Where are we........

Magoebaskloof Birders' Cottages are located on Dragonwyck Farm, a small farm focussing on  avocado production and propagating indigenous plants. The farm has patches of escarpment forest on it.
The birding on the farm is good, we have  ticked 107 of the 130 birds listed for the 2350_3000 SABAP2 pentad. ( https://goo.gl/atsZ7o )

The Magoebaskloof Birders' Cottages are within an easy drive to the following excellent birding areas.
Swartbosch Forest and Lesodi Trail
Woodbush Forest
Haenertsburg Grasslands
Randfontein Road, dry bushveld area in the Haenertsburg rain shadow.
Kudus Valley road down to the lowveld
Serala Wilderness Area, highland grassveld.

More distant day drives can be undertaken to the Polokwan Game Reserve and Hans Merensky Game Reserve.

The nine pentads ( https://goo.gl/bvYDjj ) surrounding Magoebaskloof Birders' Cottages have a total species list of 437 birds.

In this blog I will attempt to record visits to surrounding birding spots. We will map the routes and highlight good birding sites and birds seen.

Dragonwyck Farm bird list

Dragonwyck Farm Bird List
	Species name	Afrikaans	Taxonomic name
No
1	Apalis, Bar-throated	Bandkeelkleinjantjie	Apalis thoracica
2	Batis, Cape	Kaapse Bosbontrokkie	Batis capensis
3	Batis, Chinspot	Witliesbosbontrokkie	Batis molitor
4	Bee-eater, European	Europese Byvreter	Merops apiaster
5	Boubou, Southern	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	Laniarius ferrugineus
6	Brownbul, Terrestrial	Boskrapper	Phyllastrephus terrestris
7	Bulbul, Dark-capped	Swartoogtiptol	Pycnonotus tricolor
8	Bush-shrike, Black-fronted	Swartoogboslaksman	Telophorus nigrifrons
9	Bush-shrike, Grey-headed	Spookvoel	Malaconotus blanchoti
10	Bush-shrike, Olive	Olyfboslaksman	Telophorus olivaceus
11	Buzzard, Forest	Bosjakkalsvoel	Buteo trizonatus
12	Buzzard, Jackal	Rooiborsjakkalsvoel	Buteo rufofuscus
13	Camaroptera, Green-backed	Groenrugkwekwevoel	Camaroptera brachyura
14	Canary, Cape	Kaapse Kanarie	Serinus canicollis
15	Canary, Forest	Gestreepte Kanarie	Crithagra scotops
16	Canary, Yellow-fronted	Geeloogkanarie	Crithagra mozambicus
17	Cormorant, Reed	Rietduiker	Phalacrocorax africanus
18	Coucal, Burchell's	Gewone Vleiloerie	Centropus burchellii
19	Crested-flycatcher, Blue-mantled	Bloukuifvlieevanger	Trochocercus cyanomelas
20	Crow, Pied	Witborskraai	Corvus albus
21	Cuckoo, African Emerald	Mooimeisie	Chrysococcyx cupreus
22	Cuckoo, Black	Swartkoekoek	Cuculus clamosus
23	Cuckoo, Red-chested	Piet-my-vrou	Cuculus solitarius
24	Cuckoo-shrike, Grey	Bloukatakoeroe	Coracina caesia
25	Dove, Lemon	Kaneelduifie	Aplopelia larvata
26	Dove, Red-eyed	Grootringduif	Streptopelia semitorquata
27	Dove, Tambourine	Witborsduifie	Turtur tympanistria
28	Drongo, Square-tailed	Kleinbyvanger	Dicrurus ludwigii
29	Duck, African Black	Swarteend	Anas sparsa
30	Eagle, African Crowned	Kroonarend	Stephanoaetus coronatus
31	Eagle, Long-crested	Langkuifarend	Lophaetus occipitalis
32	Firefinch, African	Kaapse Vuurvinkie	Lagonosticta rubricata
33	Fish-eagle, African	Visarend	Haliaeetus vocifer
34	Flufftail, Buff-spotted	Gevlekte Vleikuiken	Sarothrura elegans
35	Flycatcher, African Dusky	Donkervlieevanger	Muscicapa adusta
36	Flycatcher, Spotted	Europese Vlieievanger	Muscicapa striata
37	Goshawk, African	Afrikaanse Sperwer	Accipiter tachiro
38	Greenbul, Sombre	Gewone Willie	Andropadus importunus
39	Greenbul, Yellow-streaked	Geelstreepboskruiper	Phyllastrephus flavostriatus
40	Ground-thrush, Orange	Oranjelyster	Zoothera gurneyi
41	Guineafowl, Helmeted	Gewone Tarentaal	Numida meleagris
42	Hamerkop, Hamerkop	Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta
43	Harrier-Hawk, African	Kaalwangvalk	Polyboroides typus
44	Hawk, African Cuckoo	Koekoekvalk	Aviceda cuculoides
45	Heron, Black-headed	Swartkopreier	Ardea melanocephala
46	Heron, Purple	Rooireier	Ardea purpurea
47	Honeyguide, Scaly-throated	Gevlekte Heuningwyser	Indicator variegatus
48	Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed	Geelbekneushoringvoel	Tockus leucomelas
49	Ibis, Hadeda	Hadeda	Bostrychia hagedash
50	Indigobird, Village	Staalblouvinkie	Vidua chalybeata
51	Kingfisher, Brown-hooded	Bruinkopvisvanger	Halcyon albiventris
52	Kingfisher, Giant	Reusevisvanger	Megaceryle maximus
53	Kingfisher, Pied	Bontvisvanger	Ceryle rudis
54	Kingfisher, Striped	Gestreepte Visvanger	Halcyon chelicuti
55	Kite, Yellow-billed	Geelbekwou	Milvus aegyptius
56	Mannikin, Bronze	Gewone Fret	Spermestes cucullatus
57	Mannikin, Red-backed	Rooirugfret	Spermestes bicolor
58	Martin, Rock	Kransswael	Hirundo fuligula
59	Mousebird, Speckled	Gevlekte Muisvoel	Colius striatus
60	Olive-pigeon, African	Geelbekbosduif	Columba arquatrix
61	Oriole, Black-headed	Swartkopwielewaal	Oriolus larvatus
62	Owl, Barn	Nonnetjie-uil	Tyto alba
63	Palm-swift, African	Palmwindswael	Cypsiurus parvus
64	Paradise-flycatcher, African	Paradysvlieevanger	Terpsiphone viridis
65	Parrot, Cape Parrot	Woudpapegaai	Poicephalus robustus
66	Pipit, Striped	Gestreepte Koester	Anthus lineiventris
67	Prinia, Tawny-flanked	Bruinsylangstertjie	Prinia subflava
68	Puffback, Black-backed	Sneeubal	Dryoscopus cubla
69	Pygmy-Kingfisher, African	Dwergvisvanger	Ispidina picta
70	Quelea, Red-billed	Rooibekkwelea	Quelea quelea
71	Raven, White-necked	Withalskraai	Corvus albicollis
72	Robin, White-starred	Witkoljanfrederik	Pogonocichla stellata
73	Robin-chat, Cape	Gewone Janfrederik	Cossypha caffra
74	Robin-chat, Chorister	Lawaaimakerjanfrederik	Cossypha dichroa
75	Robin-chat, Red-capped	Nataljanfrederik	Cossypha natalensis
76	Saw-wing, Black (Southern race)	Swartsaagvlerkswael	Psalidoprocne holomelaena
77	Sparrowhawk, Black	Swartsperwer	Accipiter melanoleucus
78	Sparrowhawk, Little	Kleinsperwer	Accipiter minullus
79	Spurfowl, Natal	Natalse Fisant	Pternistis natalensis
80	Starling, Red-winged	Rooivlerkspreeu	Onychognathus morio
81	Sunbird, Amethyst	Swartsuikerbekkie	Chalcomitra amethystina
82	Sunbird, Collared	Kortbeksuikerbekkie	Hedydipna collaris
83	Sunbird, Greater Double-collared	Groot-rooibandsuikerbekkie	Cinnyris afer
84	Sunbird, Southern Double-collared	Klein-rooibandsuikerbekkie	Cinnyris chalybeus
85	Swallow, Barn	Europese Swael	Hirundo rustica
86	Swallow, Greater Striped	Grootstreepswael	Hirundo cucullata
87	Swallow, Lesser Striped	Kleinstreepswael	Hirundo abyssinica
88	Thrush, Olive	Olyflyster	Turdus olivaceus
89	Trogon, Narina	Bosloerie	Apaloderma narina
90	Turaco, Knysna	Knysnaloerie	Tauraco corythaix
91	Turaco, Purple-crested	Bloukuifloerie	Gallirex porphyreolophus
92	Twinspot, Green	Groenkolpensie	Mandingoa nitidula
93	Wagtail, African Pied	Bontkwikkie	Motacilla aguimp
94	Wagtail, Cape	Gewone Kwikkie	Motacilla capensis
95	Wagtail, Mountain	Bergkwikkie	Motacilla clara
96	Warbler, Barratt's	Ruigtesanger	Bradypterus barratti
97	Waxbill, Blue	Gewone Blousysie	Uraeginthus angolensis
98	Waxbill, Common	Rooibeksysie	Estrilda astrild
99	Waxbill, Swee	Suidelike Swie	Coccopygia melanotis
100	Weaver, Spectacled	Brilwewer	Ploceus ocularis
101	Weaver, Thick-billed	Dikbekwewer	Amblyospiza albifrons
102	White-eye, Cape	Kaapse Glasogie	Zosterops virens
103	Whydah, Pin-tailed	Koningrooibekkie	Vidua macroura
104	Widowbird, White-winged	Witvlerkflap	Euplectes albonotatus
105	Woodland-warbler, Yellow-throated	Geelkeelsanger	Phylloscopus ruficapilla
106	Wood-owl, African	Bosuil	Strix woodfordii
107	Woodpecker, Olive	Gryskopspeg	Dendropicos griseocephalus

Yellowwood Trail on Dragonwyck Farm. Magoebaskloof

Yellowwood Trail Signpost

The yellowood trail on Dragonwyck farm in Magoebaskloof (www.mbcottage.co.za )
is a short walk through a small plantation of Podocarpus falcatus and Podocarpus henkelii trees and on into a patch of  escarpment forest.

Podocarpus falcatus plantation.

The Cape Parrots can be found in the Podocarpus falcatus trees when they are fruiting. I have yet to see them eating Podocarpus henkelii fruits. To my eye the henkelii trees seem to provide a lot more food, but then I am not a Cape Parrot. My aim one day is to put a nesting box on one of the very big Podocarpus falcatus trees.

Podocarpus falcatus 

Podocarpus falcatus 

The Podocarpus henkelii plantation provides excellent habitat for the Orange Ground Thrush and the Olive Thrush. Their dense canopy has created a clear forest floor.

Clear forest floor under the Podocarpus henkelii trees.

The path then leads into what I can only presume was an attempt to build a road in the past. The road starts and ends without any connection to existing roads.

Path into the patch of escarpment forest.

As with all forest birding you have to be in the right place when a bird party passes through.
In my experience, if you hear the Olive Woodpecker then you can expect to see a bird party associated with it. The bird parties here usually include the following birds:-
Black-fronted Bush-Shrike,Cape Batis,  Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Yellow-streaked Greenbul and Grey Cuckooshrike .