Many different bird species have been observed around our Estate. Some just casual visitors, such as the Giant Kingfisher! Waking up one morning about half past four from very loud and never-heard-before bird sounds coming from the balcony, I opened the curtain but could only see a very wet-looking bird sitting on the balcony rail. Before I could have a proper look, it flew away. Having never heard that particular sound, we tried finding it on the Roberts Bird Guide CD. However, not knowing what kind of bird to look for, we gave up. The next morning the same thing happened, and curiously, but carefully, we opened the curtain and saw two big, very wet birds on the balcony rail. This time we knew better what to look for as we now not only knew its sound, but also what it looked like.
Going down for breakfast we noticed our big fishpond had been churned-up and the fish were not coming towards the side of the pond for their pellets as usual, but rather tried to hide under plants. We then realised this is why we had an unexpected and rather opportunistic, visit from the Giant Kingfisher! We had to quickly find some temporary solution and the next morning when again the bird paid us a visit, it was not soaking wet as other mornings but sitting dry as a stake and looking surprised at not being able to get to the very convenient restaurant!
Another time, passing our goldfish pond coming from an early morning walk, this huge dark and very wet bird flew out of the pond, giving me the fright of my life! I am always looking out for snakes when walking, but never did I have to duck and dive for unexpected birds flying out of our fishponds! This was a Reed Cormorant who happened to notice some yummy goldfish swimming around and of course left us but one, lonely fish! We also noticed a Hamerkop near our sewage dam at some stage and after eating a few frogs it decided its not so interesting around here after all! At some stage a Secretary Bird started making a nest near Wicus’s dam but after a day or two also decided this was not for him – I think in this case the guy who looked after some sheep scared it away.
Amazingly, our area is not supposed to be the habitat of many of these birds (according to birding guides), yet, they come for a visit and some even stay! I think with urbanisation and the changing of the climate we will see a lot more of this type of thing happening in the animal kingdom.
Herewith a list of birds observed to date; more will be added with time and new sightings. Any Sterkfontein residents who can add to the list and provide photos, are welcome to e-mail us! The names appear in English, followed by the scientific name and then the Afrikaans name.
- African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) Hoephoep
- African wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus) Lelkiewiet
- Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) Bontkiewiet
- Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus) Kroonkiewiet
- Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) Gewone Mossie
- African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens) Rooioogtortelduif
- Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea) Kransduif
- Southern Masked-weaver (Ploceus velatus) Swartkeelgeelvink
- Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) Geelbekneushoringvoël
- Black-chested Snake –Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) Swartborsslangarend
- Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus caeruleus) Blouvalk
- Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus) Rooikophoutkapper
- Crested Francolin (Dendroperdix sephaena) Bospatrys
- Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis) Gewone Dikkop
- Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) Gewone Tarentaal
- Northern Black Korhaan (Afrotis afraoides) Witvlerkkorhaan
- Ant-eating Chat (Myrmecocichla formicivora) Swartpiek
- Red-winged Starling (Omychognathus morio) Rooivlerkspreeu
- Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) Veereier
- African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) Skoorsteenveër
- Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) Swartkopreier
- African Grass-Owl (Tyto capensis) Grasuil
- Reed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) Rietduiker
- Green Wood-Hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) Rooibekkakelaar
- Red-collared widowbird (Euplectes ardens) Rooikeelflap
- Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis) Gewone Kwikkie
- Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) Rooivink
- Pied Starling (Spreo bicolour) Witgatspreeu
- Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) Indiese spreeu
- Amathyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) Swartsuikerbekkie
- Bokmakierie (Telaphorus zeylonus) Bokmakierie
- Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) Hadeda
- Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) Hamerkop
- Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra) Gewone Janfrederik
- Pied Crow (Corvus albus) Witborskraai
- Grey go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor) Kwêvoël
- Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) Fiskaallaksman
- Secretary Bird (Saggittarius serpentarius) Sekretarisvoël
- Groundscraper Thrush (Psophocichla litsitsirupa) Gevlekte Lyster
- Cape Longclaw (Macronyx capensis) Oranjekeelkalkoentjie
- Mountain Wheatear (Oemanthe monticola) Bergwagter
- Red-chested Cuckoo (Cuculus solitarius) Piet-my-vrou
- Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor) Swartoog Tiptol
- Common Swift (Apus apus) Europese windswael
- Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) Rooibek kwelea
- Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima) Reusevisvanger
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Europese Swael
- Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) Klein Glansspreeu
- Red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) Rooikopvink
- Pin-tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) Koningrooibekkie
- Laughing Dove (Streptophelia senegalensis) Rooiborsduifie
- African Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus) Grysneushoringvoël
- Amur Falcon (Falco amurensis) Oostelike Rooipootvalk
- Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana) Rooineklewerik
- Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) Goudgeelvink
- White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (Placepasser mahali) Koringvoël
- Swainson’s Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) Bosveldfisant
- Mocking Cliff-chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris) Dassievoël
- Red-throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis) Draaihals
- Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) Geelbekeend
- Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) Kolgans
- White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) Witvlerkflap
- Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) Kuifkophoutkapper
- Orange River Francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides) Kalaharipatrys
Here are photos of some of the species listed above…
Click on any of the small pictures to open the full-size photo
