Twitching: A second mega rarity

Red-necked Buzzard, Melkhoutfontein.

The summer has been awash with rarities across South Africa and I had been seeing the emails notifications from New Zealand, then in Johannesburg and Millstream the timing was not great and now, at last, I am in Cape Town and free to pursue a few of the specials that are still hanging around.

Today the destination was Melkhoutfontein just before Stilbaai, a 650km roundtrip from our apartment. We were up at 3.30am, coffee and a rusk and we then hit the road. A moody, cool sunrise over Sir Lowries Pass before a lovely drive along the N2 to Riversdale for breakfast at the old hotel in the town centre.   

An hour later we were in place and nervously birding. 

The target:

A  RED-NECKED BUZZARD, the 8th record for Southern Africa and only the 2nd for South Africa....

We had some fellow birders with us most of the day and we staked out various locations. We wandered up and down the Melkhoutfontein road for many hours. A pair of Jackal Buzzards were a distraction while we scanned pylons and the skies. We drove into Stilbaai to have a look see and very quickly left - too busy and too distracting.

Back to the hunt. After about 5 hours we got a call from one of the stakeout points, the Buzzard had been located! A mad scurry, just in time to see the bird fly off, we then resorted to an off road chase in the Audi and at the end of the road we were treated to a perfect sighting. 

What a thrill and very exciting to get a second mega rarity in a week.

And then the subtle pleasure of provisioning gold award evo oil from Gabrielskloof, crisp Gabrielskloof Viognier wines for New Year, export quality apples from Elgin....all so nice.

Twitching: a Temminck's Stint at Strandfontein

Fortunately my Christmas shopping is done and we are joining the Hadfield's for lunch tomorrow.

So my first priority, having arrived in Cape Town yesterday, was an early morning visit to the Strandfontein Sewage Works which is grabbing headlines at the moment with all it's specials - Red-necked Phalarope, American Golden Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper and the target for Fred and me, the very rare Temminck's Stint.

I had read the message below on Facebook, posted by Trevor Hardaker, and when it comes to rarities his pleasure is infectious. This mega rarity had arrived in late November at Strandfontien and has been was creating a stir in the birding world ever since.

"The bird of the moment and one that has turned my week upside down... this is only the 7th record for Southern Africa (and 3rd for South Africa) with none this century and also became the 916th species that I have now personally seen in Southern Africa. Big smiles...:)

Temminck’s Stint – Temminckstrandloper – Calidris temminckii

Strandfontein Sewage Works

04 December 2016"

Fred getting his fabulous photos at the Temminck's twitch earlier today.

I gritted my teeth and crossed thumbs that this rarity would hang around a bit longer than the Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin which I had missed by a day. The twitch was in full swing when we arrived, cameras, lenses, scopes and birders with binocs ready and lined up along P1. Locals, visitors from George and Fred and me.

The stint had been seen, had flown off but we were assured that it circled back to mostly the same spot.

Patience paid off, the tiny wader made its appearance - I had been watching Faansie Peacock's Youtube video of his twitch and had made a note of all his ID points. I paid attention to the 'short greenish legs, its plain brown color, the broad breastband, indistinct facial markings, very long tail and tertials and its horizontal, low-sung carriage'

My early Xmas gift! Temminck's Stint.

Yay. What a way to celebrate the 'rear-end' of 2016.....my bird number 767 for Southern Africa.

Just love this photo of the Temminck's Stint! Well done Fred.

Generations: a grandson called James

The pleasure of my first grandchild, baby James Ennis Kerr born on the 8th September. The next generation is here.

Nine weeks ago I flew to Wellington, New Zealand to be with Shawni and Craig, to help out a little and of course to meet James. So little and so precious.

If I was still doing my alphabet blog, it would have been J for Joy.

Since we have all gotten back, Jamie has been passed around his family and friends in Johannesburg, at Millstream and in Cape Town; and he takes it all in his stride, sometimes with a big smile but most often with a slightly quizzical look.

I love been Nan.

The new mantle sits easy and I am smiling as I remember a quote from a book Di gave me - "Being a grandparent is the reward for not having killed your own children."

James meeting friends and family.

Family times at Millstream and the pleasure it brings!

James's first Christmas. Still sleepy!