At work this morning there was no time for a more extended report on the 'Water Rail Cruisers' BBD. On reading several detailed and amusing accounts (especially the Weenen Dakkakkers) we realise that we owe it to all to give more details and how lucky we actually were, especially with the weather... although it did not seem like it at the time!!

We (Paul Funston, Duan Biggs, Daleen Funston and {David Mcgee as a learning observer}) started at 00:00 sharp in gentle but soaking rain at Skukuza. We went to a few well known night bird localities but dipped on Night herons (although we got both later on), Barn, Scops & Wood owl, Cousers's and Freckled nightjar. We, however, got Pearlspotted, Giant eagle, Spotted eagle, Barred, Whitefaced owl and Fierynecked and Rufouscheeked nightjars.

Fortunately it stopped raining at 04:00 and we had a good dawn chorus, but missed Ground hornbill. Our dawn chorus was in the Paul Kruger gate area from where we moved on to Skukuza village. We left Skukuza area at about 08:30 with about 130 species, but missed a Painted snipe at the sewage works! On our way down to Lower Sabie via Renoster Koppies we had tons of luck with perched wet raptors and vultures. Although it drizzled at times we stopped often for bird parties, hearing things like Coqui francolin in the distance.

The basalt plains between Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge were excellent, probably because of the cool midday temperature. The only glaring absence was Purple roller (and I suppose European roller). From the park we went to Komatidraai dam which if you read my other note was excellent, other species not mentioned were Yellow wagtail, Greyrumped swallow and Purple heron. This entailed wading through mud and knee-deep water at the edge of the dam and in young sugar cane fields.

We left the dam at 15:30 on 218 and realising that our dream of 250 was perhaps within sight jaaged across to the Low's Creek area on the road to Barbeton (stretching the 50 km radius to the limits but believe me it just falls within the area - centre point 5 km NE of Malelane at the junction of the S25 and S114 roads for anybody who wants to check). Here we had the pleasure of exploring several small escarpment forest patches and experienced a Trogon that came to check up on us while we were calling other forest species. The roads were extremely bad (slipping and sliding), but we were blessed with mist and not RAIN, so we could still hear the birds calling in evening chorus.

It was then 19:00 and we still had to travel all the way back to Crocodile Bridge with our list standing on 245 species. Five night birds to go and we only got to the Park at 21:00. The five WE GOT!! were: Whitebacked night heron - bridge over Crocodile River, Kurrichane buttonquail almost got run over, Scops owl responded to tapes, European nightjar identified in the hand (alive) and Mozambique nightjar at 22:45 at Lower Sabie bridge. We finished at 23:59 on the Sabie high level bridge still hoping for three species of owls. Then it started to rain hard again, and we cruised homewards tired but elated with our Guiding Hand still at the wheel.

24 hours of chasing birds, 566 km later, to bed at last ......

We would like to express our gratitude to the relevant Kruger National Park Section Rangers for permission to compete fully in the event.

Still recovering!!!!