BIRDING BEYOND BORDERS

A distinct advantage of travelling even a short way from one’s home environment is the opportunity to both see and photograph birds other than those which have become familiar as garden birds. Take this Pale Chanting Goshawk, for example. Even though it is endemic to much of South Africa and beyond, it is not a bird I would expect to find in our town for it prefers more arid areas. We always look out for them when travelling through two of our nearest national parks:

Another endemic raptor we are more likely to see out in the country is the Jackal Buzzard, although I have seen one in our garden on rare occasions over the years and once photographed one with an injured leg perched on a street lamp on the road below our house:

It is years since we spotted a Cape Longclaw during walks on the outskirts of town. That area is now a haven for dog-walkers as well as for herds of cattle and donkeys. So, one is more likely to see these pretty birds during travels further afield:

I don’t hear Crowned Lapwings as often as I used to when they nested on the nearby golf course or on the lawns near our home. I suspect the constant presence of various members of the Urban Herd create too much disturbance for them. Again, one is more likely to see them in our national parks:

Cape Glossy Starlings are birds I happily associate with various national parks as they too enjoy more arid areas. I sometimes catch sight of them along one of the country roads I regularly drive along and become very excited when one or two stray into our garden:

I love seeing Cape Bulbuls which have a distinctive white ring around their eyes. We live too far out if its range, although sometimes see them in the Addo Elephant National Park: