Rick Nuttall Birding & Nature Adventures

24/07/2024

Following the recent good rains, the 2024 Spring flower extravaganza in Namaqualand promises once again to be spectacular!

Join me on one of two upcoming Namaqualand Flowers, Birds & Biodiversity tours during August, on the following dates:
1. 08-16 August 2024
2. 21-29 August 2024

This 8-night, 9-day Self Drive itinerary departs from and returns to Bloemfontein, which is my home base. The tour caters for small groups of 6-8 people only.

A 6-night, 7-day Self Drive version is also possible, departing from & returning to Cape Town.

While the focus of the tour is very much on the incredible Namaqualand spring flowers and some very special birds found in this area, the tour can easily be adapted to cater for other specific interests of guests as well.

The tour concentrates on the areas around Nieuwoudtville, Vanrhynsdorp, Clanwilliam & Lambert's Bay only, spending 3 nights in Nieuwoudtville, 2 nights in Vanrhynsdorp, and 1 night in Lambert's Bay. While in Nieuwoudtville, we'll visit nearby Matjiesfontein Farm, the Hantam National Botanical Gardens, the Nieuwoudtville Flower Reserve, as well as the Nieuwoudtville Waterfall and Gannabos Quiver Tree Forest, both not far north of town. To look for some very special Bushmanland / Karoo endemic birds, such as Red Lark, Karoo Eremomela, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler and Black-eared Sparrow-lark, we may also drive some distance north-west of Nieuwoudtville, past the small settlement of Kliprand towards Gamoep. In good rainfall years the flowers along the road towards Kliprand are amazing as well.

After spending time in the Nieuwoudtville area, we'll travel west, via the spectacular Vanrhyn's Pass to Vanrhynsdorp, from where we'll explore nearby Renosterveld habitat for endemic birds and spring flowers. We'll also visit the quartz gravel plains of the Knersvlakte, north of Vanrhynsdorp, home to many very special succulents that are found nowhere else. This is a highlight of the tour! We'll also spend a day exploring the nearby Gifberg / Maskamberg, just east of Vanrhynsdorp. This area not only has stunning scenery, but is also host to many excellent bird species and amazing flowering plants. We'll also head south to Clanwilliam, travelling up the nearby Pakhuis Pass in the Cederberg Mountains, en route to the picturesque Biedouw Valley, with it's amazing carpets of colourful flowers - an absolute spectacle. We'll then venture west to Lambert's Bay, to spend time at the Bird Island Cape Gannet colony, and enjoy a wonderful, fresh seafood lunch at Isabella's Restaurant at the harbour.

These - in a nutshell - are the core activities during our time in Namaqualand. This will be an immersive tour experience, focusing in the detail on the smaller things, as well as enjoying the more expansive vistas of colourful flowers. While flowers and birds are the main focus, we'll also be looking at insects, geology and anything else of interest that we might find.

There are still places available, so please contact Rick Nuttall (either DM me, or at [email protected]) as soon as possible to book on one of these exciting tours, or for further information.

20/03/2024

Karoo Meerkats 2 - the experience continues!
(Suricata suricatta)
Khoisan Karoo Conservancy
19 March 2024

20/03/2024

Karoo Meerkats 1 - what an experience!
(Suricata suricatta)
19 March 2024

11/12/2023

A pair of delightful Orange River White-eyes (Zosterops pallidus), huddled together for an early morning preening session.
The male (right) waits for the female to preen him, and after a short while she obliges!
Soon thereafter, the male returns to incubation duties on their nearby nest.

10 December 2023







-eye

22/09/2023

Celebrating World Rhino Day!
What a privilege it is to be able to spend time with these amazing animals!

10/08/2023

It's all about being in the right place at the right time!
The Caracal (Caracal caracal) is one of least encountered of THE priority species on the wish lists of most mammal enthusiasts visiting South Africa. Primarily nocturnal in its habits, this cat is very secretive and difficult to observe.
This incredible, unexpected sighting took place on a recent night drive at Marrick Safari near Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. Thanks to Marrick staff, Riccardo & Elliot for this amazing experience!

8 August 2023

08/08/2023

Another extremely obliging Eastern Rock Sengi!

6 August 2023

21/07/2023

A recent sighting of a pair of Rock Martins (Ptyonoprogne fuligula) huddled on our tiled roof during a brief sunny spell on a cold wintry morning reminded me of the daily gatherings of these birds each April near our home. Small flocks fly around early in the morning, before the sun has risen very high, twittering and interacting. They frequently perch on the tiled roof, to sun themselves and preen. Recently fledged youngsters are also present, and they allow a close approach with wonderful opportunities for some close-up photos.
While the majority of South Africa's hirundines (swallows & martins) are breeding summer migrants to the region, Rock Martins and Brown-throated Martins (Riparia paludicola) are the only two hirundines resident throughout the year in the central parts of South Africa.

10/07/2023

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) reflections

07/07/2023

Encounters with this little, usually solitary nocturnal mammal are fleeting at best. Sadly many individuals are killed by vehicles on our roads. This particular Striped Polecat (also called Zorilla) (Ictonyx striatus) was totally preoccupied - presumably by a prized food item in the bush nearby - and allowed excellent and extended views during our night drive in the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy during May 2023.

18/03/2023

Arguably the best place in South Africa providing consistent sightings of the highly sought after near-endemic Burchell's Courser (Cursorius rufus)! The Karoo scenery & excellent hospitality are not too bad either!

09/10/2022

Fantastic to connect with the local 'special' Sclater's Lark (Spizocorys sclateri) at Karoo Secret, Aberdeen, Eastern Cape - and share this experience with birding friends!!
7 October 2022

28/09/2022

Join me to hear about birding opportunities in the greater Bloemfontein area, in South Africa's central interior!

13/09/2022

Four-striped grass mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio) feeding on flowers of small Black Thorn tree (Senegalia mellifera).
Mosu Camp, Mokala National Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

28/08/2022

Enjoyed watching three handsome endemic Black Harriers at Gifberg, near Vanrhynsdorp, Western Cape
26 August 2022

30/10/2021

Another frequent visitor to feed on copious nectar produced by flowering Karoo boer bean trees (Schotia afra) is the endemic Cape White-eye (Zosterops capensis).
Koffylaagte, Jansenville district, Eastern Cape, RSA
17 September 2021







-eyes



-eye

30/10/2021

Other visitors to flowering Karoo boer bean trees (Schotia afra) include Southern- (Cinnyrus chalybeus, with narrow red chest band) & Greater Double-collared (C. afer, with broader red chest band) Sunbirds.
Koffylaagte, Jansenville district, Eastern Cape, RSA
17 September 2021

30/10/2021

With not much else flowering in this dry landscape, abundant nectar produced by the striking flowers of the Karoo boer bean tree (Schotia afra) attracts a host of bird species, including irridescent Malachite Sunbirds (Nectarinia famosa).
Koffylaagte, Jansenville district, Eastern Cape, RSA
17 September 2021

30/10/2021

Another sunbird species attracted to the winter-flowering aloes - Southern Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyrus chalybeus)
Koffylaagte, Jansenville district, Eastern Cape
18 June 2021

30/10/2021

Winter-flowering aloes bring bright colour to otherwise drab environments. They also attract brightly-coloured sunbirds, such as the stunning Malachite Sunbird (Nectarinia famosa)

09/09/2021

How about spending a couple of nights star-gazing in the Karoo?

Karoo Gariep Private Nature Reserve and New Holme Nature Lodge offer one of the best all-round Karoo experiences, with excellent accommodation, cuisine and hospitality.

Why not consider extending your stay for an extra night, to experience a 'Shy 5' night drive, with sightings of elusive aardvark, aardwolf, porcupine, bat-eared fox and the enigmatic black-footed cat? Not to mention all the special Karoo birds, and hundreds of roosting Blue Cranes!! This is a Karoo Experience not to be missed!

Kindly use 'Rick' as a reference when booking your spot on the Karoo Astro Weekend, and contact me directly for any queries.

18/07/2021

This is #2 of the 4-part sound quiz, with all clips recorded in the same locality. Here's the challenge for each clip: (i) Identify the bird species calling in the clip (quite a few repeat species from clip #1), and (ii) by listening carefully to all bird species in the 4 parts (the others to be posted at regular intervals during the next week or so), try to identify the possible area where the recordings were made! Enjoy the challenge!
While the photo accompanying the recording gives a clue as to habitat, this is from a different locality 😊

14/07/2021

This is #1 of a 4-part sound quiz, with all clips recorded in the same locality. Here's the challenge for each clip: (i) Identify the bird species calling in the clip, and (ii) by listening carefully to all bird species in the 4 parts (the others to be posted at regular intervals during the next week or so), try to identify the possible area where the recordings were made! Enjoy the challenge!

While the photo accompanying the recording gives a clue as to habitat, this is from a different locality 😊

04/04/2021

It was wonderful to catch up with a number of dragons & damsels recently in my local patch. The numbers of odo's around has been quite impressive, and I was particularly happy to find good numbers of my favourite dragon, the diminutive Yellow-veined Widow! Here are males, females & a mating pair.
Woodland Hills, Bloemfontein
19 March 2021

03/02/2021

Birding – this is what it's really about!

The pastime of watching and appreciating birds, enjoyed by growing numbers of people encompasses many aspects. Key of course are the birds themselves - often brightly coloured, conspicuous, with flamboyant displays, showing off exquisite plumage, and sometimes accompanied by interesting vocalizations. Then there are the places birds live and the sometimes epic journeys we as birders must take to reach these places. These places may however also be our gardens, visible to us as we sit on the porch or back verandah.

There is the excitement of putting a birding excursion together - which species to target, when and where to go, how much time do I have? And then there is the excitement of being out there, wondering whether the target species will indeed be found; for many - the excitement of 'the chase'!

I am not a twitcher, but do enjoy linking up with special birds, especially when they are in my 'home patch', close to home. I have done this alone, but it's much more fun having others along, with whom to share the experience and the excitement! This social aspect of birding is another key component to my enjoyment of this wonderful hobby. Sharing the ups and downs of birding experiences with others, some of whom have travelled considerable distances and have invested in both time and money to have such experiences, is what makes these experiences great and memorable.

I was fortunate in recent weeks to share the experience of finding the local celebrity MADAGASCAN CUCKOO at Soetdoring Nature Reserve, not far from Bloemfontein in central South Africa, with a number of groups of enthusiastic birders - from both the younger and the not-so-young generations - from different parts of South Africa. These shared experiences once again highlighted the social side of birding, and how enjoyable this is! Thanks to you all for travelling to Soetdoring NR and for sharing these awesome experiences!

27/01/2021

Spectacular birding experiences - flocking Black-winged Pratincoles (Glareola nordmanni)

One of my most memorable birding experiences was being surrounded by a flock of swift, aerobatic, low-flying Black-winged Pratincoles, while out birding in late January
in the Free State grasslands a number of years ago. It was a pity that I was alone, with no-one to share in this amazing spectacle. The birds whizzed past so close, I felt I could have reached out to touch them.

It's again this time of year, and following good summer rains in the central Free State, these amazing Black-winged Pratincoles are again being seen in fairly good numbers.
This non-breeding Palaearctic migrant, considered Near-threatened, is usually encountered in southern Africa in the
wake of rain systems, and their associated insect emergences.

I was fortunate to experience the flock in the photographs here in Soetdoring Nature Reserve, near Bloemfontein in January 2020; this time with good birding friends! What a
spectacle!

24/01/2021

Here is a section of an 8 minute long recording of a continuous bout of singing by the Soetdoring NR Madagascan Cuckoo, recorded yesterday, 23 January 2021.

https://www.xeno-canto.org/617278

This individual bird has been present in the same general area since at least mid-December 2020. It is now calling less frequently than was the case in December, but its general calling behaviour apparently remains the same. The bird calls from a perched position, uttering a number of repetitive 3-....

24/01/2021

Yesterday I joined Vermeulen and an enthusiastic group of birders from Bloemfontein, Cape Town & Gauteng to try and find the rare vagrant Madagascan Cuckoo that has been resident at Soetdoring Nature Reserve 40 km from Bloemfontein since mid-December last year. Those able to stay were rewarded with a very successful 'twitch' of the cuckoo, but it took hard work and a long wait of 3.5 hrs in 36°C heat to finally see it! ☀️😰 Patience and perseverance are the name of the game! Many thanks to CW for making special arrangements for access to the Reserve (which is officially closed to the public), and for sharing his excellent local knowledge and understanding of this bird's behaviour, which has changed since many of us found this bird quite easily in December! Thanks to Hamman Prinsloo for providing the excellent pic of the bird seen & photographed yesterday. With Alan Bedford-Shaw, Jen Bedford-Shaw, Michiel Gielie Bester, Janice Isom, Mike Witcomb, Hamman Prinsloo, Marcel Zehnder, Jacques de Chermont, CW Vermeulen

22/01/2021

A rich, morning forest soundscape - how many species can you identify?

07/01/2021

These interesting little lepi larvae were abundant in the Buddleias in the garden in Bloemfontein in mid-November 2020. Can anyone offer an ID?