I was very fortunate to see some birds that I’ve only seen once before in Kruger or do not see all that often when visiting Kruger.
I saw the Black-bellied Bustard for the first time ever during my visit in October 2018. Just before I reached Satara on my first day I saw both the male and the female. I would have a few more sightings of these birds before I left the area.
In 2017 I twitched another bird and did a 2-day trip to Kruger. Somewhere on the H9 between Phalaborwa and Letaba I came across a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos. It was the first and only time I saw these beautiful birds. I had just arrived at Tamboti after a long day in the Park and was in 2 minds whether to go for a short afternoon drive. Luckily I convinced myself to go, because just as I reached the H7 a few noisy Burchell’s starlings caught my attention. I quickly discovered the reason for their irritation – a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos were obviously unwanted visitors.
I spent some time watching the Starlings chasing the Cuckoos. The Starlings’ perseverance paid off and soon the Cuckoos disappeared into the bush.
Another bird that I have seen only once before in Kruger is the Red-billed Teal. On the morning that I left Satara for Tamboti I stopped at Nsemani dam and was surprised to find a pair with the White-faced Whistling ducks.
I’ve seen Senegal Lapwings twice before in Kruger. I came across a little family on the Sweni road on Birding Big Day. I think I was very lucky to see them as I drove past that spot a few times during my trip and never saw them again.
It may seem strange to see the next two birds on my infrequent encounter list. I do see White-crowned Helmet-shrikes during some of my trips, but often they are far away and some trips I don’t see them at all. And I love these little birds so much. I saw a little flock while driving from Tamboti to Skukuza.
Yellow-billed Oxpeckers are fairly common further north in the Park. I also know that their range has been extending more south, but I have never seen them south of Letaba before. I head parrots calling in the trees just south of Satara and while scanning the area for them, my eye caught other movement – a pair of Yellow-billed Oxpeckers! I was so surprised. Then one disappeared into a hole in the tree trunk. It must have been their nest, so there may be more of these guys in the area soon!
Another bird that I do not see very often during Kruger trips is the Secretary Bird. I was driving along the Timbavati road on Birding Big Day when an oncoming car spooked a Secretary Bird and it flew off. It landed a distance. I was able to stay with it for a while as it foraged before it moved further away. Early one morning I encountered another one on the H7 just before Nsemani dam. This one was actively looking for breakfast and it was fascinating to see how he walked with his head low looking for any available bite to eat.
