UPCOMING OUTING: Vernon Crookes NR, 8 September 2019

Dear Members & Friends

 

Crowned Hornbill

Sunday 8 September 2019 at 6.30am BirdLife Trogons Bird Club will visit Vernon Crookes N.R.  There is a R30pp entrance fee which is negated with Rhino/Wild cards.  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 van Rooyen before setting off.  For further details telephone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837  or visit the blog.   

PLEASE LET HAZEL KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING

Directions: Turn inland from the N2 at Park Rynie/Umzinto onto the R612. After 12 km turn right at the signpost for the reserve and meet here.

Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 18 48.1  E30 37 18.9

Hope to see you there!

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing report: Skyline NR & Uvongo River Conservancy

Attending: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Louis & Pat Fourie, Danie & Bella du Toit, Alastair Warman, Lourens, Nicola & Ashley Teyt, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (12)

Species: 34                                                                        Text & photos: Hazel van Rooyen

Malachite Kingfisher

A small (but dedicated) group arrived at Skyline NR on this last official Sunday of winter.  It was a beautiful morning accompanied by gentle wafts of warm breezes, a hint that spring was around the corner.  We were delighted to welcome a young couple with their 8 year old daughter who is working towards her Birding Badge at Scouts.  They were excited to discover how many facets of bird watching there are and what a new world it opened up.

Scadoxus (Paint Brush)

The first part of the trail through the reserve had suffered a bad burn in recent weeks but this didn’t deter the birds.  Black-headed Oriole, White-eared Barbet, Dusky Flycatcher, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Black-backed Puffback were identified amongst others and Olive Sunbirds were abundant.  Everyone enjoyed having a good walk through the forest and across the grassland admiring the red hot pokers in a dampish area.  The small dam was almost dry but that will change with the first rains.  Along the path we noticed lots of long yellow caterpillars falling out of a tree. Here and there scadoxus bulbs were confirmation that spring was on its way.

After breakfast we drove across the river to the Uvongo River Conservancy and had another lovely walk along the river and through the bush. Only a couple of small streams were trickling through, forming ponds here and there from which Malachite Kingfisher, Spurwing Geese and Pied Wagtails were still managing to glean a living.  

Pied Wagtail (Non-breeding adult)

A Scaly-throated Honeyguide called distinctly in the riverine bush and a family of Brown Scrub Robins scratching amongst dead leaves took sudden flight, chasing each other through the scrubby undergrowth.

Brown Scrub -Robin 

Arriving back at the vehicles we made ourselves comfortable and were welcomed by the Shaft Club who invited us to join them for their monthly ‘braai by the river’.

Thanks to all who attended.

Skyline: Drongo, Fork-tailed Oriole, Black-headed Bulbul, Dark-capped Dove, Red-eyed Sunbird, Olive Barbet, White-eared Starling, Black-bellied Flycatcher, Southern Black Mannikin, Bronze Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Dusky Woodpecker, Golden-tailed Puffback, Black-backed Wood-hoopoe, Green Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver,Yellow Hamerkop Kite, Yellow-billed Saw-wing, Black

River Honey-guide, Scaly-throated Wagtail, Cape, Darter, African Goose, Spurwing Wagtail, Pied Boubou, Southern,  Greenbul, Sombre Barbet, Black-collared Robin, Brown Scrub- Camaroptera, Green-backed Kingfisher, Malachite Hornbill, Crowned Barbet, Crested Turaco, Purple Ibis, Hadedah

UPCOMING OUTING: Skyline Nature Reserve & Uvongo Conservancy

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 25 August at 7am, BirdLife Trogons will visit Skyline Nature Reserve and Uvongo Conservancy.  Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20 charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 before setting off.  Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

From R620 turn inland at the robots in Uvongo.  Turn immediately left, than keep right into Pioneer Road.  Follow this road which becomes Uvongo Drive.  After crossing the R61, Skyline is well signed on the right.  Meet there at 7am.  We will have a walk through Skyline first, followed by breakfast, then drive to Uvongo River conservancy for another walk and braai.

Hope to see you there.

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

OUTING CANCELLED - Kenneth Stainbank NR, 11 August 2019

Dear Members and Friends

Please note that the advertised outing to Kenneth Stainbank NR this Sunday, 11 August has been cancelled due to there being too few people attending.  Our apologies if you were thinking of making last minute arrangements.

Kind regards
Hazel van Rooyen
Secretary
BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

UPCOMING OUTING: Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve

Black-headed Oriole (photo: Stan Culley)

Dear Members & Friends

  

Sunday 11 August at 7.00am BirdLife Trogons will visit Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve.  Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  There is also an entry fee of R20 per person into the reserve.  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.

Directions: N2 North bound

1. Take exit 149 for R102/Prospecton Road toward Isipingo/Amanzimtoti/Old Durban International Airport

    Travel 350m

2. Turn left onto Prospecton Rd/R102

    Travel 240m

3. Turn right onto R102

    Travel 6.8km
4. Turn left onto Kenyon Howden Rd

    Go through 2 roundabouts

    Travel 2.8km
5. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Kingfisher Ave

    Travel 170m

6. Turn right to stay on Kingfisher Ave

    Travel 650m
7. Turn left onto Coedmore Ave

    Travel 230m

    Destination will be on the right

GPS Co-Ords are  29°54'48.91"S  30°56'31.68"E

Journey time from Port Shepstone approx 1hr 30m

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club