The Ringing Unit has quite a long history of ringing at Rocher Pan on the West Coast (32°36’S 18°21’E) starting back in 2004 on the initiative of the late Jo Johnson (SAFRING Ringer no 263). He was later joined by the late Margaret McCall and our present Ringing Unit mentor and Mother Hen Lee Silks. Ringing continued for several years up to 2017 with Gerald Wingate and Deona Andrag joining in in the latter years. Accommodation was originally very basic before the present modern chalets were built. Back then accommodation consisted of small asbestos cottages (staff quarters) with gas geyser/stove which was not very efficient! Equipped with basic furniture which was eventually removed, and we had to take all our own camp beds, chairs, table etc. together with kitchen equipment and portable gas stove!
​
We had the opportunity to ring many birds as listed below:
SPECIES NUMBER
Bar-throated Apalis 5
Bokmakierie 1
Cape Bulbul 13
Cape Bunting 2
Cape Robin Chat 6
Cape Sparrow 5
Cape Weaver 4
Cape White -eye 5
Chestnut-vented Warbler 3
Common Fiscal 1
Grey-backed Cisticola 4
Karoo Prinia 4
Karoo Scrub-Robin 8
Karoo Thrush 5
Malachite Sunbird 3
Pearl Breasted Swallow 1
Southern Double-collared Sunbird 8
Southern Masked Weaver 3
White-backed Mousebird 7
Yellow Canary 11
Common Waxbill 2
Total 101
​
We called the area now known as the picnic site as the Inspection Quarters. Early morning coffee and rusks watching the sunrise and Sishen train were unforgettable. After a break of several years we returned to Rocher Pan this year.The team members Lee Silks, John and Gail Maberly and Rocco Nel enjoyedstaying in the modern and eco-friendly chalets at Rocher Pan from 30 September to 2 October. We were joined by other team members Ettienne Kotze and Frank Sokolic for one day.The nets were set up for two days in the vicinity of the picnic area, across the Pan from the chalets. We were eagerly watched over by the biggest Boomslang I have ever seen, euphemistically called the Green Noodle by Ettienne. On the last day we set our nets up in the vicinity of the chalets.
Of the above birds 2 were retraps.A Cape Robin-Chat originally ringed at Rocher Pan on 6 October 2008 by JoJohnson (Ringer no 263), an amazing period of virtually 17 years. According toSAFRING records this is the second longest period recorded between first capture and present capture of birds of this species.A Yellow Canary originally ringed at Rocher Pan on 11 October 2017. According to SAFRING records this is the longest period recorded for birds of this speciesbetween first capture and present capture.These two trap records demonstrate that the environment at Rocher Pan isconducive to birds being happy to remain in the area and that the environmentsupports the longevity of birds.Unfortunately, the Pan was dry due to low rain during the winter and we did not have the opportunity to see many waterbirds, as opposed to last year when the Pan had lots of water well into October with an amazing number of flamingos and other waterbirds.A most enjoyable time was had by the Ringing team, and we hope to make it anannual event.
TBC Ringing Unit