Outing report- 26th May 2012 Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve

by Andy Ruffle


Trail map for  the reserve
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

Attendees: Penny de Vries, Lennart Eriksson & Evelyn Heunis, Stanley Gengan, Eric Kok, Sandy Olver, Barry Pullock, Andy Ruffle, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, Ron Whitham, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury. (13 attendees).

We had a very pleasing turnout for today's outing, which proved closer than expected. Travelling time from Sea Park was only just over an hour, with us all finding our way easily.
There was plenty of bird activity around the car park, which kept us busy before heading off clockwise on the main circular trail. The 4.3 km walk takes you through grassland and patches of coastal forest. A Klaas's Cuckoo was well spotted by Barrie, giving us all a good view. Birding was steady, but gradually deteriorated as the temperature rose to a peak of 28 degrees. Having walked just 0.6km we reached a small dam. Here we found a pair of African Black Duck, a Reed Cormorant and a very scraggy African Darter which was presumably going through it's moult.

African Darter looking rather scruffy
along with a Reed Cormorant
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

African Black Duck
(Photo Penny de Vries)

With the time fast approaching 09h30 we headed back to the car park, via the old Stainbank residence, for breakfast.

Breakfast in the idyllic main car park
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

Suitably refreshed, we set off once again but in the opposite direction this time. This trail took us through some nice forest towards the Umhlatuzana River. Sadly, the heat was now really affecting the birding and the birders.

Some welcome shade for our weary birders
(Photo Penny de Vries)

This Durban reserve certainly surprised us all. We only touched the surface of walking trails available and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day. We will now add this venue as a regular outing. There is still much more to explore.

Birds recorded: White-browed Scrub –Robin, Southern Black Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Dark-capped Bulbul, Sombre Greenbul , Terrestrial Brownbul, Red-eyed Dove, Common Myna, Black-collared Barbet, White-eared Barbet, Black-bellied Starling, Cape Glossy Starling, Purple-crested Turaco, Tambourine Dove, Chinspot Batis, Common Fiscal, Fork-tailed Drongo,  Square-tailed Drongo, Olive Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Grey Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird,  Spectacled Weaver, Village Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Cape White-eye, Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Red-capped Robin-chat,  Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Black-backed Puffback, Bronze Mannikin, Southern Black Tit, Hadeda Ibis, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Rufus-winged Cisticola, Yellow-fronted Canary, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Speckled Mousebird, Reed Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant, African Black Duck, African Darter, Egyptian Goose, Lesser Honeyguide, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Green-backed Camaroptera, Ashy Flycatcher, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Bar-throated Apalis, Grey  Cuckooshrike, Natal Spurfowl. (54 species)