesbok, Plains Zebra and Kalahari Springbok.

Plains Zebra, Blesbok and Black Wildebeest (Ewan Davies) Our next stop was for lunch and a prolonged birding break at the picnic site where we picked up some nice species including Mocking Cliff Chat, several Cape Rock Thrushes and Chinspot Batis. After lunch we carried on along the game drive with further troops of Chacma Baboon and a Zambezi (Greater) Kudu to keep us entertained before spending some time on the trails around the visitor centre where Mountain Wheatears, Cape Longclaw, Acacia Pied Barbet and a single Red-throated Wryneck (for Mark and Fran) provided entertainment for the birders. Another (or the same) Yellow Mongoose was seen as we left the park.

Red-throated Wryneck

Crested Barbet

Chinspot Batis

We headed back to Heidelberg, stocked up on supplies for the following day’s packed lunch, and had another nice dinner this time at the Cappuchinos Restaurant.

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25th July Another otter day was ahead as we headed out of Heidelberg to Marievale Bird Sanctuary. After a brief stop at Hadada Hide with African Purple Swamphen and Black Crake among the highlights we headed for Otter Hide. A short stop produced a number of new birds but we quickly headed back onto the track to check the pools on both sides of the track. We were soon rewarded when three otters suddenly appeared below us from a culvert between the two pools. They quickly disappeared into the reeds at the back of the pool but soon re-appeared and we had reasonable views for five minutes or so. They appeared to be Spotted-necked Otters but getting good views of the underparts proved difficult. However thankfully Fran obtained some good video and subsequent examination of this confirmed the identification. As with the previous day the weather could have been better with windy conditions and sporadic showers making birding more difficult than normal but we did see a good range of species including African Marsh Harrier, Squacco Heron, Hottentot Teal and a single winter-plumaged White-winged Widowbird. We took a midday break for coffee in nearby Nigel before a pleasant picnic lunch at the Marievale Picnic Site fortunately sheltered from the blustery wind. With the weather remaining changeable we headed back to the shelter of the Otter Hide with several people of us struggling to stay awake in the windy conditions. Otters remained elusive for the remainder of the day and we eventually headed back to the guesthouse but not before we added Secretarybird to the trip list. Dinner was again at Cappuchinos as storms started brewing up around Heidelberg.

26th July An early start found us heading north for Madikwe Game Reserve on the Botswana border. The early part of the drive was interesting to say the least with heavy fog as we crossed Johannesburg quickly being replaced by torrential rain and flash-flooding but our driver Deon coped well in difficult conditions. As we headed north-west out of Johannesburg the weather improved and the drive became much easier. We started to see large numbers of hornbills, our first Vervet Monkeys and some more Chacma Baboons. We had brief stops for coffee and lunch and eventually arrived at the reserve just after 2 pm. The 35 kilometre drive from the gate to our lodge, Madikwe River Lodge, produced a range of common mammals including our first African Savanna Elephant, Common Impala and several Giraffes. Arriving at the lodge shortly after 3 pm we had a welcome cocktail and checked into our room before meeting Benson, who proved to be an outstanding ranger over the following four days. Being keen to get out into the field we passed up on a late lunch and after tea and cake quickly headed out for our first game drive. Benson told us that the one remaining pack of African Wild Dogs, the other two having succumbed to rables contracted from dogs around the edges of the reserve, had taken down a kudu that morning and were current ‘staked out’ and suggested that we headed straight for them. There were no dissenters and we quickly headed out towards where the dogs were. Madikwe is a private game reserve covering roughly 750 km

2. It was re-claimed from farmland in the early 1990s and re-

stocked as part of Operation Phoenix and the mammals are a mixture of species that still occurred in the área including carnivores such as Leopard, Caracal and Brown Hyaena, and re-introduced species including other members of the Big Five. There are currently 34 lodges in the park but visitor numbers are limited and day visitors actively discouraged so it is not as busy as many other parks in Southern Africa. Pressure on the animals is also kept down as no more than three vehicles are permitted around any animal(s) so as we headed out towards the dogs we were aware that we would be in a queue for access although fortunately we were first in the queue much to the relief of Tom, for whom the dogs were his main target. After a relatively brief wait (although probably pure torture for Tom) the vehicle ahead of us departed and we quickly moved in for fantastic views of 11 African Wild Dogs, part of a group of 14, at close range. Initially somewhat lethargic and asleep after about 40 minutes the group were back on their feet and we were all able to enjoy watching the interactions between different members of the the pack.

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African Wild Dogs

After a thoroughly enjoyable hour or so with the dogs we moved on to allow other vehicles to shape the experience and headed out across the reserve seeing a range of common game before stopping for a rather cool sundowner, a cold front was making it rather colder than expected. As it got dark it was clear from the radio that there was quite a bit of Lion activity and has we headed back towards the lodge we had three separate encounters. The first, a male and female, walked within feet of our open vehicle as they headed out to hunt. The second, two males on the remains of an old kill kept us entertained for 20 minutes or so and then as we headed back towards the lodge following up a distant Spotted Hyaena we found two lionesses near a fresh Blue Wildebeest kill with hyaenas and Black-backed Jackals in close attendance. However Lions were not the only active mammals and we had our best view of a single Aardwolf thanks to a skillful bit of driving by Benson, and Spring Hare, and a Southern Lesser Galago in the grounds of the lodge as we returned for the late dinner. Even dinner didn’t bring the end of the activity with Richard seeing the galago again and a couple of habituated Cape Bushbuck as he headed back to his room. A great start to our stay in Madikwe.

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Aardwolf

Lion

27th July After the excitement of our first day in Madikwe we set out at dawn with high expectations. Heading towards the fresh Lion kill the two lionesses were still in attendance with several Spotted Hyaenas and up to five Black-backed Jackals close by. Returning to the área later in the morning there were at least seven hyaenas nearby.

Black-backed Jackal

Spotted Hyaena (Richard Webb) We spent the morning and the late afternoon looking for a number of new species with varying success. After the addition of three large carnivores the day before this was the day of the smaller additions namely a small troop of Banded Mongooses on the morning drive and two or three Common Dwarf Mongooses. At the other end of the scale White Rhino was added to the steadily increasing mammal list. After a late breakfast most people passed on lunch and spent the middle of the day exploring around the lodge grounds adding a good range of birds to the list including Orange-breasted Bushshrike and for Les and Joan, an African Finfoot. We headed out for an afternoon game drive which other than the anticipated Lion, Black-backed Jackal and Spotted Hyaena around the kill was uneventful. As it got dark we started spotlighting and although quieter than the evening before we had better views of Southern Lesser Galago and at least 16 African Savanna Hares.

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Common Dwarf Mongoose

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

28th July After a relatively quiet day yesterday the new day started with a bang. Even before we left the lodge Ewan reported having captured footage of a Small-spotted Genet on a camera trap he had set up by his chalet. We started near the Lion kill, with Lion, Black-backed Jackal and Spotted Hyaena all still in attendance. We were hoping for Brown Hyaena but with no sign there we headed off in freezing conditions to some cliffs where they had been found denning previously. Within 10 minutes we had hit the jackpot when a Brown Hyaena appeared at the foot of the cliffs and disappeared behind a large rock. It reappeared but disappeared quickly into thick scrub. We were very happy with the initial sighting but there was better to come. Benson demonstrated his outstanding knowledge of the área and headed for a nearby waterhole where to everyone’s delight the Brown Hyaena was drinking before heading off towards another área of cliffs with an old den giving everyone excellent views in the process. Another key target species well and truly under the belt.

Brown Hyaena Very happy we carried on in our search of further new species and Benson quickly located a herd of African Savanna Elephants mixed in with a group of 40+ African (Savanna) Buffalo our only ones of the trip. We spent some time watching these at close range before heading off for a welcome coffee stop. Heading back towards the lodge for breakfast we had nice views of another White Rhino and then Benson amazingly spotted two Transvaal Klipspringers on a distant cliff and we all eventually had good, albeit distant, views of this recent split.

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We headed back to the lodge for another late breakfast before again spending the middle of the day around the lodge with Vervet Monkeys, Common Warthog, Cape Bushbuck, including a female with a young one, and Ellipsen Bushbuck, being seen around the grounds. Unlike the day before the lunch of BBQ spare ribs and exquisite creme caramel proved too much for some to resist despite the late breakfast, but for most the highlight of the middle of the day was the African Finfoot relocated on the river outside Richard’s chalet.

African Finfoot An early start for the late afternoon game drive saw us heading out towards the far side of the reserve for another of our target species and after a short time waiting in a queue we were having great close range views of two Cheetah, even if the radio collar on one of them was slightly disappointing. We were able to enjoy extended views of them and at one point they started half-heartedly stalking a group of Zambezi (Greater) Kudu.

Cheetah Very pleased to have caught up with another carnivore we moved on for a welcome sundowner during which Les located our only Greater Kestrel of the trip.

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Once again as darkness approached we turned on the spotlights again picking up the original pair of Lions and White Rhinos at one of the waterholes and a further three White Rhinos later in the drive. Of much greater surprise were two separate Aardvarks on the drive back to the lodge, one of which was the closest one of the trip. A totally unexpected bonus at the end of another great day in Madikwe.

29th July Our final full day in Madikwe was initially relatively quiet after the excitement of the day before as we spent much of the morning and afternoon drives trying to find Black Rhino. Although we managed to find an impressive 12 White Rhinos during the course of the day its rarer relative remained elusive. Four Eland were a late addition to the mammal list and another two Transvaal Klipspringers were seen where we had seen the Brown Hyaena the day before. During the afternoon drive two Gabar Goshawks, one a striking melanistic individual, entertained most of the group by taking turns to attack a Grey Go-Away Bird.

White Rhinoceros with oxpecker

Gabar Goshawk and Grey Go-Away Bird

After the relatively quiet day the spotlighting sesión started well with nice views of a Small-spotted Genet in a tree. Shortly afterwards Benson picked up distant eyeshine from what he believed to be a Leopard but despite staking the área out for a while we were unable to pin it down much to our frustration. Continuing on our drive we picked up a nice African Wildcat which performed well just metres from a group of five White Rhinos. Further eyeshine picked up close to the lodge may well have been another Small-spotted Genet but we were unable to confirm it. Our final Southern Lesser Galago of the trip was waiting for us as we entered the grounds of the lodge for the final time.

30th July A somewhat frustrating end to the trip when after a lie-in and a late breakfast we waited for our vehicle to arrive to transfer us back to Johannesburg only for it to arrive 75 minutes late. We quickly loaded up and made a hasty retreat most of the group seeing their first Slender Mongoose of the trip on the drive out and Richard having a distant glimpse of what may have been Western Tsessebe as we left the park. After leaving the park the drive back to Johannesburg was relatively straight-forward and uneventful but on arrival at the airport we were frustrated to find that the six members of the group flying home with South African Airways were being delayed for 12 hours and ended up with a night in a nearby hotel. Not the most desirable end to the trip but overall it was a great trip and everyone had seen most of the species that we had hoped to see when we had arrived in South Africa 11 days earlier.

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MAMMALS Nomenclature largely follows the six-volume Mammals of Africa except for bovids where it follows the recently published Bovids of the World which in turn follows the taxonomy of the Handbook of Mammals of the World.

Tree Squirrel

Cape Bushbuck (Ewan Davies)

- Western Rock Sengi

Elephantulus rupestris A possible seen by Michael while searching rocky hillsides at Marrick.

1 Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus

Four groups seen in Suikerbosrand. Seen on route to Madikwe and in Madikwe on the 27

th and 28

th.

2 Vervet Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Three sightings on route to Madikwe and seen daily in the grounds of Madikwe River Lodge.

3 Southern Lesser Galago Galago moholi

Seen in Madikwe on 26th (1-2), 27

th (1) and 29

th (1), all bar one of the sightings

being in the grounds of the lodge.

4 Cape Hare Lepus capensis

Marrick: seen while spotlighting on the 20th (5), 21

st (8) and 22

nd (4).

5 Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis

Marrick: Seen while spotlighting on the 20th (1), 21

st (1, plus another during the

day) and 22nd

(3).

6 African Savanna Hare Lepus microtis

Madikwe: Seen while spotlighting on the 26th (4), 27

th (16), 28

th (8) and 29

th (15+).

7 Smith's Red Rock Hare Pronolagus rupestris

Great views of this difficult to see species while spotlighting at Marrick on the 22nd

. A surprisingly striking animal.

8 South African Ground Squirrel Xerus inauris

Marrick: 6+ on the 20th and 10+ on the 21

st. Madikwe: Four on the 27

th and two on

the 28th.

9 Tree Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi

Madikwe: one on the 27th, one on the 28

th and three on the 29

th.

10 Spring Hare Pedetes capensis

Abundant at Marrick and up to three in Madikwe on 26th, 27

th and 29

th.

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11 Cape Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis

Seven at Marrick on both the 21st and 22

nd including family parties on both nights.

12 Bushveld Gerbil Gerbilliscus leucogaster

One at Marrick on the 21st.

13 Cape Fox Vulpes chama

A probable briefly at Marrick on the 21st.

14 Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis

Marrick: Eleven on the 20th including three during the day, and three on both the

21st and 22

nd.

15 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas

One at Marrick on the 22nd

and on route to Suikerbosrand on 24th. In Madikwe one on the 26

th, six on the 27

th (including five around a lion kill), four on the 28

th and

one on the 29th.

16 African Wild Dog

Lycaon pictus A fabulous encounter with eleven in Madikwe on the 26

th. They had killed a kudu

earlier in the day.

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African Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis

One seen distantly early in the morning at Warrenton and much closer views of the same or a second individual a couple of hours later.

18 Spotted-necked Otter Lutra maculicollis

Three seen early on our visit to Marievale presented a few identification challenges but examination of Fran’s video confirmed their identification.

19 Zorilla (Striped Polecat) Ictonyx striatus

An unexpected bonus with one seen briefly at the end of our first night drive at Marrick.

20 Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo

A brief encounter with a small group in Madikwe on the 27th.

21 Slender Mongoose Herpestes sanguineus

One seen by Ewan at Kimberley Airport and one crossed the track in front of our vehicle as we left Madikwe.

22 Common Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula

Two possibly three seen briefly in Madikwe on the 28th.

23 Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata

Marrick: Two on the 20th and three on the 21

st. Two on route from Kimberley to

Warrenton on the 22nd

and 2+ in Suikerbosrand on the 24th.

24 Meerkat Suricata suricatta

At least three spotted by Mark during a roadside stop at Kamfers Dam plus two tame individuals around the lodge at Marrick.

25 Small-spotted Genet Genetta genetta

Singles on night drives at Marrick on the 22nd

and Madikwe on the 29th. Ewan also

obtained a camera trap photo of one at Madikwe River Lodge on the 27th.

26 Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta

In Madikwe five on the 26th, seven on the 27

th, one on the 28

th and heard on the

29th.

27 Brown Hyaena Hyaena brunnea

A fabulous encounter with one in Madikwe on the 28th.

28 Aardwolf Proteles cristata

A distant individual at Marrick on the 20th and closer views in Madikwe on the 26

th.

29 (African) Wildcat Felis silvestris lybica

At Marrick relatively distant views on one on the 20th and 2+ on the 21

st. Good

views of another in Madikwe on the 29th.

30 Black-footed Cat Felis nigripes

Mind-blowing close range views of one at Marrick on the 20th for over 20 minutes.

Three seen more distantly on both the 21st and 22

nd. We did not try to approach

these given out views on the first night drive.

31 Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus

Two seen well in Madikwe on the 28th were watched at close range as they lazily

stalked a group of kudu.

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32 Lion Panthera leo

Great encounters in Madikwe. On the 26th a pair, two males at an old kill and two

lionesses at a very fresh kill. The latter were also seen on the 27th and 28

th and the

pair were also seen on the 28th. Heard on the 29

th.

33 Aardvark

Orycteropus afer A great run of sightings. Two singles at Marrick on both the 20

th and 21

st and more

surprisingly two singles in Madikwe on the 28th. Much appreciated by everyone.

34 African (Bush) Elephant Loxodonta africana

Common in Madikwe.

35 Plains Zebra Equus quagga

Small numbers at Marrick (reintroduced) and common in Suikerbosrand and Madikwe.

36 White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum

Madikwe: Adult plus calf on the 27th, four plus a calf on the 28

th and no fewer than

12 on the 29th. Sadly no sign of any Blacks despite extensive searching for them.

37 Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus

Five at Marrick on the 20th, one on route to Warrenton on the 22

nd, and up to five

daily at Madikwe.

38 Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis

Five reintroductions at Marrick on the 21st and up to 10 daily in Madikwe.

39 African (Savanna) Buffalo Syncerus caffer

40+ in Madikwe on the 28th.

40 Zambezi (Greater) Kudu Tragelaphus zambeziensis

15 at Marrick on the 21st, one in Suikerbosrand on the 25

th and up to 10 daily in

Madikwe.

41 Eland Taurotragus oryx

Four in Madikwe on the 29th.

- Nyala Tragelaphus angasii

Up to four (recent introductions outside their natural range) at Marrick on 21st and

22nd

.

42 Cape Bushbuck Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Up to five daily in the camp at Madikwe River Lodge, two of which were tame individuals.

- Roan Antelope Hippotragus equinus

c.15 (recent introductions outside their natural range) at Marrick on 21st.

- Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger

c.15 (recent introductions outside their natural range) at Marrick on 21st.

43 Gemsbok Oryx gazella

Marrick: Up to 25 on the 20th and 21

st.

44 Ellipsen Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Madikwe: One on the 27th, two on the 28

th and three on the 29

th. All in and around

the camp.

45 Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou

Marrick: Two on the 21st and 20+ on the 22

nd. Several distant groups were not

identified to species. Common at Suikerbosrand on the 24th.

46 Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus

Common in Madikwe. 20+ (introductions outside their natural range) at Marrick.

47 Blesbok Damaliscus pygargus

Common in Suikerbosrand on the 24th. A recently introduced Bontebok was seen

at Marrick on the 21st.

48 Red Hartebeest Alcelaphus caama

Common at Marrick, c.10 near Kamfers Dam on the 22nd

and three in Suikerbosrand on the 24

th.

49 Common Impala Aepyceros melampus

Common Madikwe.

50 Kalahari Springbok Antidorcas hofmeyri

Common at Suikerbosrand and Madikwe.

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51 South African Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis

Common at Marrick and Kamfers Dam. Two nice Black Springboks at Marrick.

52 Transvaal Klipspringer Oreotragus transvaalensis

Pairs in Marrick on the 28th and 29

th.

53 Steenbok Raphicerus campestris

Marrick: Two on the 21st and one on the 22

nd. Madikwe: One on the 26

th, eight on

the 27th, nine on the 28

th and 10 on the 29

th.

54 Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia

Marrick: Two on the 20th and singles on the 21

st and 22

nd. One on route to

Warrenton on the 22nd

.

Ellipsen Waterbuck

BIRDS Notes:

Kimberley – includes Marrick and Warrenton.

Heidelberg includes Suikerbosrand, Marievale and Van Dykhuis Guesthouse.

Madikwe includes species seen on route to and from the reserve.

Kimberley Heidelberg Madikwe

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis X X

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus X

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus X X

Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor X X

Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus X X

White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus X X X

African Darter Anhinga rufa X X

African Spoonbill Platalea alba X X X

16

Kimberley Heidelberg Madikwe

African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus X X X

Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash X X X

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus X X

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea X

Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala X X

Purple Heron Ardea purpurea X

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis X X

Little Egret Egretta garzetta X X

Striated Heron Butorides striata X

Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides X

Hamerkop Scopus umbretta X X

Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis X

Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca X X X

South African Shelduck Tadorna cana X X

Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata X X

African Black Duck Anas sparsa X

Cape Shoveler Anas smithii X X

Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha X X

Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota X

Cape Vulture Gyps caprotheres X

African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer X X

African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster X

African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus X

Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus X X X

Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar X

Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus X X

Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus X X

Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides X

Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus X

Common Ostrich Struthio camelus X X

Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris X X X

Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis X

Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii X X

Common Buttonquail Turnix sylvaticus X X

African Finfoot Podica senegalensis X

Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus X X X

Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata X X

African Purple Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis X

Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra X X X

Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius X

Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori X X

Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista X

Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis afraoides X X

17

Kimberley Heidelberg Madikwe

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus X X

Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta X

African Jacana Actophilornis africanus X

Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus X

Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus X X X

Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus X X X

Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris X X X

Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa X

Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola X

Ruff Philomachus pugnax X

Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus X X X

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia X

Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida X X

Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua X

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse Pterocles gutturalis X

Rock Dove Columba livia X X X

Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea X X

Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata X X X

Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola X X X

Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis X X X

Namaqua Dove Oena capensis X X

Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor X

Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchellii X

Pearl-spotted Owl Glaucidium perlatum X

Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus X

Barn Owl Tyto alba X

African Black Swift Apus barbatus X

Little Swift Apus affinis X

African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus X X

Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus X X X

Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus X

Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis X X

Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata X X X

Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris X

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus X X

Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus X

Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus X X

Purple Roller Coracias naevius X

African Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus X

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas X

Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris X

African Hoopoe Upupa africana X X

Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas X X

18

Kimberley Heidelberg Madikwe

Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii X X

Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas X X X

Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens X

Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis X

Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota X X

Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana X

Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata X

Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda chuana X

Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata X

Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola X

Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula X

Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis X X

Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus X

Pied Crow Corvus albus X X X

Southern Black Tit Melaniparus niger X

Ashy Tit Melaniparus cinerascens X

Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii X

Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides bicolor X

African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis X X X

Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi X X

Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana X

Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris X

Sentinel Rock Thrush Monticola explorator X

Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

X X

Familiar Chat Oenanthe familiaris X X X

Sickle-winged Chat Cercomela sinuata

Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora X X X

Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola X

African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus X X

Kalahari Scrub Robin Cercotrichas paena X

Karoo Scrub Robin Cercotrichas coryphoeus X

Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra X X

White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis X

Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer X

Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens X

Burnt-necked Eremomela Eremomela usticollis X

Chestnut-vented Warbler Sylvia subcaerulea X X X

Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris X X

Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis X

Levaillant’s Cisticola Cisticola tinniens X

Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla X X

Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans X X

Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava X

19

Kimberley Heidelberg Madikwe

Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brevicaudata X X

Fiscal Flycatcher Melaenornis silens X X

Marico Flycatcher Melaenornis mariquensis X X

Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita X

Chinspot Batis Batis molitor X X

Cape White-eye Smithornis capensis X X X

Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis X X X

African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp X X

Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis X X

African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus X

Magpie Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca X

Southern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens X

Common Fiscal Lanius collaris X X X

Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla X

Brubru Nilaus afer X

Crimson-breasted Shrike Laniarius atrococcineus X X

Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis X X X

Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus X

Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens X X X

Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus X

Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis X

Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor X

Common Myna Acridotheres tristis X X

Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea X

Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus X

White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala X X

Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus X

House Sparrow Passer domesticus X X

Great Sparrow Passer motitensis X

Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus X X

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus X

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali X X X

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger X

Scaly-feathered Weaver Sporopipes squamifrons X X

Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis X

Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus X

Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea X X

White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus X

Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne X

Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia X X

Cut-throat Finch Amadina fasciata X

Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala X

Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis X

20

Kimberley Heidelberg Madikwe

Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus granatinus X

Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild X

Black-faced Waxbill Estrilda erythronotos X

Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba X

Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala X

Black-throated Canary Crithagra atrogularis X

Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris X

Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani X

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi X X

Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis X X

Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris X

Mocking Cliff Chat

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Crimson-breasted Shrike