We visited the Kurland estate in the Crags early on Saturday morning. Although the air was cool, the sun was shining, and the birds were singing. Kurland is a spectacular property that offers some very interesting birding opportunities. Large trees, grasslands and a particularly beautiful dam, where you are likely to see White-backed Duck, African Jacana, Black Crake, White-faced Whistling Duck, Malachite Kingfisher and many other water birds. At the dam we had great sightings of the White-backed Duck and the Little Grebe.

It is a fantastic way to compare the two species. The little Grebe has pale patch below the eye and it is visible from far away. The White-backed duck is a small, compact big-headed duck that sits very low in the water. The white back is only visible when it flies, it also has a white spot below the eye and next to the bill.

The White-faced whistling ducks were a treat with their distinctive whistling calls.
At the water’s edge, the Blacksmith Lapwings were very agitated and dive bombing the photographers trundling through the grass to get a closer shot of the Jacanas trotting on the lily pads. In the wetland edges, the Levaillant’s cisticolas gregarious chirping and Little Rush Warbler’s chortle and the rattling of it’s wings as it flies up at the end of it’s song. It was all action and greatly appreciated by all of us.

The gardens are home to many sunbirds, Cape Weaver, Red-winged starlings, Black bellied starlings, Black-headed Oriole, Fork-tailed Drongos, Yellow-billed Kites and a variety of doves and pigeons.

We had a large attendance. We split in 2 groups. One group went towards the dam, and the second group went to the fields and then onto the dam. It was a very easy flat walk. We all headed back to the homestead for tea, coffee, juice, cakes and rusks. It was a privilege to be able to walk at Kurland and we are hoping that we will be able to arrange another walk there sometime soon. It has been a tough time for many of our regular walking venues as they are all dealing with the aftermath of the excessive rain and wind damage.

Our thanks to the Kurland owners and staff for making our time at the farm such a treat.