Vumbuka Saturday 1 August.

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Report on our Saturday outing- Elena Russell

15 hardy souls braved the very early morning start – we gathered by the light of a full moon and it was very very cold!!

Full Moon Greeted us on Arrival
Full Moon Greeted us on Arrival

As we headed off for Vumbuka the ‘quick’ of an African Goshawk could be heard high above us in the sky – intoxicating stuff!

Vumbuka is fabulous – walking through the forest we were accompanied by the dawn chorus. Our tiny hands may have been frozen but we were having fun. The birds were hunting for the sunniest spots. The White-eared Barbets had found an excellent dead tree in which to perch and catch the sun and an African Hoopoe was calling high up in an adjacent tree. We could hear a Black Sparrowhawk calling in the distance but it was only later in the day that we had great views of the Spars. Red-fronted & Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, Yellow-fronted Canaries and Cape White-eyes were everywhere feasting on the figs. Plenty of Sombre Greenbuls, Dark-capped Bulbuls, Dusky, Paradise and Black Flycatchers. Brief glimpses of Tambourine Doves and Yellow-bellied Greenbuls.

Excellent sightings of Grey Cuckooshrike, Sunbirds; Amethyst, Olive, Grey & Collared, Weavers; Thickbilled, Spectacled, Village and Dark-Backed. Yellowbreasted Apalis were calling and a Bar-throated Apalis was seen later at the gazebo. Natal Robins (Red-capped Robin-Chat), Southern Black Tit, Fork-tailed Drongos. Black-collared Barbets and the calls of Purple Crested Turacos and Southern Boubou kept the list ticking up nicely.

Walking back through the grasslands we had masses of Palm Swifts, Black Sawwings and quite a few Lesser Striped Swallows (presumably they over-wintered on the balmy South Coast). Tawny-flanked Prinias, Speckled Mousebirds, Bronze Mannikins and a Black-headed Heron.

We had our tea at the gazebo and our count at that stage was 54. After tea we went on down to Umbogavango and at that stage we had decided the bird of the day was the Grey Cuckooshrike but driving into Umbogavango we good views of a female Narina Trogon. We quickly parked and hurried back up the road with the rest of the group and managed to get some good photos of the beautiful bird.

We then went on another walk – and added some really nice birds to our list. An African Fish Eagle was being harassed by the Black Sparrowhawks, White-bellied Sunbird, Little Bee-eaters, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-backed Mannikins, Hamerkop, Cape Wagtail, Olive and Kurrichane Thrush, Sacred Ibis and Woolly-necked Storks flew overhead, Little Rush and Lesser Swamp Warblers in the reeds and we thought we had done pretty well but of course Jenny, Rowena and Vauneen who had stayed behind in the hide picked up Lesser Honeyguide and Green Twinspots (drat) – in total our bird count was 80!!.

The photo of the tree with the pretty white flowers – Tabernaemontana Ventricosa or in plain English a Toad Tree.

The Erythrinas – Lysistemon and Caffra were in full bloom and plenty have been planted all over this pretty reserve.

Thanks to John, Dave, Paul and Hennie for the pics.

Cheers

Elena

Kenneth Stainbank NR 2 August 2015

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Mike Roseblane, Jane Morris, my wife Sally and I visited Kenneth Stainbank NR last Sunday. Here are some photos taken while there. The bird of the day was a very obliging Red-fronted Tinkerbird.

Paul Bartho

Paul

St Lucia July 2015

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Report by Paul and Sally Bartho

Monday 20 July to Friday 24 July 2015

Sugarloaf campsite in St Lucia was not too busy. School holidays had ended. There was water rationing in St Lucia which meant that one day we had no tapped water but the rest all day. Water bottles were laid out at each of the ablutions blocks. Power cuts were from 5 to 6 pm several nights – yes only one hour.

We spent a morning in each of the two parts of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park – Eastern and Western Shores. And one morning in the Gwalagwala trail. Time was spent on the beach too, though the gulls and terns were mostly down the coast chasing the sardines. No Franklin’s Gull!

The weather was mostly kind to us and we did have rain on several nights which helped to bring out the birds the following mornings.

In all we identified 63 birds in Eastern Shores, 64 birds in Western Shores and 82 birds in and around the campsite, Gwalagwala trail and on the beach. In total 125 different bird species were identified. Click here to see the lists.

Here are some photos of the birds seen.

And a few butterflies and mystery Cisticolas for ID.

Simbithi July 19th 2015

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Report by Jenny Rix

We had a lovely sunny day for our outing to Simbithi on Sunday the 19th July

Eighteen birders came including two environmental ladies from Simbithi. Margi Lilianveld organised all our security codes so that we could get through the security. Many thanks to her.

We drove down to the Fish Eagle dam and met up with Elayne Tranter who was the other environmental lady. We decided to do the Mfuleni Trail and split into two groups, the one doing the trail clockwise and the other anti clockwise.

Birding around the Fish Eagle dam was rewarding with Village Weavers very busy building their nests and collecting nesting material. We saw the Goliath, Black-headed, Grey and Purple Herons, the Common Moorhen, Burchell’s Coucal, the White-eared Barbet and lovely views of the Malachite Kingfisher.

Birding along the pathway was quiet as it was still in shade but as we reached the beginning of the pathway into the forest the sun was shining and the birds were all there. We had wonderful sightings of the Red-fronted Tinker Bird, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Olive Sunbird, Black Cuckooshrike and a very fast flyby of the Grey Waxbill.

The mature riverine forest growing along the stream was beautiful with many trees over 100 years old. A lot of the trees were named and along the path a camera had been placed to capture the night animals. Sunbirds were plentiful and we saw Amethyst, Collard, Grey, Olive and Purple-banded Sunbirds. The Black-collard Barbets, Crested Barbets, Sombre Greenbul and Yellow-bellied Greenbul were calling and we had a quick fly past of the Tambourine Dove.

When we reached the other side of the Fish Eagle dam there were a lot of Bronze Mannikins and we saw two nests and then another three built under the eaves of a house – just like the swallows do. It had us all fascinated.

In the open grassland area we heard the Neddicky and saw the Lesser-striped Swallow – that was a surprise, White-rumped Swift, Little Swift and African Palm Swift. Walking alongside the dam we saw the Black-throated Wattle-eye, lovely sightings as the bird sat still for quite a while.

In the next patch of grasslands we saw the Yellow-fronted Canaries and the Dusky Flycatcher. The next part of riverine forest we saw a lot of orchards growing on the trees but unfortunately they were not flowering.

African Dusky Flycatcher
African Dusky Flycatcher

We met up with our other group there and they had seen an African Crake at the Heron Dam. Elena was delighted as it was a lifer for her.

We eventually reached the dam but the African Crake had disappeared but we did see the White-throated Swallow, Little Rush Warbler, Spur-winged Goose and heard the Fish Eagle calling.

On the way back to the Fish Eagle dam we heard Yellow-breasted Apalis and saw a Kurrichane Thrush. We had tea at the Fish Eagle Community Centre, very civilized with table and chairs provided and whilst having tea we saw the Red-capped Robin Chat, two sparrow species, the Yellow-rumped Tinker Bird and another good sighting of the Purple-banded Sunbird.

We managed to see 78 birds altogether which is not too bad for a winters birding. The bird of the day – African Crake.

Photos courtesy of Decklan Jordaan and Dave Rimmer.

Egg on the deck
Egg on the deck

Jenny Rix

Beachwook Golf Course

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Led by Cecil Fenwick

Saturday 27 June 2015

Sally and I took a stroll around Beachwood Golf Course with Cecil Fenwick. Although this is not a club outing Cecil and  friends usually have a stroll around either Beachwood or Royal Durban golf courses on the last Saturday of each month.

Here are some of the photos of birds seen on our visit.

Paul and Sally Bartho

Umbogavango and Vumbuka

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Led by Barry Swaddle

Sunday 28 June 2015

Eleven birders gathered at the entrance to AECI in Amanzimtoti. The plan was to bird in Vumbuka. However Barry suggested we visit Umbogavango first as his reconnaissance the previous week had revealed that Vumbuka was quiet by comparison.

Barry took us into the grassland area behind the ablutions and then around the site visiting the bird hides and through its many various habitats.

Altogether 77 bird species were recorded including a number of raptors – African Crowned Eagle, African Fish-Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Lanner Falcon and Black Sparrowhawk. To view the list click here.

Here are photos of some of the birds seen.

The most interesting sighting was not that of a bird. Sally searched for why birds were going crazy in a distant tree when she spotted a rather large Green Mamba in the tree next to all the action.

After several hours at Umbogavango we headed for tea at the newly refurbished Lapa in Vumbuka. The Lapa has been extended and can seat many more people under shelter. There are also braai facilities available.

Several of us took a stroll around a section of Vumbuka after tea. Birds were calling but were few and far between – probably as it was already midday. However a number of butterflies were photographed and are included here to challenge your skills at IDing them.

Paul and Sally Bartho

Kirstenbosch

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Sally and Paul Bartho

First it was Black River and the Snowy Egret then Stranfontein and finally Kirstenbosch – the third and final part of our quick visit to Cape Town.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens is one of those special treasures any country would be proud of. Recently they added an aerial boardwalk.

We had a number of pleasant surprises with birds that we saw.

The first was a Common Chaffinch. Stopping for a sit-down Sally noticed a bird in a distant bare tree. Unable to see exactly what it was, she took a  photo and zoomed in. It became obvious that it was a Common Chaffinch. So we went to see if we could get a closer look and it obliged.

Towards the end of our visit and still quite high up, we heard a call which Sally did not recognise. On investigation it turned out to be a pair of Cape Sugarbirds. Another pleasant surprise.

Then as we started to head down we were surprised by a Klaas’s Cuckoo.

As if that was not enough we turned round to watch another bird settle in a bare tree beside us – a Malachite Sunbird.

As we reached the Protea garden we kept our eyes open for an Orange-breasted Sunbird – a species we rather hope to find. Very elusive. We had seen dozens of Southern Double-collared Sunbirds so were optimistic. Then playing its call we realised why they are so elusive. The Southern Double-collared Sunbirds made it clear that they did not want to hear that species on their turf. We weren’t exactly dive bombed but their calls in response to the call and their closeness made it obvious.

Some photos of other birds seen at Kirstenbosch:

Eventually it was time to return home but we left with a strong desire to return. Lets hope for another Mega and a lot more Avios points!

Strandfontein

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Sally and Paul Bartho

Following on from our viewing of the Snowy Egret, we took time to visit Strandfontein and Kirstenbosch.

After a wet and overcast previous day it was a pleasant surprise to have a bright sunny day for birding – albeit a wee bit cool.

Strandfontein wetlands are massive. Ponds and ponds of birds and a good road infrastructure to get around.

Greater Flamingos were everywhere.

It was satisfying to be able to review a number of species which we don’t often find in Natal and some other “Cape” birds.

Here are some photos of other birds seen as we drove around Strandfontein.

Of course there is always one bird that perplexes. In this case it was a group of about 3 or 4 birds together in a low shrub – head height. It appeared to be perhaps a tad smaller than a Bulbul with a plain dark back. Have a look and see if you can Id it.

And then we were on to Kirstenbosch – see next instalment.

Snowy Egret

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Trip to Black River, CT to see the Snowy Egret.

Sally and Paul Bartho

Saved Avios points enabled us to go to Cape Town to see the Snowy Egret. Unexpectedly there were flights available for departure the following day. And we were able to use the Avios points to book a hotel in the centre of town for 2 nights. So off we went Tuesday 16 June. Very early departure.

Arriving in Cape Town we hired a car and headed straight for the Black River where we were told it had been seen regularly.

On arrival at Black River there was only one car there. Not a good sign. We scoured the river bank and saw nothing. Then we spotted an egret further down on the grass so we headed down by car. And as we drove down so did another vehicle – straight at the egret. Of course it flew. Rats.

Back we went towards the railway bridge. Perhaps the bird was there. And sure enough it was – on the river bank between the two railway bridges. Here we met another couple who had arrived earlier.

The Snowy Egret waded along the bank – constantly on the move. Occasionally flying to a new area one side of the bridges or the other. Sometimes directly beneath us and sometimes down the inlet towards the golf course and away from us. However it seemed happiest around the bridge.

We spent almost three hours on the bridge and before we left an additional 15 to 20 other people had come and gone. Here are some of the many photos taken.

Key features are the yellow lores (top of the upper bill near the face) and bright yellow feet (like the Little Egret). Interestingly the legs appear to be bi-colour – black on the front and a pale yellow on the backs. Compare these two photos below.

Some more of the Snowy Egret photos.

Little Egrets and Yellow-billed Egrets were also present – great for comparison with the Snowy.

There were many other birds about as you might expect – including African Darter, numerous White-breasted Cormorants fishing, Hartlaub’s Gulls, herons, and other water birds. A Malachite Kingfisher also made an appearance directly below us. However the bonus was undoubtedly a Little Bittern also directly below us.

The following day we checked in here again and Snowy was still present. Then we spent the rest of the day visiting Strandfontein and Kirstenbosch. See the next instalment.

A trip to remember.