The Wesvaal Hoephoeps consisting of Sam de Beer, Coerie Badenhorst, Ralda de Beer and Siegie Eiselen made their usual 03h00 start and got most of their nightbirds at the usual stakeouts. Dawn among the koppies of the Vredefort Dome next to the Vaal river saw the wind already blowing quite strongly and predicting a tough day. The wind continued throughout the day and late afternoon we were also drenched in an unbelievable highveld storm. The cloud formations were really spectacular as was the rain and lightning.

In the end we didn't do to badly taking everything into consideration. 213 (provisionally) is a bit down on last year (221) and a long way off our best effort (250) a couple of years ago.

Specials for the day were martial eagle, gymnogene, booted eagle and Maccoa duck. We missed out on Jacobin Cuckoo, Golden Breasted Bunting, Pinkbilled and Longbilled Lark and Greyback Finchlark.