Sandgrouse update

After I recently noted that the Sun City Site had dried up, I have taken to visiting the Sunflower Fields with birders looking to target the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse.

This has proved successful, and continued this afternoon. We arrived at the Fields close to 16:45, and set about scanning the ploughed fields. This proved tough going, and we made our way to the end of the fields without success.

At this stage I was hoping to strike it lucky at the spot where I witnessed the young drinking from the male. With a brief scan of the short grass, we managed to pick out a small group of Sandgrouse about 70m off. The birds were very relaxed, and we were able to walk around them to get the sun in our favour. With patience, we managed to get to within 25m of the closest group of 3 birds, with the second group of 4 another 10m further back.

We had a careful look at the group of 3, and we agreed that it was a pair with a younger bird. This youngster was noticeably smaller than the parents, and was an absolute mirror image of the mom. The group further back was made up of a pair and 3 sub-adults, these 3 looking just like the female again. I do not think this family was the same as the group I saw previously as I feel these young were larger. However, I can't be fully sure of this.

After getting fantastic views, they finally took off calling their distinctive call. This caused more birds to take off deeper in, and a flock of roughly 30 headed off deep into the fields.

We left the fields in high spirits, and with a half hour spare, we decided to pop in to the Sun City site to try for Double-banded Sandgrouse. As we approached the site, I was THRILLED to see that the stream was in full flow again!!! We parked alongside the stream and started scanning the skies for movement of the Sandgrouse. After waiting for 10minutes, I happened to look behind us in the bush, and spotted 3 Double-banded Sandgrouse sitting not more than 30m away.

We ended the fantastic afternoon at 18:20 and savoured sightings of 2 beautiful Sandgrouse species in one afternoon!!

I have not approached Sun City again about the waterflow through the stream, as so was surprised to see it flowing. I cannot be sure how long this is going to continue, but long may it last.

Happy sandgrousing........