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	Trip Report - Ruurd's Weekend - 26-19 October 2000
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Mpumalanga Escarpment and Surrounds

From the 26th-29th October, I ran a fundraising weekend for the Pretoria Birdclub. The idea was to raise funds for the club's conservation programme, by offering a slightly more upmarket trip than the normal club fare. The weekend was sponsored by Ruurd's Country Lodge which lies midway Orighstad and the JG Strydom Tunnel - ideally situated for Taita Falcon watching.

There were eight of us in 2 4x4's and the plan was to visit a variety of great spots in the general area. Our first stop on Friday was Mount Sheba Nature Reserve, and we were met by Warren Mclelland in miserable drizzly conditions. Warren suggested that we spend some time in the grasslands leading into Mount Sheba where Ayre's Cisticola called in the rain. Wailing Cisticola, Plain-backed Pipit and Drakensberg Prinia were among the first birds we saw, before heading into the forest proper. Here we had a superb session of birding in one spot, as we tried to spot the Orange Ground Thrush calling from the Forest. A family of Olive Bush Shrikes put on a show and a Yellow-streaked Bulbul teased for a long time before showing. We saw Olive Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Lesser Double-collared Sunbird and Chorister Robin. Warren led us down to the Lodge, with a stop to admire the first of two singing Orange Thrushes that we saw. Around the lodge we had crippling views of a family of Swee Waxbill, Bluebilled Firefinch and Greater Double-collared Sunbird. We failed to catch glimpses of Barrat's Warbler, Narina Trogon, Grey Cuckoo-shrike or Bluemantled Flycatcher, which called from the forest gloom.

We then headed out towards Crystal Springs Game Reserve, stopping to look at Gurney's Sugarbird and Malachite Sunbird amidst stands of Protea's. The drive through Crystal Springs was quite literally washed out, but we did manage to stop and study African Black Swifts which were ripping past through a kloof just below us. We got back to Ruurd's Lodge in time for some birding. Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, White-bellied and Black Sunbird were recorded, Gorgeous Bush Shrike and Black Cuckoo stayed just out of visual range. Another threatening bout of rain chased us back indoors.

Saturday dawn at Ruurd's was greeted by the hooting of a Redchested Flufftail below the Lodge, as we headed out to Strydom Tunnel in time for the Taita's. . As it turned out the weather worked in our favour, as both birds settled below the mist - substantially lower (and closer) than where they usually sit. When the mist cleared, we had a chance for crippling and leisurely views of these superb little raptors, one of which called incessantly.

The coffee break on the other side of the tunnel produced the ever-reliable Striped Pipit, Mocking Chat and Cape Rock Thrush - all at close range. Then it was off to the Lowveld Proper. Our journey to the Timbavati area was delayed by raptors - Wahlberg's Eagle, Black-breasted Snake Eagle, Bateleur.....etc. The Private farm in the Timbavati area provided a wonderful birding day, and we spent the day walking in thick riverine forest, and more open mixed bushveld. Highlights here included Eastern Bearded and Heuglin's Robin, Striped Cuckoo, Purple-crested Lourie, Plum-coloured Starling, Bearded Woodpecker and Fantailed Flycatcher. Within minutes we saw Fork-tailed Drongo, Black Flycatcher and Black Cuckoo-shrike in one small area. A display of four vulture species included Lappet-faced, Hooded and White-headed. The group marvelled at the plumage of Marico Sunbirds and a very tame Red-headed Weaver.

Due to all the birding we lingered longer than expected, and ran out of time to go in search of the Gorgeous Bush Shrikes at Ruurd's. On the way back we did a detour over the Blyde River where a Half-collared Kingfisher waited. A stop at a small dam allowed to watch the antics of a family of Greenbacked Heron's as the youngters chased the parent around a tree at the water's edge. The dam also provided a mixed colony of Spotted Backed and Lesser Masked Weaver's.

The last morning was dedicated to the Dullstroom area, and we got off to a rather later than ideal start. Nevertherless we had some excellent birding as several Blue Cranes were spotted on the green hillsides. A pair of Yellow-breasted Pipits cavorted on a pile of stones near the road - offering fantastic views from all angles! A further stop for Wattled Crane turned into an hour's pause as a range of birds called in the area. These included Sentinel Rock Thrush, Ayre's and Palecrowned Cisticola and Eastern Longbilled Lark. Unfortunately the Pale-crowned Cisticola kept it's distance, but all the others showed themselves. Further on we found Buff-streaked Chat, Banded Martin and a Juvenile Gymnogene which seemed to be feasting on a weaver colony!

Despite not a single wading bird, and intermittent rain on the first day, the whole group managed to record a tad over 220 species. To visit Ruurd's Country Lodge, e-mail Helena.
Warren Mclelland is an invaluable source of local knowledge and is available to guide groups around the area. His cell number is 083-2315632