Chasing a mega rarity.....

While still trying for the Spotted Crake, the next news break : Golden Pipit in Pongola Nature Reserve, KZN.!!!!!!
This was the 12th record of this specie in Southern Africa, but the first one where the bird stayed for more than one day....
So new plans had to be made :-)
I met up with Johann and his dad in Boksburg just past 02h00 on Saturday 11 December. We drove via Secunda, Trichardt, Leandra, Kinross, Ermelo, Amsterdam, Piet Retief, Pongola....what a horrible and LONG stretch of road....took us 7 hours with all the "stop and go" controls. We finally reached the reserve amongst some 25 other birders,at aroung 9h30 and it was so worth it. What a stunning bird!! And so relaxed with all the people scattering around to get decent photos of it.
My photo's didn't came out too well....very bright light OR he was sitting in the shadow of a tree....But it didnt matter - just looking at him was so rewarding.
Heading back we took a different route, some 150 km extra, but it also took us 7 hours and it was a much better option.
Here is life # 639 - Golden Pipit ~ Pongola Nature Reserve.

Twitching the specials at Mkhombo Dam...

Around the end of November the mail came through with the latest SA Rarity Bird News. A Pectoral Sandpiper had been picked up at Mkhombo Dam by my friend, Mary and her cousing Michal during the Big Birding Day event.

And as people were streaming from everywhere to pick up this specie relatively close to home, a male Pygmy Goose were also reported, as well as a Ruddy Turnstone. And to top it all, a beautiful Spotted Crake popped out to see what all this fuss was about :-)
So on Sunday the 5th December my husband, son and I went through as well. We were fortunate to see the Pygmy goose, of which I saw my lifer at Leeupan in the Kruger National Park in February 2009.
Soon after we spotted the Pectoral Sandpipers....but they were a just too far for my lens. And my mind was suddenly side tracked too, so I was in a hurry to leave.
Got the lifer in the pocket though.
The Monday late afternoon, another friend Lizet phoned, picked me up and we rushed through to Mkhombo again....mainly to try for the crake. But it was really windy and we had no luck in spotting the crake. I did however then got decent shots of the Pectoral Sandpipers....
Here are a few of the photies:

Marsh Sandpiper ~

Wood Sandpiper ~


Ruff ~


Pectoral Sandpiper ~ lifer number 638


African Pygmy Goose ~

On country trip...

In mid November I left on country trip for my work, sleeping at Misty Mountain Lodge in Sabie, Mpumalanga the first night, As my camera is always ready from just outside of Dullstroom, I managed these shots of a Jackal Buzzard between Dullstroom and Sabie.






At Misty Mountain Lodge this Chorister Robin Chat was quite willing to show in the open. Orange Ground Thrushes were also calling, but I didnt get a photo of it.



En route back home, after seeing my clients in Middelburg, I travelled via Loskop Dam road, and made a quick stop at Ndebele Mining Road, and got this Lanner Falcon...

And more...

A Namaqua Sandgrouse male in Poffadder....A White-chinned Petrel on the Pelagic out of Simon's Town....An African Black Oystercatcher ~ this photo taken in West Coast National Park.....The Orange River from Onseepkans's side, overlooking the Namib....and lastly a beautiful gravel road we travelled on between Onseepkans and Augrabies National Park.

Some more photo's from our trip...

Karoo Korhaan...The beautiful red Koa Dunes....Pygmy Falcon seen in Namies....
and a Damara Canary, seen in Jacobsbaai....