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BirdLife Free State

BirdLife Free State tries to enhance our knowledge of all Birds, their behaviours and habitats

BirdLife Free State tries to enhance our knowledge of all Birds, their behaviors and their habitat and to introduce the public to the conservation and science of our avian heritage through enjoyable participation by club members. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Editor or of BirdLife Free State.

03/06/2026

📌 Morning Outing ‼️
Date: 20/06/2026
Place: Woodland Hills
Time: 07:00
FEE: A fee of R20.00 for Non-members can be paid to Annatjie on the day.

Come join us for a lovely morning walk in the beautiful surroundings of Woodlands.
It is always a great birding experience in Woodlands.

If you like to join is and for any enquiries please feel free to contact Annatjie on 0829235955.

BLFS COMMITTEE

17/05/2026

🪶Feedback on Birdringing event‼️

We recorded a record attendance for a Birdringing event with a total of 41 adults and few children.
Birdlife Freestate would like to thank Dawie de Swardt and Oliewenhuis for this yearly event.
11 birds were rung. It included Orange river White-eye, Chestnut vented Warbler, Karoo Thrush and a Black Chested Prinia which was recaptured after six years.
‼️Upcoming events🔥
1. Evening meeting on 4th of June. Very interesting talk on Prickly pears.
2. Next Day Outing on 20th of June.
BLFS COMMITTEE

02/05/2026

‼️ Bird-ringing Event 🪶
We encourage our members and friends to come and join us on the 16th of May for an amazing experience.

Come and experience firsthand and from close by how Dawie from The National Museum in Bloemfontein catch birds in nets and ring them.
This is a yearly event held by The National Museum and proved over the years to be very interesting and a unique way to see some of the smaller species from very close by.
Hope to see you there.

BLFS COMMITTEE

26/04/2026

FEEDBACK on our Day Outing on Saturday 25/04/2026.
We extend our gratitude to all participants who joined us. Our group consisted of 16 individuals, including two on their inaugural outing.
As a collective effort, we documented 121 species, featuring the following notable highlights:
Purple Heron, Blue Korhaan, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, White wing and Whiskered Tern, Oranje river Francolin, Cape Teal, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Fork Tailed Drongo, Gabar Goshawk, Hamerkop, Secretary Bird, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Brown Hooded Kingfisher, Pied Avocet, Pririt Batis, Violet-eared Waxbill, Black-faced Waxbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Goliath Heron, Three-banded Plover, Fawn-colored Lark, Mountain Chat, Fairy Flycatcher, Brubru, etc.
Something Special
We encountered a rare bird with a white head, identified as a Leucistic African Pipit. (See photo)
We appreciate the outstanding photographs contributed by Johan van Niekerk, Ryno, and Marianne.
BLFS COMMITTEE 📌🪶

21/04/2026

Daar is nog paar plekke oop. Indien jy wil bywoon kontak my gerus op 0832573736.
Hanno

20/03/2026

Due to many enquiries I will present this course again on 1st May 2026(Friday a Public holiday)
It will be a morning session of theory and a practical session after lunch.
We will provide snacks and something to drink halfway through the morning session.
You can either bring lunch or go get something after which we will go birding.
If you are interested please contact me.👇

0832573736
Hanno Janse van Veuren

15/03/2026

🪽 Feedback on our Outing to Glen.
We were 10 Birders that joined the outing.
Thanks to everyone that joined and a special thanks to Andries that took us into Glen and for the coffee and rusks and bathrooms, we appreciate.
We logged 90 species as a group including: Hamerkop, Fork-tailed Drongo, Black Crake, African Rail, African Swamphen, Lesser swamp warbler, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Jackal Buzzard, Black-faced Waxbill, White -bellied Sunbird, Violet-eared Waxbill, Malachite Kingfisher, Village Indigobird, Namaqua Wabler, Goliath Heron, European Roller, African Harrier-Hawk, White-winged Widowbird etc.
Thanks to Henry, Andries and Theo for some nice Photos.
‼️ Save these dates ‼️
🪶28/03/2026 - Day outing.
🪶09/04/2026- Evening meeting.

BLFS COMMITTEE

02/03/2026

📌Feedback on our Roadtrip to Korannaberg.

Eventful, Lekka, Great, Beautiful etc are the words to describe our roadtrip.
Some feedback:
"Ek stem saam, dit was lekka omdat almal lekka mense was 😁. Baie sports en gees gehad!" - Beanelri

"Ja nee...dit was 'n kwaai lekker naweek. Dankie vir almal."- Ryno

We were 18 people that joined and we managed to record 105 species as a group. We missed out on some birding time and opportunities due to rain and blocked roads due to Foot and mouth disease.
The rain brought some challenges to get off the farm on Sunday with 2 vechiles needed to be pulled out of the mud.
We still managed to see some nice species including: Horus Swift, Verreaux's Eagle, Booted Eagle, Martial Eagle, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Lanner Falcon, Amur Falcon, African Harrier-Hawk, Long Crested Eagle, Common Buzzard, Jackal Buzzard, Marsh Owl, White-backed duck, Red-throated Wryneck, Streaky-headed Seedeater, Cape White-eye, Banded Martin, Rufous-Cheecked Nightjar, Mockin cliff chat, Pearl Breasted Swallow, Great Crested Grebe etc.

The photos that follow are from Maria, Chris-Marie, Beanelri, Annette, Hotze, Elke and Alfie

Thanks to everyone that joined and to Ryno for the arrangement with Koranna Getaway
‼️Save the Date. 14/03/2026- Day outing around Bloemfontein.

BLFS COMMITTEE

16/02/2026

Come join me for a learning experience if you are interested in Birding but don't know where to start or if you are already into Birding but want to learn more.

09/02/2026

📌 FEEDBACK OF OUR ROADTRIP‼️
Thanks to everyone that joined us. Special thanks and welcome to the new faces, it was great to have to with us. We were 19 people and managed to see130 species between us.
Some of the highlights were: Pin-tailed Whydah, Malachite Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Red- breasted Swallow, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Red-headed finch, Orange river Francolin, Melodious Lark, Blue Crane, Greater Kestrel, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Gabar Goshawk, Secretary Bird, Amur Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, Blue Korhaan, Layard's Tit-babbler, Grey-backed Cisticola, Fairy Flycatcher, Mountain Wheatear, Lesser swamp warbler, Banded Martin, Yelow-billed Kite, African Fish-eagle, Blue-billed Teal, African Swamphen etc.
The photos that follow is with compliments from Ryno, Sarette and Theo.
Save these dates:
1. 28/02/2026-01/03/2026 Koranaberg 2day outing. Although we are fully booked at Koranaberg you can still join us and book your own accomodation in or around Clocolan.
2. 14/03/2026 Day outing around Bloemfontein.
Hope to see some of you on our next outings.

BLFS COMMITTEE

Address

Bloemfontein
9300

Telephone

+27514479609

Website

http://www.birdlife.org.za/get-involved/join-a-bird-club/free-state/birdlife-free-state

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