Outing report: Lake Eland Game Reserve - 28 July 2019

Attending: Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Alastair Warman, Lia & Martin Steen, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 88                                                                      Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                                  *Photos: Hazel van Rooyen, Lia Steen

African Stonechat, Jackal Buzzard and Black-winged Kite (new name for the Black-Shouldered Kite) were already up and about on our journey across Oribi Flats to Lake Eland last Sunday morning.  The game reserve looked tempting but the amount of birds in the car park were amazing - Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Lanner Falcon, Cape Rock Thrush and Rock Martin to name just a few.  The morning had a nip in the air but by lunchtime we were looking for shade, just your average Gorgeous winter’s day on the KZN Coast.

Red-winged Starling (photo HvR)

Dark-capped Bulbuls (photo HvR)

Cape Rock-Thrush (photo HvR)

Rufous-naped Lark (photo Lia Steen)

Cape White-eye (photo HvR)

On entering the game reserve, a herd of dainty Blesbok crossed our path, in fact the whole way around the park Giraffe, Zebra, Blou Wildebeest, Impala and Eland of course, were plentiful and looked so healthy.  But we were after smaller fry.  Cape Longclaws and African Pipits foraged on the dirt road in front of us, always keeping a few flutters ahead. 

African Pipit (photo HvR)

Cape Longclaw (photo HvR)

Burchell's Coucal (photo HvR)

A fat and fluffy Burchell’s Coucal sat comfortably in the branches of a tree at the edge of Maryland Dam while a lonely Red-knobbed Coot swam at the edge and an African Darter sat in a bush drying off its wings.

Little Sparrowhawk (photo Lia Steen)

 Choosing the loop past the Natal Fig Tree this Little Sparrowhawk was spotted.  

Cape Canaries (photo Lia Steen)

 

Continuing through the grassland we made a short stop at a cluster of small trees, where a pair of Southern Boubous were duetting loudly.  Meanwhile a White-necked Raven, Lesser Kestrel and Black Saw-wing flew overhead.

Ashy Flycatcher (photo Lia Steen)

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (photo HvR)

Proceeding down to the picnic site a Brown-hooded Kingfisher was hunting from a dead tree trunk.  We tucked into our breakfast and were about to move on but the birdlife was so active we lost track of time – African Hoopoe, Dusky and Ashy Flycatchers, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Sombre Greenbul, White-browed Scrub Robin, Terrestrial Brownbul, Dark-backed Weaver plus a flock of trumpeting Trumpeter Hornbills. 

From the island

Eventually moving on, the lake was placid and calm and no waterbirds were spotted so we had a walk to the island and soon drove back to the picnic site to braai.  On the way we stopped at the Umzimkulwana River where we must have disturbed a pair of African Black Ducks as they flew off.  A pretty glade beside the river was quite productive with Lesser Honeyguide, Village Weaver, Yellow Weaver and Cardinal Woodpecker.  Cape Vultures flew across too.

Enjoying some braaivleis

At the picnic site we made ourselves comfortable beneath a thorn tree and enjoyed some braaivleis.  Lake Eland have improved their facilities for day visitors down at the lake by creating individual shaded braai areas right next to the lake – ideal for fisher families with a side view of the zipline junkies coming in to land.

Thanks to all who turned up.

 88 Species identified

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Brownbul, Terrestrial Bulbul, Dark-capped Bunting, Golden-breasted Bush-Shrike, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Orange-breasted Buzzard, Jackal Camaroptera, Green-backed Canary, Cape Canary, Yellow-fronted Chat, Familiar Cisticola, Lazy Cisticola, Wing-snapping Coot, Red-knobbed Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Crow, Pied Darter, African Dove, Cape Turtle Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Laughing Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Duck, African Black Falcon, Lanner Fiscal, Southern Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Fiscal Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Grassbird, Cape Greenbul, Sombre Honeyguide, Greater Hoopoe, African Hornbill, Trumpeter Kestrel, Lesser Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kite, Black-winged Lapwing, Blacksmith Lark, Rufous-naped

Longclaw, Cape Mannikin, Bronze Martin, Rock Moorhen, Common Mousebird, Speckled Neddicky Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, Speckled Pipit, African Pipit, Plain-backed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Raven, White-necked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Scrub-Robin, White-browed Seed-eater, Streaky-headed Sparrowhawk, Little Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Cape Glossy Starling, Red-winged Stonechat, African Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Swallow, White-throated Tchagra, Black-crowned Thrush, Cape Rock Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Tit, Southern Black Turaco, Knysna Vulture, Cape Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, African Pied Warbler, Little Rush Weaver, Cape Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Golden-tailed Wryneck, Red-throated

* All photos property of photographer

UPCOMING OUTING: Lake Eland - 28 July 2019

Long-crested Eagle (photo: Stan Culley)

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday, 28 July 2019 at 7am BIRDLIFE TROGONS will visit Lake Eland Game Reserve.  Bring chairs, breakfast, and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons and also R40pp for pensioners and R60 for adults entrance charge into Lake Eland.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837

. 

Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Directions: From Port Shepstone take N2 to Harding. Just before Murchison Hospital turn right into road signposted Oribi Flats East.  Proceed down the hill passed NPC factory, then the road climbs up to Oribi Flats. Keep straight on to Lake Eland which is well signed.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 41 35.7   E30 10 42.8

See you there!
Hazel van Rooyen
Secretary
BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing report: Culley Dam, Port Edward - 14 July 2019

Attendees:  Stan & Val Culley, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Doug & Angie Butcher, Lia Steen, Margie Cowan, Margaret Jones, Louis Fourie, Jonathan Davidson, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 67  

                                                                                                        Text: Hazel van Rooyen
                                 Photos: Doug Butcher, Margie Cowan, Lia Steen, Hazel van Rooyen

African Jacana (photo: Doug Butcher)

A section of Culley Dam taken from the garden

Everyone was happy to get up and out on such a beautiful morning and our group of 11 arrived at Stan & Val’s by 7am. Numerous Olive Sunbirds were very vocal.

Olive Sunbird on a Tree Aloe (photo: Margie Cowan)

Instead of going straight down to the wetland, Stan guided us to the edge of the forest where the birds were enjoying the early morning sunshine - Square-tailed and Fork-tailed Drongos,  Dark-backed Weaver, Amethyst Sunbird, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and Crowned Hornbill.  We were also delighted that a little family of Samango Monkeys had come to see whether their human visitors were of interest.  Apparently not! as they soon melted back into the forest.

Samango Monkey (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Crowned Hornbill (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Spurwing Goose (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Proceeding down to the wetland, Spurwing Geese were out in abundance.  An African Jacana tip-toed over the lily pads and a pair of Black Crakes scurried in and out of the marshy fringe of the lake.  A Reed Cormorant had stationed itself on the fallen trunk of a dead tree, while a pair of Squacco Herons foraged in the emerging papyrus reeds.  

Squacco Heron (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Yellow-billed Ducks, Common Moorhen and a single White-faced Duck completed the picture.  Numerous Village Weavers were waiting for breakfast from Stan.

Village Weaver (photo: Doug Butcher)

Back at the house for our packed breakfast we found Yellow-fronted Canary, Collared Sunbird, Bronze and Red-backed Mannikins.  After our coffee we split into two parties, one back to the hide at the wetland and the others went up the hillside.   The climb up into the forest proved productive with Green-backed Camaroptera, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Brown-backed Honeybird, and Natal Spurfowl.  

African Dusky Flycatcher (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Once through the forest, Dusky Flycatcher,Red-winged and Glossy Starlings and Red-necked Wryneck flitted in the trees and a flock of about six Trumpeter Hornbills tumbled out of the tree-tops.

Red-throated Wryneck (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Brown-backed Honeybird (photo: Lia Steen)

At the top of the hill the terrain opened up to grassland where Croaking and Lazy Cisticolas were heard calling. 

View from the top - Umthamvuna Estuary (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

After another kilometre we reached a dam on which Yellow-billed Ducks, Pied Wagtails and Little Grebe were seen.  A Burchell’s Coucal called in the distance and Speckled Mousebirds were spotted on the (much easier) downhill return journey.

Both parties got back to Val’s house at the same time and after catching our breath, Barrie ran a general knowledge quiz for us – Boys against Girls – Girls ruled the day.  Yay!  This was a departure from our usual itinerary but most definitely an enjoyable one.  Thanks Barrie. This was followed by a braai and eventually everyone made their reluctant way home, leaving Stan in peace to enjoy watching England win the cricket world cup.  

Thanks go to Stan & Val for hosting the club, one of our favourite venues.

(All photos property of photographer)

From another aspect

Stan created all this

Species identified: 67

Barbet, Black-collared

Boubou, Southern

Bulbul, Dark-capped

Cameroptera, Green-backed

Canary, Yellow-fronted

Cisticola, Croaking

Cisticola, Lazy

Cormorant, Reed

Coucal, Burchell’s

Crake, Black

Cuckooshrike, Grey

Dove, Red-eyed

Dove, Tambourine

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Drongo, Square-tailed

Duck, White-faced

Duck, Yellow-billed

Eagle, African Fish

Firefinch, Red-billed

Fiscal, Southern

Flycatcher, Dusky

Flycatcher, Southern Black

Goose, Egyptian

Goose, Spurwinged

Goshawk, African

Grassbird, Cape

Grebe, Little

Greenbul, Sombre

Heron, Squacco

Honeybird, Brown-backed

Honeyguide, Lesser

Hoopoe, African

Hornbill, Crowned

Hornbill, Trumpeter

Ibis, Hadedah

Jacana, African

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Mannikin, Bronzed

Mannikin, Red-backed

Moorhen, Common

Mousebird, Speckled

Neddicky

Oriole, Black-headed

Prinia, Tawny-flanked

Puffback, Black-backed

Raven, White-necked

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed

Spurfowl, Natal

Starling, Black-bellied

Starling, Glossy

Starling, Red-winged

Stork, Woolly-necked

Sunbird, Amethyst

Sunbird, Collared

Sunbird, Olive

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Wagtail, Pied

Warbler, Little Rush

Weaver, Dark-backed

Weaver, Spectacled

Weaver, Thick-billed

Weaver, Village

White-eye, Cape

Whydah, Pin-tailed

Wood-Hoopoe, Green

Wryneck, Red-necked

TROGONS UPCOMING OUTING: Culley Dam - 14 July 2019

Dear Members & Friends

African Pygmy Goose (photo Stan Culley)

Sunday 14 July at 7am BirdLife Trogons will be visiting Culley Dam in Port Edward (this is a change in the venue previously planned).  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 call Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 or visit the blog. 

Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Take R61 to Port Edward. Turn right at the robots to iZingolweni. Meet at Banners Rest store, 1.5km on the right, opposite Old Pont Road.

Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S31 03 05.8  E30 11 50.3

See you there!

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club