We encountered both extremes of weather during our four day trip to the Southern Drakensberg Mountains region near Bushman's Nek in the last week of August overlapping into September. Initially the weather was quite warm, with pleasant balmy days, and we surmised that "Spring has sprung!" ... And then the cold front moved in over the Mountains, bringing with it the sleet and the snow, quite beautiful to behold, but also so cold.
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It had been a while since I had last done any birding in the Southern Drakensberg area, and although this was not the only item on our agenda, there was a quiet enthusiasm to get busy with the binoculars. The weather was threatening and variable, but by the end of our short stay a total of 45 different birds had been "counted & ticked". Not a record, but satisfying considering the weather.

Special memories include the first afternoon when we sighted nearly 30 Cape Vultures soaring higher and higher in a strong thermal air current against the backdrop of the majestic Drakensberg Mountain peaks, finally disappearing from the naked eye.There were also several sightings of the large Bearded Vulture, a rare and endangered species in South Africa.Then the Secretary Bird striding across the veld looking for prey on the grassy slope above us, taking off on a soaring flight as we approached closer.... and a number of other bird species that one does not encounter at the lower altitudes in KZN. Anyone wishing to view the full list, please write to mike@bushveld-birders.co.za