Outing report: TC Robertson NR, Scottburgh - 26 August 2018

Spotted Ground Thrush (photo: Stan Culley)

Attendees: Hazel Nevin, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stan & Val Culley, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Lennart Erikssen & Evelyn Heunis, Albert & Denise Pienaar, Doug Butcher, Robin Eccles & Hanli Kloppers, Desiree Kruger & Butch Goldstone, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (18)

Species identified: 60                                                              Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Sunday dawned full of good possibilities and proved true to its promise – good weather, good birding and an enthusiastic bunch of 18 people!

Meeting up just inside the gate and parking next to the river, Blacksmith Lapwing, 3-banded Plover, Egyptian Goose and Yellow Weaver were soon seen, along with a Yellow-billed Kite. 

Yellow-billed Kite (photo: HvR)

Nearly everyone was excited to report that during the previous two weeks, they had already seen their first “YBK” arriving back from its winter migration, the sightings of which always herald Spring just around the corner (not that we suffer from the cold in our neck of the woods but a new season is always eagerly anticipated).  Spurwing Goose, Village Weaver, African Darter, Bronze Mannikins, Reed Cormorant and Pied Kingfisher were also seen in this spot.

We then drove round to the picnic site where we parked the vehicles and paid our R20 per car to Keith Layfield who does a really excellent job of looking after the reserve, on a volunteer basis.  It was such a pleasure to spend our day there.

From here we took the grasslands trail, spotting Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Black-collared Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Olive Sunbird, Common Waxbill amongst others.  Hazel Nevin led us to where she was sure we would see the Little Bee-eaters and indeed there were two swaying in some tall reeds.  Little Rush Warbler and Tawny-flanked Prinia could be heard and a Burchell’s Coucal gurgled some way off.  A flock of about 8 Cape Crows was a surprise sighting, being unusual for this area.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher with mud on her beak (photo: Lennart Erikssen)

 Further along a Brown-hooded Kingfisher posed nicely for the photographers.  We had been hearing the “what-to-to-dooo” call of the Orange-breasted Bushshrike for a while and then he was seen, hopping around in some bushes, lost and spotted again.  Dusky Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied and Sombre Greenbuls were also seen on this trail.  Red-capped Robin-Chats were seen a few times and although we kept our eyes open for Cape Robin-Chats, (as requested by Peter Vos) none were seen.  By this time the trail had led us up the hillside and into more wooded terrain.  Here the path split and the bottom route produced African Firefinch, Collared Sunbird and Cape White-eye while those who went on the higher route found an African Green Pigeon.

The people (photo: Lennart Erikssen)

Coming back down to the grassland we noticed an unfamiliar brown & blue butterfly.  This turned out to be a Forest Queen which my book says is one of the most saught-after butterflies.  The appearance of bluey-green in the males is a phenomenon "created by diffraction of light rays striking the microscopic sculpturing of the white areas".* So now we know! 

Forest Queen (Charaxes wakefieldi) (photo: HvR)

A cisticola singing from high on a tall dead tree was initially identified as Red-faced but on closer inspection later discovered to be a Rufous-winged Cisticola.

Rufous-winged Cisticola (photo: Stan Culley)

So far it had been an eventful morning and after a well-earned breakfast most of us took the forest path where Alfred had already found a Spotted Ground Thrush.  And yes indeed, with everyone treading carefully in the dead leaf litter, Stan spotted it on the path where it shot off.  However after a little while it decided we weren’t a danger and showed itself again, typically turning over dead leaves looking for grubs with gusto. 

Spotted Ground Thrush (photo: HvR)

Spotted Ground Thrush (photo Doug Butcher)

We searched in this area for the Black-throated Wattle Eye but weren’t lucky.  We did spot Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Purple-crested Turaco and Southern Black Tit along this trail which is very pretty with little bridges and tinkling streams.  Arriving back at the river Common Sandpiper and Pied Wagtail were busy foraging at the water’s edge while a Black Saw-wing performed aerial acrobatics.  White-eared Barbets perched on the tops of the Strelitzias.

White-eared Barbet (photo: Doug Butcher

Doubling up in the vehicles, Hazel Nevin led us up the hill to the Crookes family church.  Along the way she pointed out a new retirement village where the famous Elsa Pooley (botanist, landscaper, author) had planted a hillock with attractive and colourful indigenous flora. However, there was another purpose for this detour and from the bottom of the pretty church-yard we could look over the stone wall to where the Crowned Eagles were busy nesting and we watched for quite a while. 

African Crowned Eagle taking off (photo: Stan Culley)

People in the churchyard (photo: HvR)

In the meantime a Natal Spurfowl was creating a disturbance in the bush close by and Red-winged Starlings flew in flocks between the Erythrina trees, murmering and twittering happily.  Fantailed Widowbird and Black-headed Oriole were also seen.

After all this excitement we proceeded back to the reserve where Keith had shown us where we could braai with some privacy from the usual Sunday picnickers.  Thank you once again to TC Robertson for letting us share their very special “bird patch”.

African Crowned Eagle (photo: HvR)

Black-collared Barbet (photo: HvR)

Species Identified: 59

Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, White-eared Bee-eater, Little Boubou, Southern Brownbul, Terrestrial Bulbul, Dark-capped Bushshrike, Orange-breasted Cameroptera, Green-backed Cisticola, Rufous-winged Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Crow, Black Darter Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Eagle, Crowned Egret, Little Firefinch, African Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Greenbul, Sombre Greenbul, Yellow-bellied Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Brown Kingfisher, Pied Kite, Yellow-billed Lapwing, Black-smith Mannikin, Bronze

Mousebird, Speckled Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, African Green Plover, 3-banded Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Rush Warbler, Little Rush Sandpiper, Common Saw-wing, Black Spurfowl, Natal Starling, Red-winged Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Olive Swallow, Lesser-striped Thrush, Spotted Ground Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Tit, Southern Black Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Pied Waxbill, Common Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Widow, Fantailed Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

*Field Guide to Butterflies of Southern Africa by Ivor Migdoll

(All photos property of photographer)

Outing report: Umbogavango & Vumbuka Nature Reserves, Amanzimtoti - 12 August 2018

Attendees: Stan & Val Culley, Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Ros & Sandi from Port Natal club, Facebook members - Rudolf & Geraldine all the way from Pietermaritzburg, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species: 77                                                                 Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Umbogavango NR (photo HvR)

Umbogavango NR in early morning mist (photo HvR)

Having booked well in advance, the security was very efficient as we entered the nature reserve.  It was a chilly morning with mist rising from the lake in which a few Egyptian Geese idled beneath some low-hanging branches.  We decided to leave the forest walk until the day had warmed up a bit and took a long walk around, starting off along the road until we found the trail.  The first birds we noted were White-eared Barbets which are common in this area and seem to be moving down the coast, having even been seen in Port Edward.  Olive Sunbirds flitted in the coral-like flowers of Erythrina trees, Black-collared Barbet, Green-backed Cameroptera and Sombre Greenbul were vocallising their joy in the new day.  A Fish Eagle was calling and as we summitted a small hill a vista opened up and we looked over a valley, spotting the eagle on the top of a dead blue gum tree, obviously its favourite outlook post.

African Fish Eagle (photo HvR)

Entering a small hide next to a waterhole a Black Crake rushed right and left in the reeds below us, until it decided it would be safer on the other side and with much splashing of its little red legs, half-flapped its way over the water, disappearing into the safety of the reeds.  A Malachite Kingfisher and Dark-capped Yellow Warbler were also busy in this corner of the pond.

Malachite Kingfisher (photo HvR)

 

Southern Red Bishop (F) (photo HvR)

The pathway took us to a circle beneath some tall trees where two benches were conveniently provided.  Pausing here, we spotted some woodpeckers and Sandi realised it was a pair of Olive Woodpeckers.  This caused a bit of a stir – a Lifer for some people.  Golden-tailed and Cardinal Woodpeckers also appeared and there was quite a lot of air-chasing going on.

Ooh, it's an Olive Woodpecker! 

Cardinal Woodpecker (photo HvR)

Golden-tailed Woodpecker (photo HvR)

Moving along, Ros  spotted a Burchell’s Coucal and Black Saw-wings swooped overhead.  Another dam produced a family of Yellow-billed Ducks, Little Grebe and Common Moorhen while Little Rush Warblers chirruped amongst the reeds.

Common Moorhen (photo HvR)

Yellow-billed Ducks (photo HvR)

At this point we thought we had better return for breakfast.  On the way a Natal Spurfowl squawked in the dense grasses along the path whilst a Long-crested Eagle flew overhead.  Red-backed Mannikins and Red-winged Starlings were seen and at the edge of a grassy area two Kurrichane Thrushes dived into piles of dead leaves, cleverly flicking them over in their search for insects hiding there. 

Whilst we were enjoying our breakfast, Klaas’s Cuckoos could be heard calling to each other.  By this time the day had warmed up nicely and after a short walk through the forest we made our way to Vumbuka, spotting Little Bee-eaters and Blacksmith Lapwing along the way.  Vumbuka is an old slimes dam which has been successfully rehabilitated back to nature and some of the trees are now massive. At the picnic site there was a very nice lapa and next to this a hide which overlooked a stream.  We disturbed a Black Sparrowhawk that had been sitting in the stream.  Not far into the woods a pair of Impithi peacefully foraged.

Impithi (photo HvR)

After a relaxing braai we all made our way back to our respective homes, having enjoyed a lovely day out with a good bird count of 77 species, including a final Black-headed Heron on the road out.

Species: 77

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Barbet, White-eared Batis, Chinspot Bee-eater, Little Bishop, Southern Red Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Cameroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Crake, Black Cuckoo, Klaas’s Dove, Laughing Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Duck, Yellow-billed Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Long-crested Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Grebe, Little Greenbul, Sombre Greenbul, Yellow-bellied Heron, Black-headed Heron, Goliath Heron, Grey Hoopoe, African Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Malachite Kite, Yellow-billed Lapwing, Black-smith Mannikin, Bronze

Mannikin, Red-backed Moorhen, Common Mousebird, Speckled Oriole, Black-headed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Sparrowhawk, Black Spurfowl, Natal Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Grey Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Purple-banded Sunbird, Malachite Swallow, Lesser-striped Thrush, Kurrichane Thrush, Olive Tinkerbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Tit, Southern Black Turaco, Purple-crested Twinspot, Green Wagtail, Cape Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Little Rush Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Wood-Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Olive

(All photos property of photographers)

Outing report: Skyline NR & Uvongo River Conservancy, 22 July 2018

Attendees: Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stan & Val Culley, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Doug & Angie Butcher, Margaret Jones, Hazel van Rooyen (12)

Species: Total 39                                                 Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Knysna Turaco (photo: Doug Butcher)

A dozen keen birders constituted a good turnout for a wintry Sunday morning.  Having "meeted and greeted" we started our walk through a slice of forest and past the old garden.  One can imagine how it had looked in by-gone days when it had been loved and cared for by the various families that had owned it down the years, from the first owner who purchased it from the Knox-Gores with visions of making a home for his future wife who was on her way by sea from the UK and then met someone else on board ship, to the gentleman who turned it into an arboretum of exotic botanical plants and planted turpentine trees from Australia as windbreaks.  After a few other changes of ownership it was handed to Margate Borough and thence to its current custodianship with the Natal Parks Board (now Ezemvelo Wildlife) who are slowly returning it to its original natural state, preserving indigenous trees and rare coastal grassland.

Jack fruit in SA? (photo: HvR)

First spotted was a White-eared Barbet perched on the top-most branch of a dead tree and a Knysna Turaco flashing its brilliant colours in the early morning sunshine.  A Black-headed Oriole sang happily whilst Amethyst and Olive Sunbirds flitted in the mid-canopy.

Female Amethyst Sunbird (photo: HvR)

The forest gave way to grasslands which didn’t yield much except for Black-bellied Starling in the distant tree-tops and a lone Hamerkop flying overhead. 

Aloe maculata (photo: HvR)

Walking through the grassland (photo: HvR)

The dam at the bottom of the property was quite dry but further along a pond just about supported a few sad lily pads.

No ducks on this dam! (photo: HvR)

The remainder of the walk produced Sombre Greenbul, Bronze Mannikin, Greater Honeyguide and an African Fish Eagle called from the direction of the river.

The whole reserve had been cleared and thinned out recently but there was still a lot of dead wood lying around.  The remains of a weaver's nest below caused some discussion.

Immature Greater Honeyguide moulting into adult plumage (photo: Stan Culley)

Forest or Spectacled Weaver nest? (photo: HvR)

Returning to the parking we enjoyed some breakfast before driving around to the Uvongo River Conservancy. 

Breakfast (photo: HvR)

Although the river comprised mere puddles amidst the sand a Goliath Heron and Egyptian Goose were seen.  Also spotted were Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, African Green Pigeon and Green Woodhoopoe amongst others.

BirdList (Total: 39 species)

Skyline (21 species)

Uvongo River Conservancy (27 species)

Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, White-eared Bulbul, Dark-capped Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Eagle, African Fish Greenbul, Sombre Hamerkop Honeyguide, Greater Hornbill, Crowned Ibis, Hadedah Mannikin, Bronze Oriole, Black-headed Starling, Black-bellied Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Turaco, Knysna Wagtail, African Pied Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Village

Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Canary, Yellow-fronted Dove, Red-eyed Eagle, African Fish Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Heron, Goliath Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Hornbill, Crowned Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Mannikin, Red-backed Mousebird, Speckled Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, African Green Prinia, Tawny-flanked Starling, Red-winged Sunbird, Collared Thrush, Olive Turaco, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, African Pied Weaver, Spectacled White-eye, Cape Woodhoopoe, Green