Outing Report: Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 8 September 2019

Attendance: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Doug Butcher, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Johan & Karin Burger, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified:   34                                         Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                              Photos: Doug Butcher, Hazel van Rooyen

Narina Trogon (photo: H van Rooyen)

Gosh, we are having a lot of wind this year!  And Sunday was no exception with a blustery breeze blowing strongly on our arrival.  However, some brave birds were out and about and a count of 34 was acceptable for such a windy day.  Gathering at our meeting spot by the main road, we watched a Red-capped Robin-Chat carrying large beak-fulls of nesting material to its nest.

Proceeding up the dirt road to the reserve, our usual stopping area was a hive of activity with logs being loaded onto tractors so we made our way directly to the gate.  An early cuckoo flew across our path but it was not identifiable.  After paying our entrance fees we paused in the parking area to look for avian activity.  And what did Sue spot – our namesake – a beautiful female Narina Trogon.  

What a special sight!  It didn’t like to stay still but flew amongst the branches, still bare from their winter shedding which fortunately enabled some reasonable sightings.  Two Dark-backed Weavers were easily spotted in branches overhanging the hut and Green-backed Camaropteras called from the thicker bush.  A Black-headed Oriole called melodiously along with Olive Sunbirds and Yellow-fronted Canaries.

Helicrysum (photo: H van Rooyen)

We continued into the reserve and up to the view site from where two Yellow-throated Longclaws took flight.  

Diascia (photo: H van Rooyen)

There were quite a few wild flowers out but not as many as on our previous visit two years ago, although we were a bit later then.  

Barrie looking for the Short-tailed Pipit (photo: H van Rooyen)

We had a good walk around and Barrie went quite far to see if he could flush the Short-tailed Pipit but to no avail.  We were looking forward to our breakfast at this point so we had some nourishment and eventually drove further into the reserve, on the way disturbing an African Hoopoe. 

Looking for waterfowl (photo: H van Rooyen)

Stopping at the dam to look for waterfowl nothing materialised so we proceeded to the other dam with the same outcome.  We had an enjoyable walk around the dam spotting African Stonechat and Tawny-flanked Prinia. 

African Stonechat (photo: Doug Butcher)

Fan-tailed Widowbird (photo: H van Rooyen)

A small seed-eater had us all flumoxed but on our return our expert Stan Culley confirmed the photo as being that of a non-breeding Fan-tailed Widowbird, the blue bill identifying it as a male. 







We then drove up to the picnic site and took the Mthakathi Trail which goes down a hill, crosses two rocky streams, through coastal forest and up onto a grassy plain.  Still no Short-tailed Pipit but we did have African Pipit, Knysna Turaco, Burchell’s Coucal, Sombre Bulbul, Black Saw-wing and White-rumped Swift. 

At this point we headed back and sank into our chairs to be rewarded with a delicious braai.

Braai-time (photo: Doug Butcher)

The people (photo: Doug Butcher)

Thanks to all who attended.

All photos property of photographer

Species identified: 34

Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Bulbu, Sombre Camaroptera, Green-backed Canary, Cape Canary, Yellow-fronted Coucal, Burchell’s Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Hoopoe, African Ibis, Hadedah Kite, Yellow-billed Longclaw, Yellow-throated Oriole, Black-headed

Pipit, African Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Glossy Stonechat, African Stork, Woolly-necked Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Swift, Palm Swift, White-rumped Trogon, Narina Turaco, Knysna Weaver, Dark-backed White-eye, Cape