Seasons Greetings from Birdlife Trogons Bird Club

 

End of Year Lunch 30th November 2014 Oribi Gorge Hotel

Attendees: Doug & Angie Butcher; Stan & Val Culley; Ina de Koker, Lennart Eriksson & Evelyn Heunis; Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Margaret Jones, Vic & Kay Neilson; Hazel Nevin, Sandy Olver, Herbie & Jeanette Osborne; Hazel Parry, Keith & Maureen Roach; Paul & Margaret Rose; Andy Ruffle, Irma Smook, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen; Willie & Wilna van Zyl. (27 attendees).

The 2014 BirdLife Trogons End of Year lunch was held at the Oribi Gorge Hotel on Sunday 30th November.

The function was very well attended by 27 members of the bird club.

The morning birding walk was, sadly,once again scuppered by un unfavourable weather forecast.

The lunch and hospitality were superb, so many thanks to all the staff at the hotel.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day.

  

Photos by Hazel van Rooyen.

Second Chance Avian Rescue (S.C.A.R.) update

Hi all,

Second Chance Avian Rescue (SCAR) at Shelly Beach have now started their very busy period with lots of new arrivals coming in.

Michelle Pearson is doing an excellent job rehabilitating all kinds of birds and relies heavily on donations to purchase foodstuffs, cleaning materials and medicines.

Once again, if you can help in any way, please contact Michelle on 083 246 6765 or email sc.avianrescue@gmail.com. I know your help will be greatly appreciated.

Here's a message from Michelle:

''Hi Andy. Just wanted to let you know the voucher has been exhausted. We managed to buy a lot of food for the birds, thank you so much! We are getting a huge influx of babies now, including hadedas. So our huge demand on meat has started. We managed to stock up on a lot of baby foods, but will still be needing food such as bird seed, fruit etc. So if you are able to continue to help in any way it would be greatly appreciated. Keep well!''

Visit the SCAR facebook page to see some of the patients and how they progress at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Second-Chance-Avian-Rescue/237707162985939?sk=timeline

Kind regards

Andy Ruffle

Project Co-ordinator

Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide

Email: andy_ruffle@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: 039 695 0829

Cell: 072 893 3794

WhatsApp: 081 510 8333

Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide: http://vulturehide.blogspot.com/

Oribi Vulture Viewing Hide facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oribivulturehide/

Outing report - 16th November 2014 Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve

Photos by Ina de Koker

Attendees: Ina de Koker, Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Hazel Nevin, Sandy Olver. (5 attendees)

Not a very large turnout due to most of the active members being in Kruger, but still a good days birding.

As Sandy Olver puts it ‘’ such good birding  -  took us 2 hours to reach the gate from the turnoff!’’

Doll's Powder Puff (Cyanotis speciosa)

Klaas's Cuckoo

Klaas's Cuckoo

Birds recorded (List supplied by Sandy Olver): Dark-capped Bulbul, Spectacled Weaver, Red-eyed Dove, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Little Rush-Warbler, Lesser Striped Swallow, Black-crowned Tchagra, Black-collared Barbet, Yellow Weaver, Diderick Cuckoo, Burchell's Coucal, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Natal Spurfowl, Southern Boubou, Olive Sunbird, Tambourine Dove, Green-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-billed Kite, Cape White-eye, Yellow-fronted Canary,  Pin-tailed Whydah, Red-collared Widowbird, Red-throated Wryneck, Red-winged Starling,  Black-bellied Starling, Southern Red Bishop, Barn Swallow, Klaas's Cuckoo, Violet-backed Starling, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Common Waxbill, Cape Wagtail, Amethyst Sunbird, Crested Barbet, Neddicky, African Dusky Flycatcher, Jackal Buzzard,  Speckled Mousebird,  White-bellied Sunbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black-headed Oriole, Steppe Buzzard, Lesser Honeyguide, Purple-crested Turaco, Crowned Hornbill, Fork-tailed Drongo, Bronze Mannikin, Sombre Greenbul, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Trumpeter Hornbill, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Croaking Cisticola, African Pipit, Cape Glossy Starling, Rufous-naped Lark, Grey Heron, African Stonechat, Thick-billed Weaver, Rufous-winged Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola. (61 species).

Trip Away report- Richard's Bay 2014 Trip Bird List

Here is the bird list for the Richard's Bay Trip Away

from 19th-23rd September 2014

Birds recorded: (168 species) - compiled by Sandy Olver.

African Crowned Eagle Dark-backed Weaver Red-capped Robin-Chat African Darter Dark-capped Bulbul Red-eyed Dove African Dusky Flycatcher Egyptian Goose Red-faced Mousebird African Firefinch Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Red-fronted Tinkerbird African Fish-Eagle Fan-tailed Widowbird Red-knobbed Coot African Green-Pigeon Fork-tailed Drongo Reed Cormorant African Harrier-Hawk Giant Kingfisher Rudd's Apalis African Hoopoe Glossy Ibis Ruddy Turnstone African Jacana Golden-breasted Bunting Ruff African Palm-Swift Golden-tailed Woodpecker Rufous-winged Cisticola African Paradise-Flycatcher Goliath Heron Scaly-throated Honeyguide African Pied Wagtail Gorgeous Bush-Shrike Scarlet-chested Sunbird African Purple Swamphen Great Egret Sombre Greenbul African Sacred Ibis Great White Pelican Southern Black Flycatcher Ashy Flycatcher Greater Flamingo Southern Boubou Black Crake Green-backed Camaroptera Southern Brown-throated Weaver Black Cuckooshrike Green-backed Heron Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Black Saw-wing Green-winged Pytilia Southern Masked-Weaver Black-backed Puffback Grey Crowned Crane Southern Red Bishop Black-bellied Starling Grey Heron Speckled Mousebird Black-collared Barbet Grey Plover Speckled Pigeon Black-crowned Tchagra Grey Waxbill Spectacled Weaver Black-headed Heron Grey-headed Gull Spur-winged Goose Black-headed Oriole Hadeda Ibis Squacco Heron Blacksmith Lapwing Hottentot Teal Swift Tern Black-winged Stilt House Sparrow Tambourine Dove Blue Waxbill Jackal Buzzard Tawny-flanked Prinia Brimstone Canary Kittlitz’s Plover  Terrestrial Brownbul Bronze Mannikin Laughing Dove Thick-billed Weaver Brown Snake-Eagle Lesser Striped Swallow Three-banded Plover Brown-hooded Kingfisher Lesser Swamp-Warbler Trumpeter Hornbill Brown-throated Martin Little Bee-eater Village Weaver Burchell's Coucal Little Egret Water Thick-knee Cape Canary Little Grebe Whiskered Tern Cape Cormorant Little Rush-Warbler White-backed Vulture Cape Glossy Starling Little Stint White-bellied Sunbird Cape Shoveler Little Swift White-breasted Cormorant Cape Teal Livingstone's Turaco White-browed Scrub-Robin Cape Wagtail Long-crested Eagle White-eared Barbet Cape White-eye Malachite Kingfisher White-fronted Plover Cardinal Woodpecker Marsh Sandpiper White-rumped Swift Cattle Egret Olive Sunbird White-throated Swallow Chinspot Batis Osprey Wire-tailed Swallow Collared Sunbird Palm-nut Vulture Wood Sandpiper Common Fiscal Pied Avocet Woolly-necked Stork Common Greenshank Pied Crow Yellow Weaver Common Moorhen Pied Kingfisher Yellow-bellied Greenbul Common Myna Pin-tailed Whydah Yellow-billed Duck Common Ostrich Plain-backed Pipit Yellow-billed Kite Common Ringed Plover Purple Heron Yellow-billed Stork Common Sandpiper Purple-banded Sunbird Yellow-breasted Apalis Common Scimitarbill Purple-crested Turaco Yellow-fronted Canary Common Waxbill Rattling Cisticola Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Common Whimbrel Red-billed Firefinch Yellow-throated Longclaw Croaking Cisticola Red-billed Teal Yellow-throated Petronia Curlew Sandpiper Red-breasted Swallow Zitting Cisticola

Outing report- 14th September 2014 Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve

Photos by Doug Butcher

Attendees: Sandy Olver, Stan & Val Culley; Barrie Willis, Sue Hansbury, Hazel Nevin, Doug Butcher, Stanley & Asothe Gengan; Bobby & Hazel van Rooyen; Ina de Koker  and  Y Paruk. (13 attendees).

Knysna Turaco

Birds recorded: Black-headed Oriole, Olive Sunbird, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Natal Spurfowl, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Starling, Cape White-eye, White-bellied Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Grey Sunbird, Sombre Greenbul, Dark-capped Bulbul, Collared Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Starling, African Dusky Flycatcher, Southern Boubou, Trumpeter Hornbill,  Hadeda Ibis, Spur-winged Goose, Cape Turtle-Dove, Black-collared Barbet, Tawny-flanked Prinia,  Red-eyed Dove, Knysna Turaco, Square-tailed Drongo, Speckled Mousebird, Black-backed Puffback,  African Paradise-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Bar-throated Apalis, Yellow-billed Kite, Green-backed Camaroptera, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, African Hoopoe, Dark-backed Weaver, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Giant Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Terrestrial Brownbul, White-necked Raven, African Crowned Eagle. (45 species). (List supplied by Sandy Olver).

Outing report- 24th August 2014 Umbambazi Nature Reserve, Paddock

Photos by Hazel van Rooyen

Braai time at Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve

Attendees: Irma Smook, Margaret Jones, Stan & Val Culley; Bobby & Hazel van Rooyen; Barrie Willis, Sue Hansbury and Cameron. (9 attendees).

Yellow-throated Longclaw at Umbambazi

It was rather a windy day, so after breakfast, the group went down to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve.

Cape Batis at Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve

Birds recorded: African Stonechat, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Pied Crow, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Hadeda Ibis, Dark-capped Bulbul, Black-headed Oriole, Fork-tailed Drongo, Red-winged Starling, Red-eyed Dove, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Black Saw-wing, White-necked Raven, House Sparrow, Southern Black Flycatcher, Trumpeter Hornbill, Sombre Greenbul, Southern Boubou, Crowned Hornbill, Collared Sunbird, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Olive Sunbird, African Dusky Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, Cape Batis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-throated Woodland- Warbler    ( + Emu ! ) (27 species)

Outing report- 3rd August 2014 Empisini Nature Reserve

Photos by Hazel van Rooyen

Attendees: Stanley Gengan, Hazel Nevin, Sandy Olver, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen. (5 attendees).

Not a very big turnout, but some excellent birding was had.
Good sightings of Narina Trogon, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Grey Cuckooshrike and African Wood-Owl.

African Wood-Owl

Grey Cuckooshrike

Narina Trogon

Spotted Ground-Thrush

Birds recorded: Sombre Greenbul, Natal Spurfowl, Dark-capped Bulbul, Southern Boubou, Spectacled Weaver, Hadeda Ibis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Black-headed Oriole, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Dove, Brown Scrub-Robin, Olive Sunbird, Hamerkop, Cape White-eye, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Purple-crested Turaco, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Grey Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, African Dusky Flycatcher, Collared Sunbird, Burchell's Coucal, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Barbet, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, African Wood-Owl, Narina Trogon, Square-tailed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Lesser Honeyguide, Black-backed Puffback, African Firefinch, Grey Cuckooshrike, Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike, Thick-billed Weaver, Terrestrial Brownbul, Southern Black Tit, Woolly-necked Stork, Bronze Mannikin. (45 species) (List supplied by Sandy Olver).

Outing report- 27th July 2014 Kenneth Stainbank NR

Photos by Hazel van Rooyen

Attendees: Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Margaret Jones, Hazel Nevin, Herbie & Jeanette Osborne; Irma Smook, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, Ron & Elaine Whitham; Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury. (13 attendees).

Barrie proudly sports
his thank you present from the club.
His 'Trogons Braai Master' apron.

White-eared Barbets & Black-bellied Starlings

African Dusky Flycatcher

Hamerkop

Turtles in the dam

African Crowned Eagle

African Darter & Reed Cormorant

Birds recorded: Black-collared Barbet, White-eared Barbet, Little Bee-eater, Southern Boubou, Dark-Capped Bulbul, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Yellow-fronted Canary, White-breasted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, Black Crake, African Darter, Tambourine Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Crowned Eagle, African Fish Eagle, African Dusky Flycatcher, Natal Spurfowl, Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe, Yellow-bellied Greenbul,  Sombre Greenbul, Hadeda Ibis, Hammerkop, Crowned Hornbill, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Bronze Mannikin, Black-headed Oriole, Black-backed Puffback, Red capped Robin-Chat, Cape Robin-Chat, Black-bellied Starling, Collared Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Grey Sunbird, Swamphen Purple, African Palm Swift, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Southern Black Tit, Purple-crested Turaco, Thick-billed Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Village Weaver, Cape White-eye, Golden-tailed Woodpecker. (46 species) (list supplied by Ron Whitham).

Outing report - 20th July 2014 Harding Dam & Ingeli Forest

Attendees: Doug Butcher, Stan & Val Culley; Ina de Koker, Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Bobby & Hazel van Rooyen. (8 attendees)

Bar-throated Apalis, Ingeli Forest
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Locust species, Ingeli Forest
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Birds recorded: South African Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe, Red-knobbed Coot, Cape Shoveler, Common Moorhen, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Teal, Black-headed Heron, Spur-winged Goose, Cape Crow, Pied Crow, Fork-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Oriole, Dark-capped Bulbul, Hadeda Ibis, Plain-backed Pipit, Cape Turtle-Dove, African Stonechat, Neddicky, Common Waxbill, Rufous-naped Lark, Brown-throated Martin, Cape Wagtail, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Southern Bald Ibis, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, White-bellied Sunbird, Cape Grassbird, Bar-throated Apalis, Sombre Greenbul, Cape White-eye, Southern Black Tit, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Crowned Crane, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Golden-breasted Bunting, Swee Waxbill, Cape Batis, Chorister Robin-Chat, Tambourine Dove, Red-necked Spurfowl, Cattle Egret, White-starred Robin. (45 species).

Outing report - 29th June 2014 Lake Eland Game Reserve

Attendees: Doug & Angie Butcher; Stan & Val Culley; Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Ina de Koker, Hazel Nevin, Sandy Olver, Andy Ruffle, Willie & Wilna van Zyl. (12 attendees).

Two species were added to the Lake Eland bird list today...Cape Sparrow and Crested Barbet. The latter being heard only.
Ina de Koker was very fortunate to encounter a male Narina Trogon whilst driving back through the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve.

Birds recorded: Cape Turtle-Dove, Cape Wagtail, Village Weaver, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Weaver, Brown-backed Honeybird, Crested Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Red-eyed Dove,  Cape Sparrow, Common Fiscal, Dark-capped Bulbul, Fan-tailed Widowbird, White-bellied Sunbird, Cape Longclaw, African Stonechat, Plain-backed Pipit, Zitting Cisticola, Neddicky, Rufous-naped Lark, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Speckled Mousebird, Southern Black Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, Sombre Greenbul, Forest Canary, Southern Boubou, Fork-tailed Drongo, White-necked Raven, Black-headed Oriole, Green-backed Camaroptera, Hadeda Ibis, Spectacled Weaver, Hamerkop, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Knysna Turaco, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Reed Cormorant, Ashy Flycatcher, African Fish-Eagle, Cardinal Woodpecker, Yellow-fronted Canary, Tambourine Dove, African Dusky Flycatcher, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Cape Batis, Little Grebe, Grey Crowned Crane, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Egyptian Goose.  (50 species).

Barry Porter Memorial Hide damaged by veld fire

Text and photos by Andy Ruffle

damage sustained to front and one side

Unfortunately, a veld fire has raged through the grasslands at the vulture colony causing damage to the hide.

The fire started yesterday afternoon in the Umzimkulu Valley below and jumped up and over the cliffs heading straight for the hide.

Despite the very quick response from Mike's workers, who doused the area around the hide with water, the fire just tore through.

The front and one side has sustained alot of damage and will need the supports and cladding replaced. One roof panel will also need to be replaced.

the interior is relatively unscathed

we came close to totally losing the hide

Incredibly the back, one side and interior are relatively unscathed.

I have contacted the original builder to request a quote for materials and repairs. The outcome of this will determine the way forward.

The hide project does have some funds in the bank, which will hopefully go a long way to covering the repairs.

Unfortunately, we have not been able to find an insurer prepared to insure the structure at an affordable premium, although after this we will have to address the situation.

We will still be able to conduct 2hr vulture viewing visits, which are proving very popular and a good income generator. This will also assist in covering repair costs.

The landowner feels that we have achieved too much thus far, to throw in the towel now and I have to agree with him.

It may take a little time, but we will get the hide fully up and running again.

Black Stork makes a Youth Day appearance

Whilst escorting a group at the Oribi vulture colony on Monday (Youth Day), we noticed a large bird join the thermal being used by some 20 Cape Vultures. It was quickly identified as a Black Stork. This is a nice visitor to see in our neck of the woods.
We will be keeping a close eye out to see whether there are any signs of nesting by the stork.

Black Stork riding the thermal
(Photo Adeline Mccarter)

Spotted Thick-knee were also seen during this visit. Another bird not often seen in our South Coast region.

Some other good news from the vulture colony is that 30 vulture nests have been counted, just on the cliffs that are visible where we normally stand. This is the highest number so far recorded and is just a small part of the cliff face on which they nest.

There will be a full census done this month, hopefully, so it will interesting to see the total tally. We will keep you posted.

Outing report- 15th June 2014 Litchi Syndicate

Text by Andy Ruffle
Photos by Doug Butcher (unless otherwise credited)

Attendees: Doug Butcher, Eric Kok, Graham & Patricia Pirie, Andy Ruffle. (5 attendees).

Sadly, we had a very poor turnout for today's outing. A warm welcome to Graham & Patricia Pirie though, who have just signed up as our latest members.

The morning started off very nicely with an African Goshawk displaying high above us as the sun rose above the distant cane fields.

The early walk took us up to the dam. On the way, a black bird with yellow wing patches flew up from the sprouting cane and landed in a tree. Yellow Bishop was the first bird that sprang to mind, although this would be very unusual for this location and no yellow rump was noticed. Closer inspection revealed that it was a Black Cuckooshrike with the yellow wing patches. Not an uncommon bird by any means, but it is nice to see the morph with yellow on the wings. According to Roberts Online, about 50% of the birds in KZN and 9% in Zimbabwe, have the yellow patch.

male Black Cuckooshrike with yellow carpal patch

At the dam, we noticed what looked liked a small bird swimming across the water. Little Grebe we thought, until our binoculars focussed on the bird. All we could see was a head moving through the water. We soon realised that it was a submerged Spur-winged Goose. Roberts Online makes no reference to this strange behaviour, so any theories would be appreciated.

Patricia, Eric, Graham and Andy at the dam

After breakfast, we investigated a new walking trail that has been cut along the river that flows into the dam.
It passes through virtually pristine indigenous forest and we notched up a fair few birds to add to a final total of a very respectable 63 species for the day.
A big thanks must go to John Porter for adding this trail. It will certainly make our future visits more productive and enjoyable.

Birds recorded: African Goshawk, Fork-tailed Drongo, Trumpeter Hornbill, Dark-capped Bulbul, Yellow-fronted Canary, Red-eyed Dove, African Stonechat, Hadeda Ibis, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Sombre Greenbul, Spectacled Weaver, Black-collared Barbet, Natal Spurfowl, Olive Sunbird, Black Cuckooshrike, African Dusky Flycatcher, Black-bellied Starling, Cape Glossy Starling, Black-headed Oriole, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, Yellow Weaver, Little Grebe, Egyptian Goose, Common Moorhen, Spur-winged Goose, African Jacana, Burchell's Coucal, Southern Boubou, Cape White-eye, Amethyst Sunbird, Thick-billed Weaver, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Southern Black Flycatcher, Long-crested Eagle, Neddicky, Common Waxbill, Chinspot Batis, Black-backed Puffback, Pied Crow, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Speckled Mousebird, Collared Sunbird, Ashy Flycatcher, Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, Square-tailed Drongo, Cape Batis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Red-knobbed Coot, Giant Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, African Firefinch, Crowned Hornbill, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Southern Black Tit, Brown-backed Honeybird, African Black Duck, African Pied Wagtail, Scaly-throated Honeyguide. (63 species).

Photos copyright of photographer.