Month: September 2014

Palmiet NR

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After the Palmiet BMCG (Bird Monitoring and Conservation Group) meeting 13h30 Saturday 13 September, we took a short stroll to the river’s edge.

We were delighted to have good sightings of Mountain Wagtails (see photos) at the lowest deck from the hide/lapa. One flew up into a crevice of the rock face (looking slightly upstream)  which we think is its nesting site (see picture).

Mountain Wagtai
Mountain Wagtai
Mountain Wagtai
Mountain Wagtail nest site under top overhang below overhanging grass
Mountain Wagtail nest site under top overhang below overhanging grass

In the 20 minutes we were there we recorded:
Southern Black Tit
Olive Sunbird
White-eared Barbet
Mountain Wagtail (2) at nest
Purple-crested Turaco
Grey-headed Bushshrike (heard)
Southern Boubou (heard)
Cape White-eye
Yellow-billed Kite
Cape Batis
Dark-capped Bulbul
Green-backed Cameroptera
African Paradise-Flycatcher
African Dusky Flycatcher

This excludes the birds heard at the lapa during the BMCG meeting: Hadeda Ibis, Sombre Greenbul,  Bar-throated Apalis,  Purple-crested Turaco, and Yellow-billed Kite.

Paul & Sally Bartho

TC Robertson NR Saturday 6 September

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This outing was led by Barry Pullock.

There were 12 present and us locals were delighted that the Durbanites supported the outing.

The Mpanbonyoni river  that came down in flood  two years ago all but destroyed TC  but as time went by it turned out a blessing, we now have wide river banks and a lagoon that ends on Scottburgh beach. This has improved the variety of birdlife.

Birding began at the entrance to the reserve overlooking the Mpambanyoni river as we waited for everyone to arrive. The day started with an African Fish Eagle sighting and finished with excellent sightings of Black Cuckooshrikes (male and female) foraging on the ground in the area close to the bird hide (overlooking a dried out pan at present).

An Olive sunbird entertained us repeatedly hovering in mid air flapping its wings like mad – an unusual sight.

During the morning there were sightings of four of the kingfisher species – the African Pied had a couple of successful fishing expeditions. All in all, 67 different species were sighted and or the calls heard.

A most enjoyable morning’s birding.

Barry Pullock

Bird Ringing at SAPPI

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Sally and I went to SAPPI (the saw mill close to Stanger, KZN) on Sunday to watch the bird ringing efforts of Garth Aiston and James Rawdon. The variety of the birds which were ringed included Cape White-eyes; African Paradise-Flycatcher; Sunbirds – Scarlet-chested and Olive; Dark-capped Yellow Warbler and numerous other warblers; Black-throated Wattleye; Weavers – including Southern Masked-Weaver; Malachite, Pygmy and Brown-hooded Kingfishers to name a few.

It is impressive to watch the way the birds are delicately handled and the records that are kept. It is a chance to see the birds up close and personal and to be shown how each bird is correctly identified by Garth and James. Their knowledge is immense.

The lasting impression you get when you see the birds so close is how small they actually are compared to when you see them in their natural habitat (especially through binoculars).

Whilest there we visited the bird hide and wandered around the ponds. This is an excellent place to see a wide variety of waterbirds including some of the more difficult species – like Snipes, Crakes and Rails. Only African Snipes made an appearance for us.

The hide overlooks a stretch of land protruding into the pond and provides an ideal place to practice bird photography. To show you what I mean by variety of birds to be seen I have attached the following photos. Amongst them is a photo of a mystery warbler – have a go at IDing it. Click on the bird to enlarge it then add your comment below it.

Paul & Sally Bartho

Unidentified Raptors

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Dear All,

Peter Steyn has asked me to share photos of a raptor taken on the Kafue River at Mayukuyuku Safari Camp on 13 August 2014 because he is not certain about it. The co-ordinates to the safari camp are: S 14 deg 57.2′ E 26 deg 02.4′.

Some points are:
  • It was buzzard-size, like a JB. I thought it was a buzzard but according to some maps there are no buzzards there. Peter has excluded buzzard.
  • It seemed to stick to the riverine area, as though that was its natural habitat.
  • The “feathering” on the legs is very fine and almost absent.
  • Some feathers on the nape and towards the crown have distinctive marks on.
  • I think there was barring on top of the tail. I did not detect a white rump.
  • The whitish feathers on the sides of the head and neck seem notable.
Please click on the photos below to enlarge them. Leave your comments beneath the photos at the end of the post. 
Unidentified Raptor
Unidentified Raptor
Unidentified Raptor
Unidentified Raptor
Unidentified Raptor
Unidentified Raptor
Thanks.
John Fincham

Correction: Fiery-necked Nightjar behaving like an European Nightjar.

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On Sunday Dave Rimmer and I saw what we believed to be a European Nightjar as we were playing golf at Cato Ridge Golf Club.

It was midday. The bird flew up from the ground into a nearby tree lying along a horizontal branch – Europen Nightjars style.

On Monday and Wednesday, Sally and I went to see if was still there. And there it was in exactly the same place both days.

However Faansie Peacock has corrected our ID – see his comments below the second photo after clicking on it.

Paul & Sally Bartho

 

European Nightjar

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On Sunday Dave Rimmer and I saw what we believe to be a European Nightjar as we were playing golf at Cato Ridge Golf Club.

It was midday. The bird flew up from the ground into a nearby tree lying along a horizontal branch.

Today, Sally and I went to see if was still there. And there it was in exactly the same place.

Paul & Sally Bartho