| If you would like to ring Karoo birds, book a trip with Dieter at Birds4Africa ! |
Visiting Vanrhynsdorp from 23-26 January 2020, a team of ringers and trainees ringed many Karoo specials including European Bee-eater, Karoo Scrub-Robin, Namaqua Warbler, Fairy Flycatcher and Lark-like Bunting (trip report). Top numbers ringed by species were Cape Weaver, Cape Sparrow and Southern Masked-Weaver, birds that breed in the garden (Species totals in table below). Here some interesting results will be presented.
European Bee-eaters – ageing
Unexpectedly, we caught 10 European Bee-eaters that often perched on the telephone line above the net – the net was not higher than normal. Three adults had reddish eyes, brownish wings and backs, and brighter colours below, while the seven juveniles had brown eyes and upperparts more greenish (see photos below). The adults also had the two central tail feathers extending 20-30 mm beyond the rest of the tail.
Measurements – the wing and tail (even excluding central feathers) were longer in the adults, while the weight and bill lengths were similar in both groups. none of the birds was moulting yet, indicating that these were all birds of the breeding population (that migrates to central Africa).
Karoo Scrub-Robins – trapping
Two spring traps baited with mealworms, were put up in different locations in the garden. Seven Karoo Scrub-Robins were caught in the spring-traps. one was recaptured in a mist net a day later, but this species is best caught with spring traps!
African Red-eyed Bulbul – range
Three African Red-eyed Bulbuls were caught, and no Cape Bulbuls. The African Red-eyed Bulbul is expanding its range southwards, while the Cape Bulbul occurs from Cape Town northwards through towards Namibia. One of the African Red-eyed Bulbuls was a juvenile, indicating successful breeding.
Table. Birds ringed and recaptured in Vanrhynsdorp garden, January 2020
The total birds caught was 229 birds (215 ringed) of 26 species. Recaptures were relatively low at 14, indicating a high number of birds present overall.
| Sp no | Species | Latin | n |
| 317 | Laughing Dove | Streptopelia senegalensis | 11 |
| 318 | Namaqua Dove | Oena capensis | 3 |
| 391 | White-backed Mousebird | Colius colius | 1 |
| 392 | Red-faced Mousebird | Urocolius indicus | 3 |
| 404 | European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster | 10 |
| 418 | African Hoopoe | Upupa africana | 1 |
| 506 | Rock Martin | Hirundo fuligula | 1 |
| 544 | African Red-eyed Bulbul | Pycnonotus nigricans | 3 |
| 570 | Familiar Chat | Cercomela familiaris | 2 |
| 581 | Cape Robin-Chat | Cossypha caffra | 2 |
| 583 | Karoo Scrub-Robin | Cercotrichas coryphoeus | 7 |
| 606 | African Reed-Warbler | Acrocephalus baeticatus | 3 |
| 653 | Namaqua Warbler | Phragmacia substriata | 2 |
| 665 | Fiscal Flycatcher | Sigelus silens | 4 |
| 678 | Fairy Flycatcher | Stenostira scita | 1 |
| 686 | Cape Wagtail | Motacilla capensis | 2 |
| 760 | Southern Double-collared Sunbird | Cinnyris chalybeus | 7 |
| 784 | House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | 2 |
| 786 | Cape Sparrow | Passer melanurus | 48 |
| 799 | Cape Weaver | Ploceus capensis | 54 |
| 803 | Southern Masked-Weaver | Ploceus velatus | 24 |
| 808 | Southern Red Bishop | Euplectes orix | 12 |
| 865 | White-throated Canary | Crithagra albogularis | 4 |
| 867 | Streaky-headed Seedeater | Crithagra gularis | 1 |
| 871 | Lark-like Bunting | Emberiza impetuani | 6 |
| 1172 | Cape White-eye | Zosterops virens | 15 |
| TOTAL | 229 |
Thanks to Salome for hosting us!
| If you would like to ring Karoo birds, book a trip with Dieter at Birds4Africa ! |
