Birding

Here you will find all kinds of stuff about our birding trips and records.

Latest lifers (Southern African)

Bird Observers Location Date
Lesser crested tern P Durban, South Africa 23 Dec 2018
Striped flufftail P Sani pass, South Africa 21 Dec 2018
Black-tailed godwit P Marievale, South Africa 20 Dec 2018
Allen's gallinule P Levhuvhu, South Africa 25 Nov 2018
Dusky lark P Kruger NP, South Africa 20 Nov 2018
Pennant-winged nightjar P Kruger NP, South Africa 16 Nov 2018
Rufous-breasted sparrowhawk N Magoebaskloof, South Africa 19 Oct 2018
Knysna woodpecker PN Port Alfred, South Africa 27 Mar 2018
Southern giant petrel P Simon's Town pelagic, South Africa 25 Mar 2018
Great shearwater P Simon's Town pelagic, South Africa 25 Mar 2018
Cape rockjumper N Rooi-els, South Africa 24 Mar 2018
Red-necked phalarope PN Velddrif, South Africa 22 Mar 2018
Barlow's lark PN Port Nolloth, South Africa 21 Mar 2018
Cape long-billed lark PN Port Nolloth, South Africa 20 Mar 2018
Sclater's lark PN Pofadder, South Africa 19 Mar 2018
Melodious lark PN Vlaklaagte, South Africa 05 Nov 2017
Short-tailed pipit PN Mabusa NP, South Africa 05 Nov 2017
Benguela long-billed lark PN Brandberg, Namibia 25 Sep 2017
Carp's tit PN Erongo, Namibia 24 Sep 2017
Rockrunner PN Erongo, Namibia 24 Sep 2017
Rüppell's parrot PN Erongo, Namibia 23 Sep 2017
Damara red-billed hornbill PN Erongo, Namibia 23 Sep 2017
Malagasy pond heron PN Phinda, South Africa 25 Jun 2017


Our most productive birding locations (as on 31 Dec 2018)

Place Pieter species Nicola species
Kruger National Park 363 331
Mkuze Game Reserve 283 247
Borakalalo National Park 231 220
Nylsvley Nature Reserve 221 211
Loskop Dam Nature Reserve 204 198
Mahango Game Reserve 202 202
Mapungubwe National Park 197 197
Pilanesberg National Park 195 192
Wakkerstroom 192 180
Middelburg (home) 185 125
Zaagkuildrift to Kgomo-Kgomo road 170 170
Barberspan Bird Sanctuary 163 163
Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Gauteng) 154 122


Our individual lifer counts (as on 31 Dec 2018)


Pieter NicolaLists
Overall (World birds) 3119 1991
Southern Africa 771 754
South Africa 703 673
   Eastern Cape 284 250
   Free State 189 174
   Gauteng 332 316
   Kwazulu Natal 461 391
   Limpopo 472 446
   Mpumalanga 466 441
   North-west 349 344
   Northern Cape 216 204
   Western Cape 280 247
Kruger National Park 363 331


Our annual species counts (as on 31 Dec 2018)


Pieter Nicola
2008
   World 395 228
   Southern Africa 365 228
   South Africa 365 228
2009
   World 478 449
   Southern Africa 450 449
   South Africa 444 443
2010
   World 527 485
   Southern Africa 438 437
   South Africa 438 437
2011
   World 691 653
   Southern Africa 484 465
   South Africa 401 374
2012
   World 817 732
   Southern Africa 437 435
   South Africa 407 405
2013
   World 690 649
   Southern Africa 552 549
   South Africa 495 491
2014
   World 1140 925
   Southern Africa 515 443
   South Africa 501 425
2015
   World 1171 523
   Southern Africa 515 482
   South Africa 515 482
2016
   World 741 705
   Southern Africa 460 455
   South Africa 386 365
2017
   World 1054 536
   Southern Africa 436 398
   South Africa 409 369
2018
   World 1136 445
   Southern Africa 629 445
   South Africa 629 445


Most birds seen in a day

Count Date Place(s)
188 21 Nov 2015 Southern Kruger National Park, Mount Sheba, Dullstroom, Wonderfontein and Leeuwfontein pans
168 12 Dec 2015 Wonderfontein pan, Kaapsehoop, Nelspruit and southern Kruger National Park
168 25 Oct 2015 Southern Kruger National Park and Mpumalanga towns
153 22 Feb 2014 Northern Kruger National Park (Punda Maria and Pafuri)
150 30 Dec 2018 Mkuze Game Reserve
150 29 Dec 2018 Mkuze Game Reserve
149 09 Dec 2012 Southern Kruger National Park and Mpumalanga towns
134 24 Oct 2015 Southern Kruger National Park and Hazyview
127 23 Oct 2011 Mkuze Game Reserve, KZN and Mpumalanga towns
126 28 Nov 2010 Kruger National Park and Mpumalanga towns
124 16 Jan 2016 Marievale Bird Sanctuary
122 09 Jan 2010 Borakalalo National Park
121 13 Nov 2009 Seringveld conservancy, Rust de Winter roadside routes, Rust de Winter dam Nature Reserve, Dinokeng roadside routes, Roodeplaat dam Nature Reserve - north of Pretoria, South Africa