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