The Northern Cape is the largest province in South Africa, but is also the most desolate. The number of species here is less due to the low rainfall and arid landscape. The main habitats are the Kalahari Desert in the north, the Karoo in the centre and south, and Namaqualand to the west. There are also a number of spectacular National Parks and Reserves including the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Augrabies Falls National Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Mokala National Park, Namaqua National Park and the northern section of the Tankwa Karoo National Park. So here is my top 10 species for the province, and it seems that you will be doing a lot of larking about to the find them.
1.) Pygmy Falcon
2.) Barlow's Lark
3.) Sclater's Lark
4.) Red Lark
5.) Black-eared Sparrow-Lark
6.) Stark's Lark
7.) Ludwig's Bustard
8.) Burchell's Courser
9.) Sociable Weaver
10.) Bradfield's Swift
Thank you to Peter McIntyre for letting us use his photo of a Pygmy Falcon.
Have a listen to the song below. I wonder how popular it is in the Northern Cape? 🤣