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Augrabies list of birds seen during three days (6 - 8 July 2007)

Barbet Acacia Pied, Bee-eater Swallow-tailed (lifer), Bee-eater White-fronted (out of normal distribution range), Bulbul African Red-eyed, Bunting Lark-like (lifer), Canary White-throated (lifer), Dove Laughing, Drongo Fork-tailed, Eagle Booted (lifer), Eagle Verreaux's, Falcon Pygmy (lifer), Fiscal Common, Francolin Cape (lifer), Hamerkop, Ibis Hadeda, Kingfisher Striped, Lark Fawn-coloured, Lark Sabota, Martin Rock, Moorhen Common, Mousebird White-backed, Pigeon Speckled, Prinia Black-chested, Robin-Chat Cape, Sparrow Cape, Sparrow House (not on official Augrabies list), Sparrow Southern Grey-headed, Starling Pale-winged (lifer), Sunbird Dusky (lifer), Wagtail African Pied, Weaver Sociable, Weaver Southern Masked-, White-eye Orange River.

I suspect that the specie variety were low due to the drought experienced in this area. It may also explain the "vagrant" white-fronted bee-eater.

The full trip report can be accessed by clicking on the link.

We had a 2-night stay (25-27 Dec) in Augrabies. We missed out on quite a few of the general birds and felt a bit disappointed. Dipped on Peregrine Falcon, the Chat's, some of the Larks, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler etc. The scenery and colourful reptiles made up a little bit though. And the immature Eurasian Honey-Buzzard we found made up a lot!

List of birds seen during our visit (birds in bold were out of range and not on the official list):

Barbet Pied
Batis Pririt
Bee-eater Swallowtailed
Bishop Red
Brubru
Bulbul Redeyed
Buzzard European Honey-
Canary Whitethroated, Yellow
Chat Familiar
Coucal Burchell's
Crake Black
Cuckoo Diederik, Jacobin
Darter
Dove Cape Turtle, Laughing, Namaqua, Redeyed
Drongo Forktailed
Eagle African Fish, Verreaux's
Falcon Pygmy
Finch Scalyfeathered
Flycatcher Chat, Spotted
Goose Egyptian
Hoopoe African
Ibis Hadeda
Lark Fawncoloured, Karoo Longbilled, Sabota (Bradfield's)
Martin Brownthroated, Rock
Mousebird Whitebacked
Ostrich
Owl Barn
Pigeon Speckled
Prinia Blackchested
Robin Kalahari Scrub-, Karoo Scrub-
Robin-Chat Cape
Sandgrouse Namaqua
Shrike Lesser Grey
Sparrow Cape, Southern Greyheaded
Sparrowlark Greybacked
Sparrowweaver Whitebrowed
Starling Palewinged
Sunbird Dusky
Swallow Greater Striped, Whitethroated
Swift Alpine, Little, Palm
Tit-Babbler Chestnut-vented
Wagtail African Pied, Cape
Waxbill Common
Weaver Sociable, Southern Masked-
Wheatear Mountain
White-eye Orange River
Woodpecker Cardinal, Goldentailed

Posted on SA Bird Network by Brain vd Walt - March 2008

There were plenty of Swallows and Swifts at the Augrabies Falls with a lone Peregrine Falcon on his perch. Flocks of Black-throated Canaries, Pale-winged Starlings and Orange River White-eyes feeding in the campsite trees, with a pair of Pied Wagtail, African Hoopoe and Common Scimitarbill
also in attendance. Interesting to see Red Bishop and Southern Masked Weavers in full breeding plumage actively nesting.

Posted on SA Bird Network on 15th October 2008:

On our way to Northern and Western Cape to bird the area, we stopped at Augrabies Falls National Park. There we saw a pair of Pygmy Falcon twice in the same location.

We also saw one at the start of the dirt road to Witsand. Not bad considering we dipped on this bird entirely when visiting Namibia. Anyone wanting a GPS reading for the pair in Augrabies please contact us - paul@bartho.biz.

Sally & Paul Bartho