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Since last week I have twice spotted a hawk circling above our home in JHB...and have ID it as a Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk (unfortunately no photos, yet)...but can that be possible? Has anybody else seen these hawks in JHB?

Samantha- How common is that Fiery necked nightjar of yours?

I really have no idea, I believe they seen outside of Pretoria, but I havent seen one yet in Gauteng even, nevermind JHB....(Where I live) Must admit though, I've done little travelling if any in the area.....Wouldnt say its not PCGH, but there are other possiblities, like African Harrier Hawk, Ovambo Sparrowhawk etc etc....But if the diagnostic wings match, then it cant be anything else really

Hi Badmad,

Not very common, we only heard it once in our garden.

I think it was just passing through.

Samantha

Hi RJ

The bird I saw had distinctive white under wing with black flight feathers. The tail was barred. The breast also appeared light from the distance I was looking at.
I was not able to see the colour of the legs.
As for the size…it was quite big, bigger than a sparrowhawk.
I haven’t seen it again after these two sightings….but am keeping my ears open for the when the Wattled Lapwings start going crazy…this is how I saw the this hawk on the previous occasions. I really hope to get a photo next time round!!

A pair of Pied Kingfishers have discovered my fishpond and over the past couple of weeks nearly emptied the pond of fish. They are amazingly accurate! Much more so than the Giant Kingfisher which has been around for a long time now.
Can anyone tell me where one can buy indigenous fish? I have tried at numerous pet shops without any luck.

According to Rob Davies, there are a huge amount of raptors that fly over JHB, and according to him with a good eye and the right conditions, these can be seen.

I heard once that there used to be a place close to Hartbeespoort Dam that you were able to get them (not sure of the name or anything).

It's at the Hartebeespoort Dam Aquarium naomi c

Is that the same place as the that "zoo"?

I bought tilapia from the aquarium at harties. You can get them in all sizes. Wonderfull to attract a whole range of birds- I had a comorant and a green back heron, plus a hammerkop every now and again, resident grey herron (harry!). They breed like anything. We did find that the Mozambican tilapia could not handle a very sudden drop in temp like we had last year. We lost most of them, but the other species are still doing well. Just one thing - we used to have lots of toads, that produced huge swarms of tadpoles, but those are gone now. Not sure if they moved out or were eradicated by the fish!

We also regularly get visits from a Spotted eagle owl who calls down the chimney! Enough to scare the bejesus out of you if you are not expecting it! semi-resident red breasted shrike , grey hornbills, Rameron pigeons, and often up to 40 Hadedas eating the dog food. Crows congregate early in winter and steal all the peacan nuts.

A great first this evening. Arrow marked babbler!!

Was busy organising supper and thought - what is that on the bird feeder?? Then he flew high into the pecan nut tree. I keep a pair of binocs in the kitchen and got a good ident on this juvie.

He called and called then flew away. I was like the cheshire cat just watching him!

I just love These Birds...

Two of them at night

(there are FOUR up there tonight!)