KWAZULU-NATAL & TRANSVAAL CONTINUED

Thanks to a cancelled flight, arrive at Jo'burg airport some thirteen hours later than should have. No problems with customs or car hire and drive straight to Wakkerstroom. Meet up with Patrick Benson at 1300 but windy and squally weather resulted in us seeing only Southern Bald-ibis from our target list.

Monday 9th October 2000 - Wakkerstroom and late afternoon drive to Underberg

A bright start to the day so expectations high following yesterday's disappointment. Thanks to Patrick's intimate knowledge of the area, see Blue Korhaan followed by Botha's and Rudd's Larks on the famous "lark fields". Eastern Long-billed Lark was easy at the famous "Yellow-breasted Pipit site" though the pipits themselves were nowhere to be seen. By chance meet up with David, part of a team studying the pipits, who kindly shows us a pipit moulting into summer plumage that he had seen earlier that day. Search for Red-throated Wryneck in the town without success before starting the five-hour journey to Underberg.

Tuesday 10th October 2000 - Xumeni Forest (am), "The Swamp" and the Guy's garden, Underberg (pm)

A morning visit to Xumeni Forest was rewarded with Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler, Knysna Lourie, Barratt's Warbler, Red-necked Spurfowl and Bush Blackcap. Tried hard for Orange Thrush but nothing. Deteriorating "British-like" weather affecting our chances of seeing Red-chested Flufftail at "The Swamp" though we hear at least two different birds. Pale-crowned Cisticola could not be found either and our best bird is Ethiopian Snipe. Two immature Black Sparrowhawks in the Guy's garden towards dusk followed by a wonderful meal with Robin and Bella.

Wednesday 11th October 2000 - the Guy's garden, Underberg and Sani Pass, evening drive to Eshowe

Red-throated Wryneck at last seen near the garden along with Drakensburg Prinia to start off a fine day. Three Wattled Cranes on a marsh en route to Sani Pass with birds below and through the pass exceeding all expectations. With Robin, and a French couple, see Gurney's Sugarbird, Sickle-winged Chat, Mountain and African Rock Pipit, Drakensburg Siskin and Orange-breasted Rockjumper to name but a few. The French couple are birding with Robin tomorrow for Orange Thrush and Blue Swallow. Having tried hard for the thrush yesterday and with Robin saying the swallows had only just returned and were by no means guaranteed, we elected to leave and follow the original itinerary. Five hour drive to Eshowe (at times crawling along because of thick fog) where briefly meet Hamish before retiring to the campsite.

Thursday 12th October 2000 - Dlinza & Entumeni Forests (am), Nkwaleni Valley (pm)

With Hamish, work both forests seeing Chorister Robin, Green Coucal, Cinnamon Dove and the fabulous Spotted Thrush at Dlinza Forest. With winds picking up the two target birds of Brown Robin and Delegorgue's Pigeon at Entumeni Forest proved elusive. Rudd's Apalis took some finding in Nkwaleni Valley but we were eventually rewarded with good views. Another night at the campsite.

Friday 13th October 2000 - Dlinza & Entumeni Forests (am) and Nkwaleni Valley (pm)

Close views of Green Twinspot from the hide in Dlinza Forest early morning and again mid afternoon. With the wind picking up again we were possibly a little fortunate to see two Delegorgue's Pigeons at Entumeni Forest; one flew low overhead and the other was seen perched with just its head showing. A showy Brown Robin was a much better bird than expected. No sign of Yellow-streaked Bulbul. Mkwaleni Valley did not produce any new birds. Back to the campsite and the nearby pub for another great meal.

Saturday 14th October 2000 - Richard's Bay (am), St Lucia (pm)

Up early to drive the short distance to Richard's Bay from Eshowe. The pan took a little bit of finding but once there we made a beeline for what was left of the hide. Intensive searching with two telescopes could not locate any Lesser Jacanas amongst the many African Jananas. With heat haze intensifying give up for St Lucia. Within 30 minutes of arrival, see Natal Robin, Livingstone's Lourie and Woodward's Batis in the forest opposite the baithouse. Croaking Cisticola also shows well near the old airfield. Night at the campsite where we were able to ring Robin Guy who tells us that he saw both the Orange Thrush and Blue Swallow with the French couple!

Sunday 15th October 2000 - St Lucia, Cape Vidal Road, Cape Vidal, near Bonamanzi and Bonamanzi Game Ranch

Look around the campsite for Grey Sunbird but no luck. Green Coucal and Brown and Natal Robins all easy. Hard search for Southern Banded Snake-eagle on the road to Cape Vidal produced only Black-breasted Snake-eagle, Gymnogene and African Fish-eagle. A singing Grey Sunbird at Cape Vidal proved to be the only one of the trip. A search for Lemon-breasted Canary near Bonamanzi was rewarded with the first, and rather smart, African White-throated Robins of the trip. Having dipped on the canaries and with the first real change to the itinerary, decide to stay at Bonamazi Game Ranch. Late afternoon birding with no sign of the canary or Grey Waxbill.

Monday 16th October 2000 - Bonamanzi Game Ranch (am) Mkuzi Game Reserve (pm)

A wise decision to stay as three pairs of Yellow-breasted Canaries are grilled. Other noteable birds include Gorgeous Bushshrike, Eastern Bearded Robin, African Broadbill and flock of around forty Orange-breasted Waxbills. Mkuzi Game Reserve held a pair of Neergaard's Sunbird in a flowering tree by one of the main hides anda pair of Pink-throated Twinspots along the River Trail. Stayed at the excellent campsite.

Tuesday 17th October 2000 - Mkuzi Game Reserve (am) and long drive to Underberg

Work hard for the two remaining ticks of Grey Waxbill and Southern Banded Snake-eagle but our luck was not in. By lunchtime we admit defeat and begin the long drive to Underberg where we have arranged for Robin to take us for Orange Thrush and Blue Swallow the following morning. Eight hour drive but comfortable lodgings in Robin and Bella's cottage.

Wednesday 18th October 2000 - Xumeni Forest and Hella-Hella (am), Vernon Crookes and Oribi Gorge (pm)

Richard and I set off to be at the forest for dawn to maximise our chances of the thrush. After an hour we give up wondering what we have to do to see it! Fortunately, the cavalry arrives in the form of Robin and after what seemed an age, we are rewarded with good views of the stunning Orange Thrush. At Hella-Hella we endure a nervous thirty-minute wait before a pair of superb Blue Swallows is under the belt. Still needing Striped Pipit, detour into Vernon Crookes and realise that we have no chance without better gen so head for Oribi Gorge arriving just before dusk.

Thursday 19th October 2000 - Oribi Gorge and long long drive to Pretoria

No Striped Pipit or Knysna Woodpecker with the best bird being African Broadbill along the River Trail. Stay at a Pretoria campsite and able to make contact with Etienne who suggests Pienaarsrivier as a site for Southern Pied-babbler.

Friday 20th October 2000 - Pienaarsrivier and Pietersburg (am), Strijdom Tunnel (late afternoon)

Four Southern Pied-babblers found easily along the dirt road together with Burchell's Starling, Crimson-breasted Shrike and Marico Flycatcher. At Pietersburg we follow Etienne's directions for Short-clawed Lark seeing only Northern Black Korhaan, Desert Cisticola and Kalahari Robin. Retracing our steps to the Shell petrol station was rewarded with a confiding pair of Short-clawed Larks, a much better bird that expected. Longish drive to Strijdom Tunnel where the superb Taita Falcon was waiting, complete with Alpine Swift. African Wood-owl in the grounds of the campsite near the tunnel to end a superb day.

Saturday 21st October 2000 - Strijdom Tunnel and Klein Fonterhout (am) and Pretoria Botanical Gardens (pm)

A pair of Striped Pipits seen well thanks to Etienne and the Taita Falcon again putting on a show. Klein Fonterhout produced Melodious Lark and a chance meeting with Stephan Terblanche revealed the possibility of Sharp-billed Honeyguide at Pretoria Botanical Gardens. Sure enough, one honeyguide was found and seen well. Tried to find Stephan's site for Bushveld Pipit but our recent run of good fortune evaporated. With no working phones and a complete inability to buy phone-cards we gave up and headed for the airport for an uneventful journey home.

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