GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet Bird Club left town at 05:00 on Saturday morning, 2 December, to visit the farm Quaggasvlei.

The early morning start gave the birders plenty of time for a walk around the Quaggasvlei homestead and to enjoy a two hour drive through the veld.

There are usually always more birds around a homestead due to the abundance of food and water and in this case it was very noticeable with 47 species recorded around the homestead and only three new ones added on the drive by the birders.

Quaggasvlei is high country with a mixture of grass and Karoo.

It is ideal habitat for Grey-winged Francolin and the birders heard them near the house. 

Other nice sightings were Ludwig’s Bustard, Sickle-winged Chat, Large-billed Lark and Jacobin Cuckoo.

The Club extends a word of thanks to their hosts David and Maryke Stern.

Although David was shearing, he made time to tell the birders about the history of the farm and about his stock farming operation.

Quaggasvlei is high country with a mixture of grass and Karoo.

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