The weather was kind, warm sun brought out swallows and swifts in great numbers for their early morning swirl above the lawn. One “twitcher” had come specifically to find the Half-collared Kingfisher. Bingo, three on one pond, and interacting for nearly an hour. A pair of Yellow-throated Woodland-Warblers was another bonus, supposedly common but always
Our Forest Retreat Spa is one of our favourite spaces at The Cavern; we find ourselves many an afternoon practising quality control, particularly on the massage menu. One friend who is well ‘spa’ travelled informed us, they have never experienced such a relaxing facial in all the earth as at The Cavern. And her husband
There are incredibly special people that come in and out of our lives and Mam Es is one of those ladies. Just scroll through our social media videos and find our team dancing “Jerusalema” and in the middle Mam Es makes a gorgeous appearance. Dancing outside Room 66 with that special spring in her step
From our Wine Cellar to your Dining Room table Remember back when Cyril announced Level 5 lockdown would begin in 2 days? It was all rather pandemonium, everyone securing groceries, wine purchases and enough loo paper to survive a year of lockdown! We were told for 3 weeks. In fact, it wasn’t was it? House
A new bird, not quite qualifying for the Cavern list, is the Banded Martin. It’s easily seen perched on the roadside fence about a kilometre beyond the Cavern entrance. Otherwise birding was fairly quiet with one exception; the Red-chested Cuckoo did not let us down. It’s quite late in the season to hear it –
Dear Supporters, Sponsors, Friends and Family When 2020 dawned a cycad in our garden, which had been dormant for 10 years, began to grow. We took this as the sign of a great new dawn and there was much anticipation for the positives that lay before us. We had worked hard on establishing an integrated
Breeding is in full swing. There was never a moment without a cuckoo – Klaas’s, Red-chested or Black – calling full bore. Swee Waxbills – only males apparently – were collecting bits of dry grass and fallen pine needles, obviously nest-building materials. Perhaps the females were at home arranging things? The Little Grebes were a
The fabulous aloe display of winter had faded, but this is where Erythrina has stepped in. It’s not native to the Berg, and not often planted because it is frost-tender, but thrives in this, the warmest place in the Berg. Gurney’s Sugarbird was in constant attendance, so too were less typical visitors. The Cape Rock-Thrush
Not every Drakensberg bird is listed here, only those that have been spotted on our property. We hope that while in the Drakensberg birders will find this list useful: CAVERN BIRD LIST using Roberts7 names and sequence. Coqui Francolin Peliperdix coquiGrey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africanusRed-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantiiRed-necked Spurfowl Pternistis aferSwainson’s Spurfowl Pternistis swainsoniiCommon Quail Coturnix
September can be quiet, often windy, as it was this weekend, and still a bit early for most tropical migrants. Of the swallows only the resident Sawwing was to be found. But lots of other action nevertheless… Hadedas don’t normally attract much attention. We see them every day, usually patrolling lawns and other short grass
