Shaken but still birding. Well we will not forget 31st August in a hurry, first because we caught up with Wattled Crane, a bogey bird for Alan, and second for not such a good reason. We spent the morning birding the mid lands and scored some great birds, Cape rock Thrush, Cape robin Chat, Red winged Francolin, Cape Vulture and of course the wonderful cranes.
After a long morning, we left St. Lucia at 4am, we were ready for our lunch. As we drove looking out for a likely eating house grass fires were blazing on hillsides at many places, fanned by gale force winds. We found a café and pulled in to the car park, a grass fire was an impressive sight on the hillside above with huge flames leaping into the air. We joked that we could watch the fire as we ate lunch. We had a few things to sort out with the car, the boot lid would not shut, and we messed about for a few minutes before walking up the café. As we did so the fire wall suddenly came rushing towards us at incredible speed! Keith shouted to get inside, our reaction was to run for it, but we did what we were told and within seconds the whole area was engulfed in flames! Inside the room filled with acrid smoke and flames leapt at every window on all four sides. It was very frightening and we did wonder if the building would go up in smoke with us in it. Luckily with the gale force wind the fire passed by quickly and did little damage to the café though the garden was left black earth. We spluttered our way out and were amazed to see the car in the car park undamaged, no vegetation had been near it so the fire burnt around it not over it. What an experience and one we do not wish to repeat.Bird species list 3055