Attendees: Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Stan & Val Culley, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Doug & Angie Butcher, Rob Eccles, Rene
& Anne Rey, Pete & Ann Wright, Alastair Warman, Veronique Warman, Di
Smith, Bob & Hazel Van Rooyen (18)
Species: 28 Text:
Hazel van Rooyen
Woolly-necked Storks (photo HvR) |
Pied Wagtails, Pied Kingfishers and Woolly-necked Storks
greeted our arrival at the Mpenjati estuary on a bright but blustery winter’s
morning.
Sun rising over the lagoon (photo Doug Butcher) |
Reed Cormorants (photo HvR) |
Tree Aloes like candles lighting up the dune forest (photo HvR) |
Kelp Gull (photo Doug Butcher) |
Back at the cars we had our breakfast with the wintry sun
beginning to warm us up.
We then crossed back over the bridge to the north side. The resident family of Water Thick-knees (at least 5) stood with half-closed eyes in their favourite spot on the rounded boulders at the water’s edge beneath the bridge.
Water Thick-knees (photo HvR) |
Approaching the dune forest Rene spotted a raptor which landed on the top-most tree. Stan identified it as an immature African Fish Eagle.
Immature African Fish Eagle (photo HvR) |
The entrance to the boardwalk was water-logged but we found a dry path around it. However, a short way further along, another
water-logged section blocked our path and the walk up through the dune was
still cordoned off. There had been
reports of scout parties helping to repair this once pretty walk but signs informed us it was still under construction. Sadly we
had to reverse and we made ourselves comfortable under the shady trees next to
the lagoon for an early lunch.
Barbet, Black-collared
Bulbul, Dark-capped
Cormorant, Reed
Dove, Laughing
Dove, Red-eyed
Drongo, Fork-tailed
Eagle, African Fish
Egret, Cattle
Fiscal, Common
|
Flycatcher, Southern Black
Goose, Egyptian
Greenbul Sombre
Gull, Kelp
Ibis, Hadedah
Kingfisher, Giant
Kingfisher, Pied
Longclaw, Yellow-throated
Pigeon, Green
Spurfowl, Natal |
Stork, Woolly-necked
Sunbird, Amethyst
Sunbird, Olive
Tern, Swift
Thick-knee, Water
Wagtail, Cape
Wagtail, Pied
Weaver, Yellow
Widowbird, Fan-tailed
|