A Day trip to Vaalkop Dam for some Birdie R&R *

[Super Mongoose]

This was the another favorite sighting for the day.

A small swarm of red birds flew over us and went to sit in a bush a couple of meter away, I was still busy taking pics of the bugs and Skillie took these photos just before they took off again. Very happy and a lifer for us!

Jameson's Fire Finch.

[Super Mongoose]

More of the beautiful birds around the Vaalkop Dam.

Little Egrets were in abundance, but not very active, maybe waiting for the sun to come out.



We could hear the Crested Froncolins way before we could see them and then they end up a bit shy...



One of my favorite birds is the Crested Barbet, because we have a breading pair in our backyard. So I'm always supper happy to see them if we go somewhere and here where a whole family of them.





This is a terrible pic of a young Red-backed Shrike, but it's always nice to see one.

[Super Mongoose]

The weather for the day was not the best for photography, but it meant that mid-day was not to hot to run after the flyers!

Skillie took these butterfly pics. There are similar ones in the AW Butterfly book, but I'm not sure, the spots look a bit different..





Then another favorite sighting for the day was the Jocobin Cuckoos and a lifer! We heard the Red-chrested Cuckoo all day long, but did not spot it...







At the dam wall at the water's edge a Giant Kingfisher! Not a paparazzi fan and took off when he spotted me.

[Super Mongoose]

We had our picnic under the trees and then we were off to the bird sanctuary area.

A Lilac-breated Roller. I failed to get a shot of the European Rollers..



A Lesser Stripped Swallow. They hardly ever sit still and I was lucky to get at least a shot from behind.



A Red-billed Quelea from behind, but it's so cute!



Then a far-far-away Blue-cheecked Bee-eater, a lifer! Not a great pic but happy to got it!



Another terrible far-far-away shot, a Reed Cormorant and a Squacco Heron. In the sanctuary area it's not possible to get near the water's edge in order not to disturbed the water birds.

[Super Mongoose]

In the sanctuary the veld was still dotted with the most beautiful wild flowers.

[Toko]

Blue-cheecked Bee-eater - wow cool find

Your butterflies are Yellow and Blue Pansy

Like the cuckoo

[Super Mongoose]

In the Bird Sanctuary area the road runs quite for from the water in order not to disturbed the water birds breeding. But there is a few places where one can get closer to the water's edge, but still not that great for pics. The birds in the sanctuary area is doing very well and they are every where in mixed groups. The water level was quite high.

A pair of Red-billed Teals and a couple of Red-knobbed Coots in the background.



A Goliath Heron.



A Big gathering of White-breated Cormorants on one of the only rocks available.



In 'n few dead trees and on the opposite bank something of everything.

[Super Mongoose]

It was time to go home, but one the way out we had a few more sightings. (nana, don't look at the last pic...)

A White-winged Widow-bird and his wife's.



Pretty white flowers.



Some interesting grass design going on here.



Two yellow and black beetles who stood for one paparazzi shot and took off before the next click...



Another interesting bug, no idea even what specie it belongs to..



Our last birdie in the reserve was a Yellow-crowned Bishop!



(nana don't look now)
A small (thinking it's a male then) Golden Orb Spider, not sure which one of the plenty different ones, will have to find out.



We spotted the following during our short day trip:
Birds - 64 species
Flowers - 23 species
Insects - 14 species
Mammals - 12 species
Reptiles - 2 species (but no Crocs)

The End

Thanx joining me and Skillie on our Vaalkop day trip!
(Next will be our Borakalalo day trippie!)

[Super Mongoose]

Amazing flowers,butterfly pics, wonderful photos ....all seen in just one day ....must have been a fantastic day trip ...I envy you....

Thanx Vinkie! could not believe everything we saw in one day!

We use to visit Vaalkop Dam way back in the 1990's for water sport competitions before it was turned into a reserve, never noticed any of this back then, we were to stupid! Now we're SMART!

[Super Mongoose]

Well done, SM!

That last insect may be a weevil of sorts?

Any mammals around the Dam?

Thanx RP! Yes, Toko says it's a weevil!

In the angling section were Vervets and Impala. In the bird sanctuary section we spotted Nyala, Zebra, a Steenbok, plenty Kudu, Rooihartebeest, Waterbuck, Ostiches, Warthog, Bluewildebeest and Dwarf Mongoose

Angling section we could get right to the water's edge and there is plenty to see, most anglers camp there, but the space is huge and every one is spaced out. In the sanctuary section there is only a few places where you can get to the waters edge, but all the animals in the veld makes up for it. We off cause drive so super slow, it took us for ever, we also stop for every bird, bug and flower, so it took us the whole day to comb the area.