Outing report: Skyline NR & Uvongo River Conservancy, 22 July 2018

Attendees: Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stan & Val Culley, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Doug & Angie Butcher, Margaret Jones, Hazel van Rooyen (12)

Species: Total 39                                                 Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Knysna Turaco (photo: Doug Butcher)

A dozen keen birders constituted a good turnout for a wintry Sunday morning.  Having "meeted and greeted" we started our walk through a slice of forest and past the old garden.  One can imagine how it had looked in by-gone days when it had been loved and cared for by the various families that had owned it down the years, from the first owner who purchased it from the Knox-Gores with visions of making a home for his future wife who was on her way by sea from the UK and then met someone else on board ship, to the gentleman who turned it into an arboretum of exotic botanical plants and planted turpentine trees from Australia as windbreaks.  After a few other changes of ownership it was handed to Margate Borough and thence to its current custodianship with the Natal Parks Board (now Ezemvelo Wildlife) who are slowly returning it to its original natural state, preserving indigenous trees and rare coastal grassland.

Jack fruit in SA? (photo: HvR)

First spotted was a White-eared Barbet perched on the top-most branch of a dead tree and a Knysna Turaco flashing its brilliant colours in the early morning sunshine.  A Black-headed Oriole sang happily whilst Amethyst and Olive Sunbirds flitted in the mid-canopy.

Female Amethyst Sunbird (photo: HvR)

The forest gave way to grasslands which didn’t yield much except for Black-bellied Starling in the distant tree-tops and a lone Hamerkop flying overhead. 

Aloe maculata (photo: HvR)

Walking through the grassland (photo: HvR)

The dam at the bottom of the property was quite dry but further along a pond just about supported a few sad lily pads.

No ducks on this dam! (photo: HvR)

The remainder of the walk produced Sombre Greenbul, Bronze Mannikin, Greater Honeyguide and an African Fish Eagle called from the direction of the river.

The whole reserve had been cleared and thinned out recently but there was still a lot of dead wood lying around.  The remains of a weaver's nest below caused some discussion.

Immature Greater Honeyguide moulting into adult plumage (photo: Stan Culley)

Forest or Spectacled Weaver nest? (photo: HvR)

Returning to the parking we enjoyed some breakfast before driving around to the Uvongo River Conservancy. 

Breakfast (photo: HvR)

Although the river comprised mere puddles amidst the sand a Goliath Heron and Egyptian Goose were seen.  Also spotted were Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, African Green Pigeon and Green Woodhoopoe amongst others.

BirdList (Total: 39 species)

Skyline (21 species)

Uvongo River Conservancy (27 species)

Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, White-eared Bulbul, Dark-capped Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Eagle, African Fish Greenbul, Sombre Hamerkop Honeyguide, Greater Hornbill, Crowned Ibis, Hadedah Mannikin, Bronze Oriole, Black-headed Starling, Black-bellied Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Turaco, Knysna Wagtail, African Pied Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Village

Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Canary, Yellow-fronted Dove, Red-eyed Eagle, African Fish Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Heron, Goliath Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Hornbill, Crowned Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Mannikin, Red-backed Mousebird, Speckled Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, African Green Prinia, Tawny-flanked Starling, Red-winged Sunbird, Collared Thrush, Olive Turaco, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, African Pied Weaver, Spectacled White-eye, Cape Woodhoopoe, Green

UPCOMING OUTING: Skyline NR & Uvongo River Conservancy

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 22 July at 07:00 am BIRDLIFE TROGONS will visit Skyline N.R. and Uvongo

Conservancy.  We will start at Skyline N.R. then go on to Uvongo Conservancy for another walk and lunch.  Bring chairs, breakfast & 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 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

From the R620 turn inland at the robots in Uvongo. Turn immediately left then keep right into Pioneer Road. Follow this road which becomes Uvongo Drive. After crossing the R61 Skyline N.R. is well signed on the right.

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing report: Burchell's Coucal Eco Trail, Illovo - 8 July 2018

Attendees: Sandy Olver, Stanley Gengan, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stan & Val Culley, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (10)

Species: 57                                                         Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Water Thick-knee  (photo: HvR)

Our morning started off with some short sharp showers whilst travelling on the highway to Illovo but they quickly cleared to produce a lovely Indian ocean winter’s day.  On arriving at the business park we were temporarily flummoxed as the entrance was blocked off but we found another way in around the side.  The guard helpfully offered to get the key and open up the gate to the trail for us.

4 Water Thick-knees, well camouflaged (photo HvR)

As we parked we disturbed the resident family of Water Thick-knees which flew across the river and settled there for the day.  Blacksmith Lapwings, Cape Wagtails and Three-banded Plovers foraged at the water’s edge.  After a fairly quick breakfast we set off to do the walk.  Being mid-winter the river comprised of mostly trickles but deep enough in places to make it tempting for the African Fish Eagle and Reed Cormorant.  Red-wing and Black-bellied Starlings, Black-collared Barbets, Bronze Mannikins flitted amongst the trees while Southern Red Bishops and Thick-billed Weaver preferred the beds of tall reeds next to the river.

The track began with open grassland and produced African Stonechat, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Crested Barbet, amongst others.  

African Fish Eagle (photo: HvR)

Good views over the river (photo: HvR)

Viewpoints on hillocks provided good views of the river with bamboo fences providing some degree of cover.  Spurwing and Egyptian Geese congregated on a large sandspit and Stan spotted a Malachite Kingfisher and Brown-throated Martin flying across the river and the distinctive hollow bubbling call of the trail's namesake, the Burchell's Coucal, was heard.  A Hamerkop was seen several times searching up and down the river. 

Trail through riverine bush (photo: HvR)

After a while the track closed in and led us through quite dense riverine bush, producing Tawny-flanked Prinia, Bar-throated Apalis, Red-capped Robin-Chat and Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.  By this time, we had split into two groups and my group were meeting up with the leaders who were on their way back, having already done the loop.  En route they had seen Terrestrial Brownbul, Green-backed Cameroptera, and White-browed Scrub-Robin. Continuing back, Pin-tailed Whydah, Black Saw-wing, Black-headed Heron, Speckled Mousebird and Long-crested Eagle were spotted. 

Convenient shade for relaxing with views of the river (photo: HvR)

At the picnic site a barn-like structure provided a shady spot for us to relax and view the river and environs.  A flock of Woolly-necked Storks circled lazily overhead and Little Bee-eaters darted this way and that in the bushes on the opposite bank. 

Little Bee-eater (photo: Sue Salthouse)

Pied Wagtails inspected the river margin while a Familiar Chat popped over to see if we had dropped any crumbs.  Red-backed Mannikins and Cape White-eyes busied themselves in some young thorn trees close by.

A very pleasant morning was had by all and we were happy with our count of 57 species.

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Bee-eater, Little Bishop, Southern Red Boubou, Southern Brownbul, Terrestrial Bulbul, Dark-capped Cameroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Chat, Familiar Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Dove, Laughing Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Eagle, Long-crested Fiscal, Common Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Greenbul, Sombre Hadedah, Ibis Hamerkop Heron, Black-headed Hoopoe, African Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied

Lapwing, Blacksmith Mannikin, Bronze Mannikin, Red-backed Martin, Brown-throated Mousebird, Speckled Plover, Three-banded Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Scrub-Robin, White-browed Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Stonechat, African Stork, Woolly-necked Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Thick-knee, Water Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Pied Warbler, Dark-capped Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Whydah, Pin-tailed Widow, Fan-tailed

All photos property of photographer

UPCOMING OUTING: Burchell's Coucal Eco Trail, 8 July 2018

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 8 July 07:00am BirdLife Trogons will visit the Burchell’s Coucal Eco Trail, close to Illovo.  Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  For this venue only we will follow a slightly different routine – Breakfast/coffee on arrival at the trail followed by the walk. Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel on 072 355 8837 before setting off.  Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Meet at the Shell Ultra City garage South Coast (N2 North, heading towards Durban, ie travelling from South to North) at 07:00 and we will travel in convoy from there

.

Kind regards
Hazel van Rooyen
Secretary
BirdLife Trogons Bird Club