Friday, 19 January 2018

UPCOMING OUTING: River Valley, 28 January 2018



Dear Members and Friends
 
Terrestrial Brownbul (photo Stan Culley)

Sunday 28 January 06:30am BirdLife Trogons will visit River Valley.  There is a R20pp entry fee.  Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel before setting off.  For further details telephone ** Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837. 

**Please note we cannot respond to text messages or “call me” requests.



PLEASE LET HAZEL KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING.

Directions:

Travel south from Durban on the N2 toll road. At the Port Shepstone toll head straight on the R61 towards Port Edward. Take the second off ramp, (Margate/Uvongo) and turn right into Wingate Ave and go back across the highway. You will pass the Margate Country Club on your right hand side. Carry on along Wingate for another 500m past Country Club and you will see our sign pointing right into Portal Ave. Drive down Portal Ave and follow our signs to the gate.

GPS Co Ordinates S 30.83’436” E 30.35’880”

Sunday, 14 January 2018

Outing report: Ingeli Forest & Harding for summer CWAC - 14 January 2018




Attendees:       Stan & Val Culley, Danie & Bella du Toit, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen
Species:           50                                           Text & Photos: Hazel van Rooyen
 
Black-winged Lapwing
Our first outing of the year was quite ambitious – Ingeli Forest, checking for Cape Parrots and Blue Swallows and the Summer CWAC but six of us gave it a good shot.  After a long drive in very misty conditions we met up at Ingeli Forest Lodge (now called Anew Hotel Ingeli Forest & Spa).  Whilst greeting, we saw Long-crested Eagle, Cape Robin-Chat, Amethyst Sunbird, Jackal Buzzard, Olive Pigeon & Grey Crowned Cranes.  The weather suddenly changed, the sun evaporated the mist and we had blue blue skies for the rest of the day - gorgeous!

We proceeded into the forest to check out our favourite spots.  First up was a little cut-away section which was usually full of little birds but now was quiet except for the incessant call of a bird imitating the “pretty Georgie” call of the Emerald Cuckoo – a hoarse Red-capped Robin-Chat, Val suggested!  In the meantime a Red-chested Cuckoo called its repetitive “Piet my vrou” and not to be outdone a Black Cuckoo joined in with its prettier song. 

Moving deeper into the forest, Purple-crested and Knysna Turacos flapped about in the tree canopy, flashing their red wings.  In this part of the woods the Yellowwoods were massive, putting you in mind of more ancient times.  The Cape Chestnuts made a lovely show of their abundant pink blossoms. 
 
Cape Chestnut
Settling down for breakfast a Bar-throated Apalis proved quite friendly and Stan identified an African Harrier Hawk sailing in the skies.
Bar-throated Apalis

Our next stop was at a small dam which was beginning to look more like a young forest it was so full of saplings but the little stream was gurgling strongly away and looked healthy.  Living here were Little Rush Warbler, African Yellow Warbler (old name Dark-capped Yellow warbler), Tawny-flanked Prinia, Drakensberg Prinia, Common Waxbill and an elusive Bush Black-cap.
African Yellow Warbler

Bush Black-cap

Staying on this dirt track we passed the workers’ homes, which marked the tree spot where the parrot boxes had been installed a few years ago.  Now there was no sign of the boxes and even some of the trees were no longer there.

Still continuing along this track, Val led us back to the tarred road and eventually stopped for us to survey the field where the Blue Swallows used to nest.  Stan scoped it but we could already see there were no hirundines of any description and he identified only a single Croaking Cisticola on the fence and some Fan-tailed Widowbirds.
 
Harding Dam
Arriving at Harding Dam we were alarmed to note the number of local weekend fishermen and their families, plus someone even launching a jet ski on the opposite side (perfect day for it though!).  All these would surely have an effect on the birdlife, either chase it away or send it into hiding.  The view from the road, even with the scope, was rather dismal but once down at the water’s edge Stan began to tot up some numbers but nothing like the usual count.  We erected the gazebo (thank goodness because the heat was intense by this time) and enjoyed our braaied lunch.  During the course of our count we were questioned by a security company but when we explained our purpose and that we were authorised by the farmer who had been notified of our impending visit, they were happy.  They also questioned the jetski family who confirmed they were the owners of the land on the other side which gave them rights of access.

Waterbirds seen were Yellow-billed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Spurwing Goose, Goliath Heron, Egyptian Goose, Common Moorhen, Grey Heron, Wood Sandpiper, White-breasted Cormorant, African Fish Eagle and 3-banded Plover.  A full report will be sent out later.  Other species seen were Barn Swallow, Red Bishop, Pin-tailed Whydah and Black-winged Lapwing.

It was an enjoyable and relaxing day.  Thanks for your efforts.

Species
Ingeli Forest:
Apalis, Bar-throated
Ibis, Hadedah
Batis, Cape
Black-cap, Bush
Bulbul, Dark-capped
Buzzard, Jackal
Cameroptera, Green-backed
Crane, Grey Crowned
Cuckoo, Black
Cuckoo, Emerald
Cuckoo, Red-chested
Eagle, Long-crested
Greenbull, Sombre
Hawk, African Harrier
Kite, Yellow-billed
Oriole, Black-headed
Pigeon, Olive
Prinia, Drakensburg
Prinia, Tawny-flanked
Robin-Chat, Cape
Sunbird, Amethyst
Swallow, Greater-striped
Swallow, White-throated
Turaco, Knysna
Turaco, Purple-crested
Wagtail, Cape
Warbler, African Yellow
Warbler, Little Rush
Waxbill, Common
Weaver, Spectacled
White-eye, Cape

Blue Swallow site:
Cisticola, Croaking
Widowbird, Fantailed

Harding Dam:
Bishop, Red
Cormorant, White-breasted
Crane, Grey Crowned
Cuckoo, Dideriks
Duck, Yellow-billed
Eagle, African Fish
Fiscal, Common
Goose, Egyptian
Goose, Spurwing
Heron, Grey
Lapwing, Blacksmith
Lapwing, Black-winged
Moorhen, Common
Plover, 3-banded
Red-knobbed Coot
Sandpiper, Wood
Swallow, Barn
Whydah, Pin-tailed


  ALL PHOTOS PROPERTY OF PHOTOGRAPHER

Friday, 5 January 2018

TROGONS OUTING: Ingeli Forest & Harding Dam

Dear Members
 
Red-billed Firefinch (photo: Stan Culley)
Sunday, 14 January 07:00am BirdLife Trogons will visit Ingeli Forest and Harding Dam.  Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  ALL WELCOME.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel van Rooyen before setting off.  For further details telephone** Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 or visit the blog.  *Please note we cannot respond to text messages or "call me" requests.
 
PLEASE LET HAZEL KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING.
 
Meet at Ingeli Forest Lodge at 07:00am - take N2 road towards Harding/Kokstad.  Continue on N2 road past Harding to Junction of N2/R56.  Turn left towards Kokstad.  Continue approx 7.3km.  Lodge entrance is on the left.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 32 12.8  E29 41 25.5
 
Kind regards
Hazel van Rooyen
Secretary
BirdLife Trogons Bird Club