Ringing at Botuin, 29 Mar – 4 Apr 2025
Three UK ringers, Les and I undertook 2 weeks of intense ringing, the first week being based at (this blog, ebird report), and the second week at Nuwejaarsrivie...
Tag: Vanrhynsdorp
Karoo Lark, Vanrhynsdorp, 1/12/2023
The Karoo Lark is endemic to South Africa. It is one of the least ringed lark species in southern Africa, only 29 birds in 76 years. 3 birds were caught on 1 De...
Spike-heeled Lark, Vanrhynsdorp, 7/02/2023
Larks often live in open areas, meaning that mist nets are fairly visible and easily avoided. However, placing nets along fence lines may help increase...
House Sparrows, Vanrhynsdorp, 19/11/2024
We were surprised to catch 11 House Sparrows in our nets during normal ringing at the VRD sewage works. This was the second highest species total for this morni...
Eurasian Golden Oriole, Vanrhynsdorp, 30/06/2023
Very unexpectedly a Eurasian Golden Oriole was found in a net at Botuin near a fig tree. This oriole is a migrant species, breeding in the northern hemisphere. ...
Catching Cape Weavers, Maskam, 5-6/08/2024
Spring trap inside chicken coop We visited Maskam farm on 5-6 August 2024 to see the spring daisies and other flowers. While the group drove around the scenic...
Gifberg ringing
This Karoo farmland at the foot of the majestic Gifberg outcrop, is home to some special birds. Ringing is challenging because of the very open landscape...