4-7 Mar 2019: Witsand Nature Reserve & Augrabies National Park

My Big Year plan was slightly amended when I decided to first bird the Northern Cape before heading for Namibia. The endemics and near endemics in this vast area are few and far between, and I realised that I would not have sufficient time later in the year to try and find them.

At Witsand I replaced the two solar panels that had blown away a month ago while on my way to Kimberley. This time I glued the panels to the roof and secured them in an aluminium frame that I also riveted to the roof. Hopefully I won’t be making any more donations of solar panels to the local communities.

Witsand Game Reserve

After spending a day in a bird hide overlooking a waterhole, I had seen most of the acacia dry thornveld birds of the area, but found no new birds for my Big Year list. On the way to Augrabies I was able to tick an African Pygmy Falcon, as well as Cape- and White-backed Vultures. The only new bird Augrabies delivered was the Namaqua Sandgrouse. Thin pickings over immense distances!

Sociable Weaver Nest, Witsand GR