Lock-down Level 4 started on 1 May 2020. Nothing changed much for me – I continued to work from home and enjoy the birding I was able to do from my balcony.
May had a number of highlights. The first was adding a Common Fiscal as bird no 52 to my lock-down list. Lock-down bird no 53 was also a new bird on my garden list, and I was really, really excited – I saw a Southern Boubou in my neighbour’s garden! I could not get a photo, but a couple of days later he visited again and I managed a couple of photos.
All of a sudden I started seeing him a couple of times a week. I thought I could not get anymore excited about this bird, and then he started visiting my balcony.
Then he disappeared for a couple of days. I only heard him call in the distance a few times. And then he appeared again.
11 May delivered a stunning morning’s birding. First I spotted a bird land in a tree on the other side of the complex. My first thought was that it was one of the doves or pigeons that I had already seen that morning. I looked through the binoculars, and my jaw dropped. It was an African Green Pigeon! I’ve seen a couple in Fairland before, not never in my complex! I literally laughed out loud.
A little while later I heard the birds behind me make weird sounds. I looked up and was just in time to see an African Harrier Hawk fly low over my head. I managed a bum shot.
The last time I took a photo of a Red-headed Finch on my balcony was in August 2018. I was therefore thrilled to see this cute little pair on 19 May 2020. They are definitely two of the cutest visitors I’ve had during lock-down!
I saw two Black Sparrowhawks on Day 3 of L5 Lock-down. I did not see them again. on 25 May 202 I was standing my my balcony – I was looking for the Fiscal Flycatcher that was calling quite loudly. I could not see it, and just as I was about to go inside, the Laughing Doves took off like rockets and disappeared. I looked up to see a shape land in the tree. It was an immature Black Sparrowhawk! His position in the tree and the bad early morning light made it quite challenging to take photos, but I was so excited about this sighting!
A couple of birds that I see on a regular basis around my house also started visiting my balcony during May.
A pair of Fiscal Flycatchers showed up one day. I saw them every few days in the tree just outside our complex gate, but they must have heard about the meal worms and cheese on the buffet menu, and soon became daily visitors. They became very “tame” quite quickly – they seem to know that I bring food and don’t fly off when they see me. They even come to within about a meter of me to grab the meal worms. A little more about their behavior a little later.
I think the Cape Starlings are building a nest in a neighbours garden, but it took a few weeks before they came to the balcony.
I also had some photo opportunities of a few birds – African Hoopoo.
I got some photos of the Sacred Ibises and Crowned Lapwings as they flew over my house.
Lock-down has also given me the opportunity to observe the behaviour of the garden birds a little more closely. I want to mention the aggression showed by four birds in particular –
Common Myna
This bird is not a popular bird in South Africa. Many people comment on how aggressive they are towards other birds and that they are chasing away other birds. There are a few Mynas that visit my balcony, and not once have I seen them show any aggression towards any other bird. They just eat a little bit of food and then fly off again.
Grey Go-away bird
The Go-away bird has shown some aggression towards other birds. At first I thought it was the most aggressive of the birds, especially when I saw it kick the Crested Barbet away from the food, but turned out it is not the most aggressive bird.
Fiscal Flycatcher
These little guys has shown a surprising amount of aggression towards the other birds. When they have their eyes on the food, they will not tolerate any interference or competition, and will vocally chase any bird that dares come near. They have a special dislike for the poor Cape-Robin chat.
Black-collared Barbet
This is by far the most aggressive little bird around. I’ve seen it physically attack the Speckled Mousebirds on more than one occasion.
It also does not care that the Go-away bird is bigger, it will chase it away without hesitation.
Photos
Just a few of my favourite photos from the month –
The Cape Turtle Doves are in the area almost every day, but I still don’t see them all that often.
This group of Grey Go-away birds came for breakfast early one morning. The light was not that great yet, but I loved the five of them together. 
The Tawny-flanked Prinia posed nicely in front of my neighbour’s patio window. I like the contrast between the little brown bird and the black background. 
The Speckled Mousebirds are such characters. I love their antics. There is always four or five at a time. The way that they hang on the feeder makes me think of little trapeze artists.
One Sunday a couple of Green Wood Hoopoos were extremely vocal. I a not sure what upset them, but they were very noisy.
I love the Cape Robin-chat, and this is my favourite photo taken during lockdown of this little bird.
A pair of Black Collared Barbets are also regular visitors. A third one that visits as well looks like a younger bird, possibly the offspring of the other two.
And a last sweet little Cape Sparrow male.
Non-birding Stuff
The month of May once again had a glorious full moon.
I also found a few more butterflies – African Migrant and Broad bordered Grass Yellow.
There were also a Brown Veined White and a Geranium Bronze.
Neighbours discovered a couple of moth larvae in their gardens, and I took them in. These are the larvae of the Death’s Head Hawk Moth. Unfortunately the first one did not survive – I think a wasp or something laid some eggs in it as I found some creatures feasting on it about a week later. The second one was the most beautiful larvae I have ever seen. It was bright yellow and huge. I am still hoping that the moth will hatch.
And to end off – a beautiful daisy and ladybird.
At the end of May we moved to Level 3 Of lockdown. The message was that those who could work from home should still continue to do so. So I did and continued with by lockdown birding.