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 - Umdoni Park, Pennington - 27 August 2017

White-eared Barbet (photo: Lennart Erikson)

Species count: 49 (see end)                                                                  Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Attendance: Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Stan & Val Culley, Clive & Margie Cowan, Lennart Eriksson, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

It was a small but eager bunch of birders that arrived at Umdoni Park on Sunday.  Having started out from Uvongo in sunshine, motoring up the highway clouds began to accumulate and we hoped that the promised rain would hold off for us.  I’m happy to report that it did and we had a lovely morning’s birding, quite content that the rain held off until we were homeward bound.

Umdoni Park (photo Lennart Erikson)

On arriving at the Environmental Centre, sunbirds – Amethyst, Collared and Olive - were much in evidence.  Later on a Grey Sunbird was also spotted by Stan, displaying its red pectoral tufts.  At the start of our first walk, a tiny Impithi buck was foraging by the roadside, keeping one eye on us humans.  Toad Trees were in blossom and little red Wild Freesias showed themselves amongst the grassy verges.  Some brightly coloured fungi caught Hazel Nevin’s eye.

Fungus (photo: Hazel Nevin)

This walk produced plenty “top of the tree” White-eared Barbets and Trumpeter Hornbills. 

Trumpeter Hornbills (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Birds preferring the seclusion of the woodland were Green-backed Cameroptera, Yellow-bellied Greenbull, Red-capped Robin Chat and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird. 

Red-capped Robin Chat (photo: Hazel Nevin)

A Paradise Flycatcher flitted in the more open trees at the edge of the golf green and at the retirement complex a Purple Heron and White-fronted Cormorant presided over the small pond.  Half of us then followed the fence back to the cars spotting a Southern Boubou on the way, whilst the others followed the route along the golf course, listening (unsuccessfully) for the oft-heard call of the Scaly-throated Honeyguide.
 

Group photo (H van Rooyen)

Breakfast was hauled out and Stan put some seed on the feeder, hoping for Green Twinspots but these were a no-show.  Lennart kept everyone highly entertained regaling a recent too-close encounter between himself, his car and a cow and on that high (or messy) note he had to leave.  The Cowans also had other duties calling.

After breakfast we crossed the golf course (nothing on the dam)

Pond on the golf course (photo: Lennart Erikson)

and took “Molly’s Road” to the wonderful viewpoint overlooking the Nkumbane River.  Here we paused for quite a while, enjoying the view.  An African Black Duck was spotted in the river and we were just saying we hadn’t seen any Yellow-billed Kites, when one appeared on the horizon.  The Crowned Eagle sailed obligingly overhead and a flock of Crowned Hornbills crossed over the gorge.  To add a touch of perfection  an African Fish Eagle called in the distance. 

Crowned Eagle (HvR))

 We could have stayed longer but with a satisfied feeling we trundled back to the Centre, admiring the beautiful fig tree outside the weekend bungalows.  Sandy spotted African Green Pigeons amongst the hornbills feeding close by and a Terrestrial Bulbul kicked up a fuss in the woodland.

We noticed the devastation from chopping and burning all the Strelitzia nicolai.   Sandy has sent a quote from Pooley’s Trees to Mary McKenzie of Pennington Conservancy, saying that many bird species enjoy the nectar from the Strelitzia,  birds and monkeys eat the aril and soft parts of the flowers,  frogs hibernate in the leaves,  Banana Bats roost in the furled leaves and the Strelitzia Nightfighter butterfly uses it as a food source.  Hopefully she can put a stop to this wanton destruction.  No wonder more monkeys are descending on the Pennington gardens where they make a nuisance of themselves and the residents get upset. 

At this point, Sandy and Hazel N had to be on their way, leaving the Culleys and van Rooyens to enjoy their braai and relax before the drive home.  A Thick-billed Weaver found the seed and had a good meal while Ashy Flycatchers and Cape White-eyes enjoyed the bird-bath, splashing delightfully. 

Tambourine Dove (HvR)

Thick-billed Weaver (HvR)

 

Ashy Flycatchers (HvR)

A Tambourine Dove came by to see what the fuss was about.  As we packed the cars, the final note came from a Brown-hooded Kingfisher as if to say “Don’t forget to add me to your list”.

A most enjoyable day - thanks everyone.

49 species

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, White-eared Boubou, Southern Brownbul, Terrestrial Bulbul, Dark-capped Bush Shrike, Gorgeous Cameroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Cormorant, White-breasted Coucal, Burchell’s Crow, Pied Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Duck, African Black Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Crowned Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Paradise Fly-catcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Greenbull, Sombre Greenbull, Yellow-bellied Heron, Purple

Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Trumpeter Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kite, Yellow-billed Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, African Green Prinia, Tawny-flanked Puff-back, Black-backed Robin, Brown Scrub Robin-Chat, Red-capped Starling, Black-bellied Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Grey Sunbird, Olive Swallow, Lesser-striped Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Turaco, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed White-eye, Cape

Photos property of photographers