Birding Gauteng, Johannesburg
When: June 2018 Weather: cool 10C
Leica Q Nikon P900
Returning from my Amazonia escapade in Brazil, I had a 6.5hour layover in Johannesburg and considered leaving the airport and doing some sightseeing but was discouraged from doing so as traffic conditions can be challenging around OT airport and Joburg isn’t the safest city in the world. But the idea of spending 6 hrs in the airport was unappealing and I found a birding company on line called Bustard Birding which had good reviews. They were very responsive and arranged to pick me up at the airport for a 4 hour birding trip in the East Gauteng area near the airport….
Our first port of call was to head out to the East Rand Pans and the Korsman Conservation area in a gated community…..just about 15 minutes away
as we arrived a flock of scared Ibises flew overhead to welcome us…
and we started birding on the fringes of the ponds which are enclosed by a wire fence all round
First bird up close, a dark-capped bulbul; a little like the yellow vented bulbuls we see so often in Asia, but without the dark cap
An olive pigeon
olive pigeon
helmeted guinea fowl
helmeted guinea fowl
the quaintly named Grey Go-away bird!
grey go-away bird
Laughing dove
Spur winged goose
spur winged goose
Sacred ibis
The under surface of the Sacred Ibis’ wing has these wonderfully bright red chevrons!
pied crow
The beautiful Hadeda Ibis with its iridescent pink wings
Hadeda Ibis with pink wings
thick billed weaver
thick billed weaver
male southern masked ewaver
female southern masked weaver
african stone chat
We then proceeded to Bullfrog Pan about 15 minutes away…
Bullfrog Pan
On the way, these colourful birds appeared on rooftops…
Green wood hoopoes, we can just see the green on the backs here
good sightings of the blacksmith lapwing which makes it’s typical metallic tinkling sound from which its name is derived
crowned lapwing
crowned lapwing
Hottentot teal
Hottentot teals
The adorable and vulnerable Maccoa Duck
grey headed gull
black crowned night heron
Egyptian goose
Coots are common in Asia but these are Red knobbed coots
Red knobbed coot
coomon moorhen
African swamp hen, resplendent in the morning sun
african swamp hen
Cape shoveler
So all in all, I birded from 830 till about noon and made it back to OT International Airport at 1230 in plenty of time for my 1345 flight; and saw lots of lifers…certainly beats an airport lounge for 6 hours or shopping in Sandton! It’s doable and I would highly recommend Bustard Birding for a thoroughly professional job…of and did I mention we even had hot coffee and cookies midway through? highly recommended!
The Natural Traveller 