Birding in the Kruger National Park:
Kruger has
a list of almost 500 species, some of which are not to be found
elsewhere in South Africa. Hornbills, Starlings, Vultures, Rollers,
Bee-eaters and Shrikes typify the ubiquitous avi-fauna and birders
can look forward to pursuing the big 6 (Saddlebilled Stork, Kori
Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappetfaced Vulture, Pel's Fishing Owl
and Ground Hornbill). The far north of the park (Pafuri and Punda
Maria regions) is regarded as one of the birding Mecca's of the
country (with many regional rarities to be found), yet birding
throughout the entire park is excellent. Eagles are common: Bateleur,
Martial, Blackbreasted Snake, Brown Snake, African Hawk, African
Fish and Tawny are all regularly seen, and in summer: Wahlberg's,
Steppe, Lesser Spotted. The Park's numerous water points make
for excellent birding, while the rest camps and picnic sites
are exceptionally rewarding for birders.
Berg-en-Dal
The
camp is an excellent venue to see Fantailed Flycatcher, Heuglin's
and Whitethroated Robins. Scarletchested Sunbird is particularly
prominent. The adjacent Matjulu Dam attracts a constant supply
of water birds and African Fish Eagle is usually present and viewed
at close quarters. The surrounding hills host a wealth of species
and are a good place to search for Pennantwinged Nightjar (in summer
and at dusk) and Croaking Cisticola.
Crocodile
Bridge
A
special to be looked for in this area is the Pinkthroated Twinspot.
Blackbellied Starlings have also been recorded in this region.
The rest camp itself has a busy stream of bird activity.
Letaba
Letaba
Camp has a rich bird population and is particularly good for viewing
owls. Pearlspotted, Barred and Scops were once uniquely recorded
simultaneously in a single tree (admittedly a tape recorder was
involved), while Giant Eagle Owl is regularly recorded along the
river itself. Scan all large Riverine trees carefully. Greencapped
Eremomela should be looked for in the camp and like most camps
in the central and northern parts of the park Mourning Dove is
particularly prominent. The Matambeni Bird Hide on the northern
bank of Engelhard Dam is a good place to watch water birds. On
the south bank of the dam a colony of Redwinged Pratincoles appear
annually to breed.
The Masorini
Ruins close to the Phalaborwa Gate is a good venue to view Yellowthroated
Sparrow, Mocking Chat and Redheaded Weaver.
Lower Sabie
Starlings,
sunbirds and hornbills typify the commoner species in the camp
itself. At night residents should listen for Mozambique and Fierynecked
Nightjars. The nearby Sunset Dam is one of the finest venues in
the Park to observe aquatic species at close quarters with cormorants,
herons, kingfishers and storks occurring in abundance. Marabou,
Saddlebilled, Woolynecked, Yellowbilled, Openbilled and Black Stork
can sometimes be seen simultaneously. In the Lower Sabie area Mlondozi
Dam is a good spot to view waterfowl including some of the rarer
species in the park. The small pan on the N'watimhiri road is a
regular haunt of Lesser Moorhen.
Mopani
The
camp overlooks the Pioneer Dam where a plethora of water birds
are to be seen. Storks, egrets, kingfishers and African Fish Eagles
are ever present while Redwinged Pratincole, African Spoonbill,
Blackwinged Stilt and Whitewinged Tern are some of the more uncommon
species to watch for. Mosque and Wiretailed Swallow breed in camp
(the former should be looked for at the camp's huge Baobab Tree).
Mocking Chats should be looked for from the ladies bar.
At the nearby
Nshawu Pans look for Kittlitz's Plover, Chestnutbacked Finchlark
and Redwinged Pratincole.
Olifants
Two
birds to look out for on the Olifants River are Whitefronted and
Whitecrowned Plover. Search the riparian trees on the Olifants
River near Balule for the Pel's Fishing Owl.
Orpen (by
Errol Pietersen)
Orpen
and the surrounding area is a good region for general bushveld
birds and 5 of the "big 6" are regularly seen and breed
in the area, with only the Pel's Fishing Owl being absent.
The plains
immediately east of Orpen Camp are one of the more reliable places
to see the nomadic Lesser Blackwinged Plover (Search at the turn
off to Tamboti and Maroela Camps). Montagu's Harrier has also
been recorded on a few occasions in this grassland area.
Whitefaced
and Knobbilled Ducks, Dabchick and Lesser Moorhen breed in the
flooded vegetation at Rabelais Pan. 1999 saw the first Kruger
breeding record of Painted Snipe here.
African Rail
and African Crake are regularly recorded in dense, marshy areas,
particularly on the dirt roads around Talamati. These species
early in the morning or late afternoon or on overcast, rainy
days when they are foraging on the edge of the road. Fairfield
Waterhole near Talamati is a regular haunt. Also just outside
Talamati Camp Saddlebilled Stork breed. Of the other storks,
Woolynecked, Openbilled, White and Black may be seen, the latter
two being locally common when food is abundant. Marabou Stork
is regularly seen at the waterhole outside Orpen Camp.
The Orpen area
hosts a wealth of raptors, especially in the summer months. Tawny
(breeding outside of the camp), African Fish (at Rabelais Pan),
Wahlbergs, Lesser Spotted, Steppe, African Hawk and Brown Snake
Eagles, Bateleur, Blackshouldered Kite, Gabar and Dark Chanting
Goshawk, Little Sparrowhawk and Eastern and Western Redfooted
Kestrels are all regularly seen. Less frequently seen are African
Goshawk, Martial and Blackbreasted Snake Eagles and Gymnogene.
Five vulture species may be seen in the area, although the Cape
Griffin is least often observed despite a breeding colony near
the Strijdom Tunnel at Manoutsa.
Night drives,
and dawn and dusk produce Pearlspotted, Scops, Barred, Giant
Eagle, Spotted Eagle and Barn Owl, as well as Fierynecked, Mozambique,
Freckled and European Nightjars. Less common are Marsh and Grass
Owl and Rufouscheeked and Pennantwinged Nightjar.
Rarities to
come out of the area include Bluethroated Sunbird at Orpen Camp,
Longcrested Eagle on the Timbavati River, Olive Bush Shrike at
Tamboti Camp and in the incredible wet season of 1999-2000 plenty
of Black Coucal.
Pafuri Region
The
drives along the banks of the Levuvhu River via the Nyalaland Drive
(S64) or the picnic site/Crook's Corner loop (S63), take visitors
through some of the most potentially productive birding territory
in South Africa. One can simply spend several hours in the Pafuri
Picnic Site itself, with Trumpeter Hornbill, Purplecrested Lourie,
Wattleeyed Flycatcher, Tropical Boubou, Longtailed Starling, Narina
Trogon, Gorgeous, Greyheaded and Orangebreasted Bushshrike and
several different species of robin, sunbird and firefinch all potentially
swelling one's list. Other rarities for the Park recorded at the
picnic site include Cinnamon Dove, Brown Robin and Wood Owl.
Another rewarding
place to spend time is the tar road's bridge over the Levuvhu
River. Horus Swift is regularly seen here alongside the commoner
Little and Whiterumped Swifts. Whitecrowned Plover and Finfoot
are also regularly recorded from the bridge's vantagepoint. The
reeds and undergrowth may hold Redfaced and Blackbacked Cisticola.
It is also a good place to watch for Birds of Prey including
the magnificent Crowned Eagle. For the lucky ones the chance
of locating a roosting Pel's Fishing Owl makes scanning all large
riverine trees worthwhile.
Above the baobabs
along the Nyala Drive is an excellent place to search for both
Böhm's and Mottled Spinetails, while the drive is also good
for recording Crested Guineafowl and Longtailed Starling. A journey
to Crook's Corner should produce Whitefronted Bee-eater and Broadbilled
Roller (summer) while Lemonbreasted Canary is frequently recorded
in the Hyphaene palms not far from the lookout point. Scalythroated
Honeyguide has also been recorded near this spot.
Pretoriuskop
In
the camp itself look for Greencapped Eremomela, Brownheaded Parrot,
Cutthroat Finch, Redheaded Weaver and several sunbird species.
Black Cuckoo (summer) and Gorgeous Bush Shrike can be heard calling
from the dense bush surrounding the camp. The Pretoriuskop region
is one of the best areas in the Park to see Pennantwinged Nightjar,
Blackbellied Korhaan and Redcollared Widow.
Punda Maria
In
the camp (particularly on the Paradise Flycatcher Trail) Yellowbellied
and Terrestrial Bulbul, Bearded Robin should be looked for. Birding
throughout the camp is excellent. Birds of prey are common overhead.
Black Eagle is sometimes seen, while in winter the Whitenecked
Raven is a regular visitor. The Mahonie Loop, (the 25km circular
drive around the camp) is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding
birding drives in the Park. One should give oneself plenty of time
to cover the distance, and travel with windows down and stop frequently,
particularly for calls. On a good day one could record several
of the following ‘specials': Whitebreasted Cuckooshrike, Crowned
Hornbill, Chestnutbellied (Greyhooded) Kingfisher, Crested Guineafowl,
Gorgeous Bush Shrike Cape Parrot, African and European Golden Oriole
(both summer), Yellowspotted Nicator, Stierling's Barred Warbler
and Dickinson's Kestrel. Narina Trogon has also been recorded on
the loop, but is shy and elusive. On the drive from Punda Maria
to Pafuri via the Klopperfontein Dam, Rackettailed Roller and Mashona
Hyliota have been recorded. This is also one of the best areas
to search for Yellowbilled Oxpecker. This species was absent in
the park for many years, but returned in the 1980s and their numbers
are still increasing. Buffalo are the preferred hosts.
Satara
Satara,
like other camps, has a plethora of resident birds. Particularly
prominent are Redbilled Buffalo Weaver and Mourning Dove. At night
Giant Eagle, Barn, Scops and Pearlspotted Owls can be seen and
heard in camp. The open plains to the north of the camp are perhaps
the best place in the park to record Montagu's and Pallid Harrier.
The N'wanedzi
Picnic Site (24 km from Satara) is worth visiting. Violeteared
Waxbill, Yellowbellied Bulbul, Mocking Chat are regulars here,
while Shafttailed Whydah has been seen nearby. There is also
a viewing platform that provides an elevated view down on the
N'wanedzi River. About 2 km from N'wanedzi on the S37 Road the
Sweni Bird Hide is well worth stopping at. In winter, when water
levels are low, and rocks, mud-banks and reeds are exposed, the
site is exceptionally active bird-wise, with many passerines
coming to drink and joining the ubiquitous Hamerkop, Greenbacked
Heron and Great White and Little Egrets. In summer, after heavy
rain, the high water levels reduce the bird-life. However it
is an excellent venue to see Bluecheeked Bee-eater that is regularly
in attendance here.
Shingwedzi
Shingwedzi
has abundant bird-life and, aside from the ubiquitous squabble
of hornbills, starlings, weavers and Mourning Doves, the camp is
a good place to see Bennett’s Woodpecker, Natal Robin, European
Hobby (hawking prey at dusk in summer), Grey Penduline Tit, Black
and Steelblue Widowfinch and Scops Owl (at night). Cutthroat Finch
has been recorded in camp near the swimming pool. Giant Eagle Owl
is also regularly seen in the large riverine trees on the road
approaching the camp. One should keep a careful lookout for Bathawk.
Although not easy to see, they are around and the lucky birder
could see them catching bats and swifts at dusk. The highwater
bridge is a good potential vantage point, while they can also be
seen along Kanniedood Dam.
There was great
excitement in 1995 when Collared Palm Thrush was recorded in
the camp. It has subsequently been recorded every year and quite
possibly breeds.
Downstream
from the rest camp Kanniedood Dam hosts many interesting species.
Storks (Openbilled, Yellowbilled, Saddlebilled and Woolynecked)
are prominent. The hide is a good spot to see Black Crake and
African Jacana at close quarters. Whitewinged Tern has also been
recorded on the dam. In summer a bit of luck may offer birders
the chance to compare the rare Dwarf Bittern with the common
Greenbacked Heron.
Yellowbilled
Oxpecker is being recorded more regularly in the Shingwedzi area
since their recolonisation of the Park. Check buffalo in particular
for this species. Arnot’s Chat, Broadbilled Roller, Mosque
Swallow and Dusky Lark (summer) are other species that should
be searched for in the Shingwedzi area.
Skukuza
Although
Skukuza is a large and busy camp, the camp hosts an excellent avi-fauna.
Scanning the Sabie River from in front of the restaurant can produce
Finfoot and Halfcollared Kingfisher. In summer this venue is a
hub of activity with a massive nesting colony of Lesser Masked
and Spottedbacked Weavers. Green Pigeons are abundant in the Riverine
fig trees. In taking a walk along the river's bank there is a strong
chance of encountering Redfaced Cisticola and Spectacled Weaver
and, in early the morning, Little Sparrowhawk. The river walk and
a stroll around the rest of the camp could yield Collared Sunbird,
Redbacked and Bronze Mannikin, Purplecrested Lourie and three bush
shrikes (Orangebreasted, Greyheaded and Gorgeous) may well be heard
or even seen. Heuglin's Robin is another species constantly heard
but more difficult to see. Up to seven species of flycatcher may
also be found (Paradise, Black, Dusky, Spotted, Fantailed, Bluegrey
and Pallid). Watching the sky above the river at dusk may reveal
Bat-hawk or European Hobby. When night falls a spot-light lights
up a fig tree outside the restaurant. Woodland Kingfishers use
this ‘extended daylight' to hunt insects attracted to the
glow.
The nearby
bird hide at Lake Panic is a good spot to go to observe kingfishers,
herons and Wiretailed Swallows at close quarters. Blackwinged
Stilts are often in attendance.
- Compiled
by Chris Patton, with input from Ian Whyte, Hein Grobler, Andrew
Deacon, Errol Pietersen and Marc McDonald
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