Outing report: Culley Dam, Port Edward - 14 July 2019

Attendees:  Stan & Val Culley, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Doug & Angie Butcher, Lia Steen, Margie Cowan, Margaret Jones, Louis Fourie, Jonathan Davidson, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 67  

                                                                                                        Text: Hazel van Rooyen
                                 Photos: Doug Butcher, Margie Cowan, Lia Steen, Hazel van Rooyen

African Jacana (photo: Doug Butcher)

A section of Culley Dam taken from the garden

Everyone was happy to get up and out on such a beautiful morning and our group of 11 arrived at Stan & Val’s by 7am. Numerous Olive Sunbirds were very vocal.

Olive Sunbird on a Tree Aloe (photo: Margie Cowan)

Instead of going straight down to the wetland, Stan guided us to the edge of the forest where the birds were enjoying the early morning sunshine - Square-tailed and Fork-tailed Drongos,  Dark-backed Weaver, Amethyst Sunbird, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and Crowned Hornbill.  We were also delighted that a little family of Samango Monkeys had come to see whether their human visitors were of interest.  Apparently not! as they soon melted back into the forest.

Samango Monkey (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Crowned Hornbill (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Spurwing Goose (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Proceeding down to the wetland, Spurwing Geese were out in abundance.  An African Jacana tip-toed over the lily pads and a pair of Black Crakes scurried in and out of the marshy fringe of the lake.  A Reed Cormorant had stationed itself on the fallen trunk of a dead tree, while a pair of Squacco Herons foraged in the emerging papyrus reeds.  

Squacco Heron (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Yellow-billed Ducks, Common Moorhen and a single White-faced Duck completed the picture.  Numerous Village Weavers were waiting for breakfast from Stan.

Village Weaver (photo: Doug Butcher)

Back at the house for our packed breakfast we found Yellow-fronted Canary, Collared Sunbird, Bronze and Red-backed Mannikins.  After our coffee we split into two parties, one back to the hide at the wetland and the others went up the hillside.   The climb up into the forest proved productive with Green-backed Camaroptera, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeybird, and Natal Spurfowl.  

African Dusky Flycatcher (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Once through the forest, Dusky Flycatcher,Red-winged and Glossy Starlings and Red-necked Wryneck flitted in the trees and a flock of about six Trumpeter Hornbills tumbled out of the tree-tops.

Red-throated Wryneck (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Brown-backed Honeybird (photo: Lia Steen)

At the top of the hill the terrain opened up to grassland where Croaking and Lazy Cisticolas were heard calling. 

View from the top - Umthamvuna Estuary (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

After another kilometre we reached a dam on which Yellow-billed Ducks, Pied Wagtails and Little Grebe were seen.  A Burchell’s Coucal called in the distance and Speckled Mousebirds were spotted on the (much easier) downhill return journey.

Both parties got back to Val’s house at the same time and after catching our breath, Barrie ran a general knowledge quiz for us – Boys against Girls – Girls ruled the day.  Yay!  This was a departure from our usual itinerary but most definitely an enjoyable one.  Thanks Barrie. This was followed by a braai and eventually everyone made their reluctant way home, leaving Stan in peace to enjoy watching England win the cricket world cup.  

Thanks go to Stan & Val for hosting the club, one of our favourite venues.

(All photos property of photographer)

From another aspect

Stan created all this

Species identified: 67

Barbet, Black-collared

Boubou, Southern

Bulbul, Dark-capped

Cameroptera, Green-backed

Canary, Yellow-fronted

Cisticola, Croaking

Cisticola, Lazy

Cormorant, Reed

Coucal, Burchell’s

Crake, Black

Cuckooshrike, Grey

Dove, Red-eyed

Dove, Tambourine

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Drongo, Square-tailed

Duck, White-faced

Duck, Yellow-billed

Eagle, African Fish

Firefinch, Red-billed

Fiscal, Southern

Flycatcher, Dusky

Flycatcher, Southern Black

Goose, Egyptian

Goose, Spurwinged

Goshawk, African

Grassbird, Cape

Grebe, Little

Greenbul, Sombre

Heron, Squacco

Honeybird, Brown-backed

Honeyguide, Lesser

Hoopoe, African

Hornbill, Crowned

Hornbill, Trumpeter

Ibis, Hadedah

Jacana, African

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Mannikin, Bronzed

Mannikin, Red-backed

Moorhen, Common

Mousebird, Speckled

Neddicky

Oriole, Black-headed

Prinia, Tawny-flanked

Puffback, Black-backed

Raven, White-necked

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed

Spurfowl, Natal

Starling, Black-bellied

Starling, Glossy

Starling, Red-winged

Stork, Woolly-necked

Sunbird, Amethyst

Sunbird, Collared

Sunbird, Olive

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Wagtail, Pied

Warbler, Little Rush

Weaver, Dark-backed

Weaver, Spectacled

Weaver, Thick-billed

Weaver, Village

White-eye, Cape

Whydah, Pin-tailed

Wood-Hoopoe, Green

Wryneck, Red-necked