Agree completely!
Sent from my iPhone
> On 16 Jan 2018, at 09:14, Steve Clark <> wrote:
>
> To be fair to South Africa, driving at night anywhere in Africa is a bad
> idea. Apart from crime, crazy drivers and wildlife, there is the real risk
> that you will kill someone walking along the road.
>
> Always make sure you are back in camp for sundowners.
>
> Cheers
> Steve Clark
> Hamilton, Vic
>
>> On Tue, Jan 16, 2018 at 9:08 AM, Martin Butterfield <>
>> wrote:
>> Just to clarify - we took an easy day to drive to Kruger from Pretoria but
>> stayed there 3 days and drove back on the 4th day. On another occasion we
>> did do from Maputo (MZ) to Kruger and back in a day, but that was insane!
>>
>>
>>
>> Martin Butterfield
>> http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>>
>> On 16 January 2018 at 09:05, Ronda Green <> wrote:
>>
>> > Yes, there is a lot of car theft, muggings etc. including along the
>> > stretch between Pretoria and Kruger and between Jo-burg and Kruger, and I
>> > would never intentionally drive after dark. I felt quite safe in the Park
>> > - I figured anyone wanting to mug someone wouldn’t choose somewhere he had
>> > to walk through country inhabited by lions and elephants to do so. I felt
>> > slightly nervous at first driving myself alone out of the little airport
>> > towards Hazyview but soon relaxed a lot more than I did when driving in
>> > Jo’burg and Pretoria (I still made sure all doors and windows were locked
>> > at all times as a precaution). Driving just for the day from Pretoria
>> > would really seem a pity. Even after two and a half weeks in Kruger on our
>> > first visit I didn’t want to leave, still seeing new species every day and
>> > enjoying repeat sightings of others.
>> >
>> > Cheers
>> >
>> > Ronda
>> >
>> > On 16 Jan 2018, at 7:52 am, Martin Butterfield <>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> > A friend with relatives in RSA, who has visited the country many times,
>> > has commented that due to the security situation in South Africa he only
>> > goes birding in the National Parks. I would certainly get good local
>> > advice about where it is safe to go and where not.
>> >
>> > On our one birding trip to RSA we were staying in Pretoria and drove to
>> > Kruger in an easy day. After our time there, we misjudged our departure
>> > time and it was getting dark by the time we got back to Pretoria: a
>> > *very *nervous end to the drive.
>> >
>> > Martin Butterfield
>> > http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/
>> >
>> > On 16 January 2018 at 08:43, Ronda Green <>
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi Martin
>> >>
>> >> I’ve been three times to Kruger and found it marvellous for birding. It
>> >> would be best to spend at least a week. I’ve always spent more than that,
>> >> and we’ve driven ourselves from rest camp to rest camp from the extreme
>> >> south to the extreme north (varied habitats, very varied birdlife: the
>> >> further north you go, the less the crowds).
>> >>
>> >> In most of the Park you can’t leave the car, but you can still see an
>> >> amazing variety of birds from your vehicle, often very close to it,
>> >> especially if you leave the rest camp straight after dawn each morning,
>> >> but
>> >> there are plenty of birds visible throughout the day as well. Just parking
>> >> near a waterhole or river for an hour or so usually produces many
>> >> sightings.
>> >>
>> >> There are also many places where you can leave the vehicle and walk
>> >> around - e.g. at all the rest camps (you can enter the ones you’re not
>> >> staying at, for lunch etc. or general wandering), seeing birds within the
>> >> camps and outside, through the fence, also a number of picnic grounds and
>> >> occasional long bridges whee you can park in the middle, as you can see
>> >> any
>> >> leopard or buffalos entering the bridge long before it reaches you, also
>> >> some wonderful hides, with at least one (near Mopane) where you can spend
>> >> the whole night. You can also go on a ranger-led walk into the park
>> >> (accompanied by two rangers with rifles, just in case).
>> >>
>> >> You can’t drive yourself before dawn or after dusk (heavy fines) but the
>> >> rangers lead some good tours, where you may see owls etc.
>> >>
>> >> In most rest camps there are noticeboards where people record their
>> >> sightings for the day. Most are about the big mammals, but sometimes rare
>> >> birds like kori bustard, or various other big ones like ostriches,
>> >> goliath
>> >> herons, storks or eagles get mentioned. There are also notices asking
>> >> people to report online if they see various species of the rarer birds.
>> >>
>> >> Although I don’t mention most of the birds seen on my most recent visit
>> >> (concentrated more on mammals here), you may like to scroll through my
>> >> blog
>> >> on http://araucariaecotours.com/wordpress/?cat=9 <http://
>> >> araucariaecotours.com/wordpress/?cat=9> to get some feel of exploring
>> >> Kruger. I was there alone that time - gave myself a wonderful week and a
>> >> half there before a conference I was attending in SA.
>> >>
>> >> Btw, the first two times I visited (once with son and once with husband)
>> >> we picked up our hire car from Johannesburg and drove from there, but it’s
>> >> a long drive, mostly past bare paddocks, and driving back into Jo’burg is
>> >> a
>> >> bit of a nightmare. Last time I flew to Neilspruit and hired a car from
>> >> there - I drove to Hazyview where I spent a couple of nights, and then
>> >> into
>> >> KP. Much more relaxing. There’s apparently an airport
>> >> Neilspruit Kruger, right in the Park, but I don’t know if you can hire a
>> >> vehicle there. Oh …and don’t put your entire trust in Google Maps. When
>> >> I
>> >> had a long drive to a second conference, it led me astray and I found
>> >> myself driving in the dark on little country roads, thoroughly lost!
>> >>
>> >> Finally, purchase a Wild Card (more economical that way) and book several
>> >> months in advance - some of the rest camp accommodation gets booked out
>> >> months ahead.
>> >>
>> >> Cheers
>> >>
>> >> Ronda
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> > On 16 Jan 2018, at 3:00 am, wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> > Send Birding-Aus mailing list submissions to
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>> >> > http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding
>> >> -aus.org
>> >> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > You can reach the person managing the list at
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> >> > than "Re: Contents of Birding-Aus digest..."
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Today's Topics:
>> >> >
>> >> > 1. White-throated Needletails at Ryde, Sydney (Cathy Goswell)
>> >> > 2. Fork-tailed Swifts in BIG numbers yesterday at Lower
>> >> > Daintree, FNQ (martin cachard)
>> >> > 3. Re: White-throated Needletails at Ryde, Sydney (and Canada
>> >> > Bay) (Philip Griffin)
>> >> > 4. Rufous Scrub-bird (Alan Gillanders)
>> >> > 5. Aleutian Terns Old Bar 15/01 (Alan Gillanders)
>> >> > 6. Lost scope (Joan Wharton))
>> >> > 7. Lost a Scope (Joan Wharton))
>> >> > 8. 2017 Plains-wanderer report
>> >> > 9. RFI South Africa (Martin Woodward)
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 1
>> >> > Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2018 22:37:48 +1100
>> >> > From: Cathy Goswell <>
>> >> > To:
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] White-throated Needletails at Ryde, Sydney
>> >> > Message-ID: <>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>> >> >
>> >> > On Thursday, 11 January at 8:30am I saw approximately 30 White-throated
>> >> > Needletails circling around Burrows Park (-33.814229, 151.114767) in
>> >> > Ryde in the heart of the city slowly heading south towards Parramatta
>> >> > River. There could have been more, it wasn't possible to tell if the
>> >> > same birds were circling around or there were more groups moving
>> >> > through. I couldn't make out any Fork-tailed Swifts in the flock. The
>> >> > weather was fine but unsettled.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Cathy
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > abc
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ---
>> >> > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
>> >> > http://www.avg.com
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 2
>> >> > Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2018 21:07:31 +0000
>> >> > From: martin cachard <>
>> >> > To: "" <>, "mike
>> >> > tarburton (SWIFT records)" <>
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Fork-tailed Swifts in BIG numbers yesterday at
>> >> > Lower Daintree, FNQ
>> >> > Message-ID:
>> >> > <
>> >> d19.prod.outlook.com>
>> >> >
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>> >> >
>> >> > hello all,
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > FINALLY some big numbers of Fork-tailed Swifts have turned up on the
>> >> Cairns-Port Douglas-Daintree lowlands.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > as far as I am aware, these are the first seen near the coast up here
>> >> since early Dec when Marie Tarrant saw a few around Cairns.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > yesterday's birds were MY first for the season, and their arrival
>> >> coincided with the first day of gentle northerly influence in the weather
>> >> here for 2 weeks. it was a clear, VERY hot, & sunny day.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > from our office on the Daintree River near the car ferry crossing at
>> >> around mid-morning yesterday, I saw more than just a few hundred
>> >> Fork-taileds (+/- 1000) wheeling around at a height of about 40-100mtrs
>> >> above ground. with them were tens of Aust Swiflets too.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Cairns resident and close friend of mine, Adam Arnold, spent the day
>> >> with me and these were his first for the season as well. he and I bumped
>> >> into my dear friend Del Richards last eve, and he saw what were probably
>> >> the same birds not long after at Newell Beach. this was Del's first record
>> >> this season for Forkies on the lowlands around here too.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > so it seems that these birds were quite likely to have been the first
>> >> big influx of Forkies up here...
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > cheers,
>> >> >
>> >> > martin cachard
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > solar whisper wildlife cruises,
>> >> >
>> >> > Daintree River
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > & trinity beach, cairns
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 3
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:13:45 +1000
>> >> > From: Philip Griffin <>
>> >> > To: birding-aus <>
>> >> > Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] White-throated Needletails at Ryde, Sydney
>> >> > (and Canada Bay)
>> >> > Message-ID:
>> >> > <CAPxD7_+DkP0pcXNSOM=
>> >> gmail.com>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>> >> >
>> >> > Around the time (probably 0820hr) and on the same day (Thursday, 11th
>> >> > January), that Cathy was seeing her needletails in Ryde, I was driving
>> >> > through the Sydney suburb of Canada Bay with around 40 needletails
>> >> swirling
>> >> > around on either side of the road and overhead.
>> >> >
>> >> > Always good to see them!
>> >> >
>> >> > Philip Griffin
>> >> >
>> >> > *To*: "
>> >> > <https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=birding-
>> >> >"
>> >> > <
>> >> > <https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=birding-
>> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >> > *Subject*: White-throated Needletails at Ryde, Sydney
>> >> > *From*: Cathy Goswell <
>> >> > <https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&fs=1&tf=1&to=cathycrg
>> >> @bigpond.com>>
>> >> > *Date*: Sun, 14 Jan 2018 11:37:48 +0000
>> >> >
>> >> > On Thursday, 11 January at 8:30am I saw approximately 30 White-throated
>> >> > Needletails circling around Burrows Park (-33.814229, 151.114767) in
>> >> > Ryde in the heart of the city slowly heading south towards Parramatta
>> >> > River. There could have been more, it wasn't possible to tell if the
>> >> > same birds were circling around or there were more groups moving
>> >> > through. I couldn't make out any Fork-tailed Swifts in the flock. The
>> >> > weather was fine but unsettled.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Cathy
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > abc
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 4
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:31:44 +1000
>> >> > From: Alan Gillanders <>
>> >> > To:
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Rufous Scrub-bird
>> >> > Message-ID:
>> >> > <>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>> >> >
>> >> > Greetings,
>> >> > Can anyone provide me with recent information on the Rufous Scrub-bird
>> >> > and Barrington Tops?
>> >> >
>> >> > TIA,
>> >> > Alan
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Alan's Wildlife Tours
>> >> > 2 Mather Road
>> >> <https://maps.google.com/?q=2+Mather+Road+%3E+Yungaburra+4884&entry=gmail&source=g>
>> >> > Yungaburra 4884
>> >> <https://maps.google.com/?q=2+Mather+Road+%3E+Yungaburra+4884&entry=gmail&source=g>
>> >> >
>> >> > Phone 07 4095 3784
>> >> > Mobile 0408 953 786
>> >> > http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 5
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 14:34:44 +1000
>> >> > From: Alan Gillanders <>
>> >> > To:
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Aleutian Terns Old Bar 15/01
>> >> > Message-ID:
>> >> > <>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
>> >> >
>> >> > Greetings,
>> >> > This morning one could have driven to the terns but the tide was a bit
>> >> > high for me. I walked. There were five Aleutians on bank inland of the
>> >> > fenced area and a little south. Opposite the end of the fence there were
>> >> > eight more. When they all took off at7 am, crossing the bar out to sea,
>> >> > they were joined by other terns at least some of which were Commons. I
>> >> > could not see that any of the new terns were Aleutian but could not rule
>> >> > that out. My on ground count was 13 Aleutian Terns.
>> >> >
>> >> > Most of the Common Terns returned to the inlet and fished with pelicans,
>> >> > a pied Cormorant and one human in a deeper gutter. Two Aleutians
>> >> > returned and sat on the sandbar slightly north of the end of the beach
>> >> > and were still there when I left in the pouring rain and 15*C.
>> >> >
>> >> > When is it safe to visit southern Australia!? 34*C when I left Brisbane,
>> >> > 21*C when I arrived in Taree and 15*C, wet and windy this morning.
>> >> > Fortunately the wind was not as strong as yesterday but still not
>> >> pleasant.
>> >> >
>> >> > Regards,
>> >> > Alan
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > Alan's Wildlife Tours
>> >> > 2 Mather Road
>> >> <https://maps.google.com/?q=2+Mather+Road+%3E+Yungaburra+4884&entry=gmail&source=g>
>> >> > Yungaburra 4884
>> >> <https://maps.google.com/?q=2+Mather+Road+%3E+Yungaburra+4884&entry=gmail&source=g>
>> >> >
>> >> > Phone 07 4095 3784
>> >> > Mobile 0408 953 786
>> >> > http://www.alanswildlifetours.com.au
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 6
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 15:52:23 +1100
>> >> > From: "Joan Wharton)" <>
>> >> > To: "" <>
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Lost scope
>> >> > Message-ID: <>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>> >> >
>> >> > Hello
>> >> > A Townsville birder, Ivor Preston, accidentally left his Scope on
>> >> Morris Rd, Giru, Nth Qld recently and when he went back for it the same
>> >> day
>> >> it was gone. Just wondering if anyone going along that road may have
>> >> picked it up? He would love to get it back.
>> >> > Many thanks, Joan Wharton
>> >> >
>> >> > Sent from my iPad
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 7
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:01:15 +1100
>> >> > From: "Joan Wharton)" <>
>> >> > To:
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] Lost a Scope
>> >> > Message-ID: <>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>> >> >
>> >> > Hello
>> >> >
>> >> > These are the details of Ivor's lost scope.
>> >> > I lost my scope on Morris Ck Road, Giru. It was a VORTEX Razor HD
>> >> 11-33x50 on an aluminium tripod. Forgot to put it back in the car and when
>> >> I returned it was gone. I tell you this in case someone contacts you about
>> >> finding it.
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks, Joan Wharton
>> >> >
>> >> > Sent from my iPad
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 8
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 03:11:45 -0500
>> >> > From:
>> >> > To:
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] 2017 Plains-wanderer report
>> >> > Message-ID:
>> >> > <
>> >> eralpha.com>
>> >> >
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed; DelSp=Yes
>> >> >
>> >> > Hello birders
>> >> >
>> >> > For those interested in how plains-wanderers fared in 2017 on the Hay
>> >> > Plain, our annual plains-wanderer report can be found at
>> >> > http://www.philipmaher.com/plains-wandererreportmainpage.html
>> >> >
>> >> > All the best
>> >> >
>> >> > Philip Maher
>> >> > Deniliquin, NSW.
>> >> >
>> >> > Australian Ornithological Services P/L
>> >> > P.O. Box 385
>> >> > South Yarra 3141
>> >> > Victoria
>> >> > Australia
>> >> > Telephone: 0417310200
>> >> > _http://www.philipmaher.com_
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Message: 9
>> >> > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2018 20:44:56 +1100
>> >> > From: "Martin Woodward" <>
>> >> > To: <>
>> >> > Subject: [Birding-Aus] RFI South Africa
>> >> > Message-ID: <>
>> >> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>> >> >
>> >> > Hi Everyone,
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > My wife and I are travelling to South Africa at the end of June this
>> >> year
>> >> > for the first time.
>> >> >
>> >> > I'd appreciate any advice on birding hotspots, guides and accommodation
>> >> for
>> >> > east and southern parts of South Africa.
>> >> >
>> >> > In particular, within Kruger NP, Pretoria and the Garden Coast from
>> >> Capetown
>> >> > and Port Elizabeth.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Martin Woodward
>> >> >
>> >> > 0408 805 179
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > Subject: Digest Footer
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Birding-Aus mailing list
>> >> >
>> >> > To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
>> >> > http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > ------------------------------
>> >> >
>> >> > End of Birding-Aus Digest, Vol 51, Issue 15
>> >> > *******************************************
>> >>
>> >> Ronda Green, PhD
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Proprietor, Araucaria Ecotours
>> >> http://www.learnaboutwildlife.com <http://www.learnaboutwildlife.com/>
>> >>
>> >> Chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia
>> >> http://www.wildlifetourism.org.au <http://www.wildlifetourism.org.au/>
>> >>
>> >> Chair, Scenic Rim Wildlife
>> >> http://scenicrim.wildlife.org.au <http://scenicrim.wildlife.org.au/>
>> >>
>> >> Adjunct Researcher, Griffith University
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> <HR>
>> >> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
>> >> <BR>
>> >> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
>> >> <BR> http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
>> >> </HR>
>> >
>> >
>> > Ronda Green, PhD
>> >
>> >
>> > Proprietor, Araucaria Ecotours
>> > http://www.learnaboutwildlife.com
>> >
>> > Chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia
>> > http://www.wildlifetourism.org.au
>> >
>> > Chair, Scenic Rim Wildlife
>> > http://scenicrim.wildlife.org.au
>> >
>> > Adjunct Researcher, Griffith University
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> <HR>
>> <BR> Birding-Aus mailing list
>> <BR>
>> <BR> To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
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>> </HR>
>
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