The bi-monthly PMC survey, with 5 members, took place from 06H10 to 12H20 on Saturday 26/9/09.  Starting off clear and cool the morning had turned decidedly hot by the time we had finished.  A total of 106 bird species were recorded, with the highlights being an osprey which sat out prominently giving excellent viewing, and a Red Capped Robin Chat (Natal Robin), being only the second time that it has been recorded on PMC.

At six o'clock Tim Genia and I set out from the main gate it was a bit overcast but warm.  Our first raptor was the magnificent Martial Eagle that has a nest in one of the electricity pylons.  It does not seem to breeding yet but Tim say's it is around most of the time so maybe it will breed soon.

We ticked steadily all morning and were treated to a special event.  Tim has put up breeding boxes for the Southern Ground Hornbill, and one of them is being used.  We managed to get a glimpse of the head of the baby in the box, fantastic!  Tim seems to think that it will be out of the box within the next week or so.  What a wonderful happening it just goes to show that we can make a difference it we try.  The breeding box is one of those big blue plastic drums. The only reservation is that the box on the inside might be too smooth for the baby to climb out, but Tim will keep a close watch and monitor the situation.

After lunch down at the picnic spot we proceeded up the river, the Olifants is running very low at the moment, but just being at that spot is really amazing.

We finished off at about twelve thirty and ended up with one hundred and eighteen birds. I would just like to say thanks to Tim and Genia for helping with the surv

PMC Bat Survey - February 2007

 - by Johan van Heerden and Mandy Momberg

As part of PMC's Biodiversity Action Plan, a bat survey was conducted on site by Nigel and Rose Fernsby, Julio Balona and Johannes Shabalala of Birds and Bats - Environmental Products (also members of the Gauteng Bat Interest Group). Mandy Momberg, Tim Paxton and Mark Surmon represented PMC during the week long exercise during which 16 species were identified in the field.  Some of these are ‘initial identifications', as a few of the smaller bats are extremely difficult to distinguish from each other.  Biopsy material was taken from their wings, and this material was sent to the University of Pretoria for genetic analysis and a positive identification.  These results and the final report will be forwarded to PMC in due course. 

Full size pictures can be seen under gallery section