Friday 22nd November 2025: S. Africa Day 5: Tanqua Karoo
We had an early start this morning, with a packed breakfast, but still managed to squeeze in a cracking view of Cape Sugarbird in a small tree, plus a Cape Weaver, Southern Fiscal and Cape Robin-Chat, all foraging around the grounds before we boarded the bus. The aim was to reach the agricultural fields in time to find a displaying Clapper Lark. This paid off, and we enjoyed watching this relatively attractive rufous-bellied lark flying skywards, then descending with clapping wings in an unusual, but fascinating display. A lark with attitude! Also seen here were the somewhat duller Large-billed Lark, together with Karoo Scrub Robin and a flurry of Barn Swallows swooping low over the fields. A group of three elegant Blue Cranes stood quietly feeding across the field.
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| Clapper Lark (Andrew Kinghorn) |
From here we continued on towards the Tanqua Karoo, an arid semi-desert area. Stopping by some roadside rocky cliffs, we had decent views of White necked Raven, Alpine Swifts and a stripy headed Cape Bunting. A small flock of Red-faced Mousebirds, with red bill and chest flew into some nearby bushes, where they were surprisingly difficult to pick out, subsumed into the foliage. A glorious green Malachite Sunbird flew across the rock face, and a Common Waxbill alighted on a tall stem. But the star bird here was the endemic Layards Warbler, a stripe-throated bird which foraged in a low bush near the road. A little further along we found a Mountain Wheatear perched on the fence, another new bird for us.
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| Karoo habitat |
Our next stop for breakfast proved very productive, and we enjoyed some great views of a colourful Cinnamon Warbler, following a circuit around the rocks, a White-throated Canary in the tree above us, a lovely Fairy Flycatcher in some bushes within the rocky area, Fiscal Flycatcher, and a Grey-headed Sparrow, whilst White-rumped Swifts circled overhead. With so much activity, we took our time here, and as we drove away a Karoo Chat popped up on the grassy vegetation beside the road.
At our next stop we found a boldly marked Rufous-eared Warbler, somewhat Prinia like in shape, flitting between the low scrubby bushes, but reluctant to pose long enough for photos. Several Dusky Sunbirds worked their way along the fence line too. We took a short walk, noting a Pale-chanting Goshawk sat on a roadside fence post.
Further along the road, a line of bushes contained a diminutive Yellow-bellied Eremomela, a heavily marked Pririt Batis and a Namaqua Dove. A Lark-like Bunting also put in an appearance near the road. By now it was becoming very hot after just a few minutes in the sun. We stopped under a shady tree to check for birds, and some yellow canary types flew out before we could get a decent view. A Southern Penduline Tit lingered though, revealing a black speckled forehead and eye stripe.
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| Southern Penduline Tit |
From the bus, a Jackal Buzzard hunkered down on the group caught my eye. We got out for a better look, and Tim was still chasing the Rufous-eared Warbler, with one seen on the fenceline with a group of Eremomela. We discovered that by chance we had pulled up right beside a water hole. Our guide Andy wandered over for a better look at the Buzzard, and in the process, to his great excitement, disturbed a Secretary Bird, which flew up and landed in a field at some distance, before taking off again and flying off into the distance. Equally surprising, Stephen spotted a solitary Namaqua Sandgrouse poised beside the water, where it stayed for some time while the photographers lined up for a decent shot!
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| Namaqua Sandgrouse |
We drove on again, finding a small, active group of Spike-heeled Larks, before arriving at a remote cafe where, over lunch, we were entertained by a Long-billed Lark and Cape Sparrows beneath the feeders.
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| Spike-heeled Lark |
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| Cape Sparrow |
Returning to the dry terrain after lunch, we quickly found a Karoo Korhann, and were thrilled to also note a chick, a pleasing sight, although they moved furtively through the scrub, so not giving the clearest of views.
After some time observing these lovely birds , we slowly began our journey back, via a different route, stopping occasionally to see what else we could find and to admire the spectacular views. A Verraux Eagle drifted over at one such stop, with Booted Eagles and Rock Kestrels around the same valley.
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| Blue Cranes |
Our last stop of the day was beside a steep valley with many Protea bushes growing on the slopes. A beautiful Cape Grassbird showed incredibly well for us here, and together with a Cape Robin-Chat, Cape Bunting and a group of foraging Cape White-eyes, brought another great day to a conclusion.
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| Cape Grassbird |
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