My mom and I arrived at Rietvlei Nature Reserve at 13:15 on Sunday. The weather was decent once again and we both had high hopes for the afternoon’s outing. For the first time in ages, we stopped at Coot’s Corner (the first hide). The water was bustling with activity. Much to our delight, two pairs of Great Crested Grebe were drifting about near the hide. This was the closest we had ever been to them and what a show they put on for us! One of the pairs was nesting in the reeds to the right of us. The one Grebe sat on the nest while the other drifted back and forth within a few meters from the hide! The other pair, to the left of us, started doing courtship dances. During their dance, the two were making grunting sounds and the Grebe on the nest showed her(?) displeasure by snapping close her bill, creating quite a loud sound! The Red-knobbed Coots added to the drama by doing what they do best: chasing away rival males and flirting with the females!

 

 

 

During the last few trips, I’ve had a glimpse of a swallow that I was fairly certain was a Pearl-breasted. Unfortunately, they disappeared as soon as I grabbed a pair of binoculars and I never confirmed the sighting. This time around, the pair was flying around an open veld, making them easier to track. This time around, I got a confirmation photo! A lifer

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