Outing report: Burchell's Coucal Eco-trail, Amanzimtoti - 23 June 2019

White-fronted Bee-eater (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Attending: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Stan & Val Culley, Sandy Olver, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Lia Steen, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 64                                                                      Text: Hazel van Rooyen
                                                                                   Photos: Lia Steen, Hazel van Rooyen

A very chilly morning turned into a beautiful day once the sun came up and after a quick bite to eat we ventured along the trail.  No birds were on the water at this point but there was plenty of other activity with an African Hoopoe already prodding the lawn, Pied Wagtail checking for crumbs and Village and Yellow Weavers calling from the trees.  The recent torrential rains had changed the landscaping along the river banks, enabling closer access and views of the river.  However, at the time it must have been really frightening and devastating and it looks like someone has put in a lot of hard work to clear the paths.  

Height of flood water (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Illovo River (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

The photo of Sue pointing to a sign indicating the water level on 23 April gives you some idea of the high water line in comparison with the view of the normal river.  

Evidence of the flood (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Another interesting observation is this view of the pathway where the layer of clay was now drying out, forming a crazy paving effect and beneath it was beach sand.

We had a lovely long walk, spotting Pied Kingfisher, Black-bellied and Red-winged Starling, a Long-crested Eagle, Dusky Flycatcher, Red-faced Cisticola, Black Sparrowhawk amongst others.  As the day warmed up Spurwing and Egyptian Geese started to gather in their usual spot on the river and later we espied two members of the resident family of Spotted Thick-knees on the opposite side of the river to the picnic site. 

Goliath Heron (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

 A magnificant Goliath Heron also took up its fishing spot in a shallow stream.

Woolly-necked Stork (photo Lia Steen)

Stan pointed out that a sighting of a Glossy Ibis flying up-river was unusual for this area and another very unusual sighting was that of White-fronted Bee-eaters, identified firstly by Lia Steen who had joined us for the day and who recognised the call. 

White-fronted Bee-eater (photo Lia Steen)

Lia also identified a Croaking Cisticola by its call and the Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.  On identifying a Common Fiscal, she mentioned that it is now called the Southern Fiscal, having been split into Southern and Northern Fiscal according to the IOC (International Ornithology Congress) with the latter in East Africa. 

I am glad to say this time Stanley and Bob had a good sighting of the Burchell's Coucal  with its unmistakable glug, glug, glugging notes.  The final sightings of the day were of an African Harrier-Hawk, African Fish Eagle and Osprey, a fitting end to an excellent day out.

Juvenile African Harrier-Hawk (photo Lia Steen)

A thank you message was sent to Ken Lombard who looks after this conservation area. 

Yellow-fronted Canary (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Species identified: 64

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, Black-collared Bee-eater, Little Bee-eater, White-fronted Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Camaroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Red-faced Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Darter, African Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Long-crested Egret, Cattle Fiscal, Southern Flycatcher, Dusky Firefinch, Red-billed

Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Greenbull, Sombre Heron, Black-headed Hoopoe, African Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Lapwing, Blacksmith Longclaw, Yellow-throated Mannikin, Bronze Mannikin, Red-backed Osprey, Western Plover, 3-banded Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Sparrow, House Sparrowhawk, Black Spurfowl, Natal Starling, Black-bellied

Starling, Red-winged Stork, Woolly-necked Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, White-bellied Swallow, White-throated Thick-knee, Water Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Pied Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Little Rush Waxbill, Common Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow Woodpecker, Golden-rumped Wryneck, Red-throated

All photos property of photographer