Outing report: San Lameer Golf Estate - 28 April 2019

Pied Kingfisher (F) 

Attendees: Pete & Ann Wright, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Margie Cowan, Doug Butcher, Margaret Jones, Val Culley, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                                   Text and photos: Hazel van Rooyen

38 species identified

After the horrendous rains of two weeks ago, Sunday dawned sunny and innocent and for once we didn’t have to pack rain-coats, although some did pack their wellies.  Pete and Ann Wright, residents at San Lameer, kindly led our group to the best birding spots and even found us the juvenile Crowned Eagle.

Crowned Eagle (juv)

The forest walk produced Black-collared Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Lemon Dove, amongst others.  On a small dam a pair of Pied Kingfishers were busy fishing, unconcerned by our arrival.  

Pied Kingfishers (the male has the double breast band)

At this point breakfast and coffee became a priority and this venue was perfect for it.

On another walk which led to the lagoon (now mostly mud after the recent rains) we found a Goliath Heron, Blacksmith Lapwing and Three-banded Plover.

Goliath Heron

We ended the day’s birding with a braai at the picnic spot next to the beach which was very comfortable with all the amenities including a small shop/cafe.  It was a great venue, most relaxing, and we also enjoyed the resident wildlife – bushbuck, impala and duiker.

Bushbuck 

Thanks to everyone for their great company and especially Pete & Ann Wright.  We will come again.

38 species identified

Barbet, Black-collared

Batis, Chinspot
Bulbul, Dark-capped

Cameroptera, Green-backed

Crow, Pied

Dove, Lemon

Dove, Red-eyed

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Duck, Yellow-billed

Eagle, African Fish

Eagle, Crowned (Juv)

Egret, Little

Flycatcher, Dusky

Flycatcher, Southern Black

Goose, Egyptian

Greenbull, Sombre

Hamerkop

Heron, Goliath

Heron, Grey

Hoopoe, African

Ibis, Hadedah

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Kingfisher, Malachite

Kingfisher, Pied (M&F)

Lapwing, Blacksmith

Oriole, Black-headed

Plover, Three-banded

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

Starling, Cape Glossy

Starling, Red-winged

Stork, Woolly-necked

Sunbird, Amethyst

Sunbird, Olive

Thick-knee, Water

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Wagtail, Cape

Weaver, Thick-billed

Wood-hoopoe, Green