Birding at Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge

BIRDS AND BIRDING

The birding on Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge is superb, with unusual species such as the Narina Trogon, the Buff-spotted Flufftail, the Black-fronted Bush Shrike, the Green Twinspot and the Knysna Turaco, to name but a few. The landscape of Kurisa Moya offers an opportunity to access a whole range of habitats in a very short space of time. The hard work and stiff necks of forest birding is usually rewarded by 15 to 20 forest species.

		The Black-fronted Bush Shrike, Narina Trogons, Green Twinspot and Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher top most people's lists but the Knysna Turacos, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Olive Woodpeckers, Forest Buzzards and Wood Owls also always impress. Kurisa Moya boasts all 5 Bush-shrikes and many Robins, Scrub Robins and Robin Chats. (Chorister Robin Chat, Brown Scrub Robin, White-browed Scrub Robin, Red-capped Robin Chat and White Starred Robin) .
A Green Twinspot (immature) at Kurisa Moya. (photo: Bradley Horwell)

Guided birding walks: A one to three hour walk along the marked trails identifying birds
calls and nests, R100-00 per hour for two people.

The 4 x 4 drive to the top of the farm and to an altitude of 1900 m provides opportunities to see Guerney's Sugarbird, Drakensburg Prinia, Striped Pipit and Barrett's Warbler amongst a host of other grassland and raptor species including Crowned Eagle and Red-chested Sparrowhawk.

The fallow lands and bushveld areas of the 422 hectare farm are also productive with Grassbirds, various Cisticolas (including Croaking, Wailing and Lazy) Gorgeous Bush Shrike as well as Shelly's Francolin.

Guided bird or nature walks can be organized with professional local guide - David Letsoalo and co-owner,
Ben de Boer.

David Letsoalo is a qualified Birdlife SA guide with intimate knowledge of the Woodbush forest area. He has been guiding in the area for more than 2 years and has "stakeouts" for most of the specials in the area like Cape Parrot, Bat Hawk, Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Narina Trogon, Green Twinspot,
Orange Ground Thrush and many more.


David Letsoalo is the bird guide at Kurisa Moya

He offers guided walks on Kurisa Moya to the various habitats on the farm. Alternatively, he can guide birders to the local birding hot-spots like Woodbush forest, Turfloop Dam, the montane grassland habitats of the Blue Swallow, Polokwane Game Reserve and environs or down to the tropical lowveld
of the Tzaneen area. Kurisa Moya guests enjoy reduced rates for David's services. David's trip reports can be accessed on the website, SA Birdnet or can be e-mailed to you if you are interested.

Specials to be found in these areas include:

Bat Hawk (photo Andy Williams)

WOODBUSH: Black-fronted Bush-shrike, Bat Hawk, Narina Trogon, Green Twinspot, Knysna Turaco (Lourie), Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Cape Parrot, Orange Ground Thrush, Yellow-streaked Greenbul and Crowned Eagle

TURFLOOP DAM: Bald Ibis, various duck and wader species (pectoral sandpiper has been seen here), herons, spoonbills and various other Ibis species. In the surrounding bushveld you may find Kalahari Robin, Violet-eared Waxbill, Orange-breasted Waxbill, various Cisticolas and 5 species of Lark.

MONTANE GRASSLANDS: Blue Swallow, Guerney's Sugarbird, Malacite Sunbird, Ayers Cisticola, Wailing Cisticola, Black Eagle, Striped Pipit, Stone Chat and Cape Grassbird.

POLOKWANE GAME RESERVE AND ENVIRONS: Short-clawed Lark, Bushveld Pipit, Tinkling Cisticola, Small Buttonquail, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Magpie Shrike and Secretary Bird amongst the 350 species seen here.

TZANEEN AREA: Broadbilled Roller, Red-backed Mannikin, Mountain Wagtail, African Fish Eagle, White-browed Robin-Chat, Purple-crested Turaco (Lourie) and Yellow-throated Long-claw

Pieter Du Toit released some rehabilitated White-faced Owls near Thora Boloka Cottage in February 2008.

Kurisa Moya's birding is spectacular throughout the year and is a bird photographer's dream come true.

The most sought-after bird in Kurisa Moya's forest is the Narina Trogon, which is regularly seen and heard around
the farm. Juveniles have fledged from a nest near the cabins for several years running.

Kurisa Moya Nature Lodge, South Africa, +27 (0)15 276 1131,
Tel: +27 (0) 82 200 4596, +27 (0) 83 294 1013,
e-mail: info@krm.co.za, P O Box 280, Haenertsburg, 0730, Limpopo, South Africa, http://www.krm.co.za

Home page	Kurisa Moya	Accommodation	What's on Offer?	The Nature
.Photo Gallery	Speak to us	Rates & Directions	Newsletter	Links

		The Woodbush Drive nearby is spectacular and the nearby Debengeni Falls often has sightings of Grey Wagtail. There is an active Bathawk nest nearby and Bald Ibis are regularly seen at the Turfloop Dam.
Cape White-eye at Kurisa Moya. (Photo: Bradley Horwell)

The Polokwane Game Reserve has many exciting birds, including the Short-clawed lark. There has also been a single sighting of a Harlequin Quail in the fields and a European Honey Buzzard was also spotted near the Turfloop Dam.
		Lesser Double-collared Sunbird at Kurisa Moya (Photo: Bradley Horwell)


Chorister Robins are common Forest birds at Kurisa Moya		Chinspot Batis at Kurisa Moya


	Ben de Boer bird-ringing at Kurisa Moya with Michael Parker. Ben is holding a Bar-throated Apalis.


White faced owl at Kurisa Moya		Owl at new Kurisa Moya home


Owls in flight		Bright Light!


Cape White-eye		Dusky Flycatcher


Greater Double Collared Sunbird		Jackal Buzzard


Narina Trogon (imm)		Narina Trogon (male)