This was from a fantastic trip to Kimberley in the Northern Cape, around Easter 2008 with the Witwatersrand Bird Club. It was my first visit to Spitskop Dam, which in my opinion, probably holds more potential for attracting vagrant waterbirds than any other inland waterbody in the country. At the dam we got big numbers [...]

This poor White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus, was killed by a vehicle on a stretch of road near Beestekraal on the way to Vaalkop Dam on 16 November 2009. I happened to pass by soon after it was killed, so the specimen was still in excellent condition, with minimal damage, and I took the opportunity to [...]

A study of the facial features, head shapes and bill dimensions of Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret Egretta intermedia (top head, and small standing bird); Great Egret Ardea alba (second head); Little Egret Egretta garzetta (third head) and juvenile Grey Heron Ardea cinerea. To be honest, I can't remember where exactly this was from. Birders might be [...]

In March 2008 the unusually wet season resulted in a number of transient "rains migrants" arriving in northern South Africa. At Maloutswa Pan in Mapungubwe National Park, we encountered this furtive family of Allen's Gallinules Porphyrio alleni. One adult bird (presumably the female) was tending to 4 fluffy little chicks that were tagging along behind, [...]