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

UPCOMING OUTING: Burchell's Coucal Ecotrail, Amanzimtoti - 23 June 2019

Malachite Kingfisher

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 23 June BirdLife Trogons will visit the Burchell’s Coucal Eco-trail, Amanzimtoti.  The Mtentu drive was scheduled for the 23^rd June but on investigation the roads have not been fully repaired after the bad rains and only high clearance vehicles are recommended.  Therefore as the outing to the Eco-trail last weekend was cancelled due to heavy rains on Saturday, we are going to try again.  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 (072 355 8837) before setting off. Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Meet at Shell Ultra-City garage South Coast (N2 North, heading towards Durban, ie travelling from South to North) at 07:00 and we will travel in convoy from there.

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

072 355 8837

UPCOMING OUTING: Burchell's Coucal Eco-trail, Amanzimtoti - 9 June 2019

Dear Members & Friends

Burchell's Coucal

Sunday 9 June BirdLife Trogons will visit the Burchell’s Coucal Eco-trail, Amanzimtoti.  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 (072 355 8837) before setting off. Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Meet at Shell Ultra-City garage South Coast (N2 North, heading towards Durban, ie travelling from South to North) at 07:00 and we will travel in convoy from there.

Hope to see you there!

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

072 355 8837

Outing report: Burchell's Coucal Eco Trail, Illovo - 8 July 2018

Attendees: Sandy Olver, Stanley Gengan, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stan & Val Culley, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (10)

Species: 57                                                         Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Water Thick-knee  (photo: HvR)

Our morning started off with some short sharp showers whilst travelling on the highway to Illovo but they quickly cleared to produce a lovely Indian ocean winter’s day.  On arriving at the business park we were temporarily flummoxed as the entrance was blocked off but we found another way in around the side.  The guard helpfully offered to get the key and open up the gate to the trail for us.

4 Water Thick-knees, well camouflaged (photo HvR)

As we parked we disturbed the resident family of Water Thick-knees which flew across the river and settled there for the day.  Blacksmith Lapwings, Cape Wagtails and Three-banded Plovers foraged at the water’s edge.  After a fairly quick breakfast we set off to do the walk.  Being mid-winter the river comprised of mostly trickles but deep enough in places to make it tempting for the African Fish Eagle and Reed Cormorant.  Red-wing and Black-bellied Starlings, Black-collared Barbets, Bronze Mannikins flitted amongst the trees while Southern Red Bishops and Thick-billed Weaver preferred the beds of tall reeds next to the river.

The track began with open grassland and produced African Stonechat, Fan-tailed Widowbird and Crested Barbet, amongst others.  

African Fish Eagle (photo: HvR)

Good views over the river (photo: HvR)

Viewpoints on hillocks provided good views of the river with bamboo fences providing some degree of cover.  Spurwing and Egyptian Geese congregated on a large sandspit and Stan spotted a Malachite Kingfisher and Brown-throated Martin flying across the river and the distinctive hollow bubbling call of the trail's namesake, the Burchell's Coucal, was heard.  A Hamerkop was seen several times searching up and down the river. 

Trail through riverine bush (photo: HvR)

After a while the track closed in and led us through quite dense riverine bush, producing Tawny-flanked Prinia, Bar-throated Apalis, Red-capped Robin-Chat and Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.  By this time, we had split into two groups and my group were meeting up with the leaders who were on their way back, having already done the loop.  En route they had seen Terrestrial Brownbul, Green-backed Cameroptera, and White-browed Scrub-Robin. Continuing back, Pin-tailed Whydah, Black Saw-wing, Black-headed Heron, Speckled Mousebird and Long-crested Eagle were spotted. 

Convenient shade for relaxing with views of the river (photo: HvR)

At the picnic site a barn-like structure provided a shady spot for us to relax and view the river and environs.  A flock of Woolly-necked Storks circled lazily overhead and Little Bee-eaters darted this way and that in the bushes on the opposite bank. 

Little Bee-eater (photo: Sue Salthouse)

Pied Wagtails inspected the river margin while a Familiar Chat popped over to see if we had dropped any crumbs.  Red-backed Mannikins and Cape White-eyes busied themselves in some young thorn trees close by.

A very pleasant morning was had by all and we were happy with our count of 57 species.

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Bee-eater, Little Bishop, Southern Red Boubou, Southern Brownbul, Terrestrial Bulbul, Dark-capped Cameroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Chat, Familiar Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Dove, Laughing Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Eagle, Long-crested Fiscal, Common Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Greenbul, Sombre Hadedah, Ibis Hamerkop Heron, Black-headed Hoopoe, African Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied

Lapwing, Blacksmith Mannikin, Bronze Mannikin, Red-backed Martin, Brown-throated Mousebird, Speckled Plover, Three-banded Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Scrub-Robin, White-browed Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Stonechat, African Stork, Woolly-necked Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Thick-knee, Water Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Pied Warbler, Dark-capped Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Whydah, Pin-tailed Widow, Fan-tailed

All photos property of photographer

UPCOMING OUTING: Burchell's Coucal Eco Trail, 8 July 2018

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 8 July 07:00am BirdLife Trogons will visit the Burchell’s Coucal Eco Trail, close to Illovo.  Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  For this venue only we will follow a slightly different routine – Breakfast/coffee on arrival at the trail followed by the walk. 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.

Meet at the Shell Ultra City garage South Coast (N2 North, heading towards Durban, ie travelling from South to North) at 07:00 and we will travel in convoy from there

.

Kind regards
Hazel van Rooyen
Secretary
BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing report: Burchell's Coucal Eco Trail, Amanzimtoti - 12 November 2017

Attendees: Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Alastair Warman, Robin Eccles, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species: 62

Water Thicknee (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

The Burchell’s Coucal Eco Trail was a new venue for the club to try out and it certainly proved worth the effort.  It was quite easy to find and very safe, the entrance being in a business park with security.  We heard it was a 4km trail but it took us a good two hours to cover one and a half kilometres, there was so much to see.  

Little Bee-eater (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Southern Red Bishop (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

After signing into the business park, we drove around the back and parked on the banks of the Illovo River.  Next to the parking there was a grassy area and an open barn-type structure providing shelter and benches.  Approaching the river we disturbed a family of Water Thick-knees, which flew across the river, landing on a stony patch of sand on the opposite bank.  We spent a while scanning the river and quickly identified Little Bee-eater, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Southern Red Bishop and more.  Yellow-billed Kites were numerous, two or three at a time, swooping up and down the river looking for fish. 

African Fish Eagle (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Occasionally an African Fish Eagle would also fly over the river.  Proceeding through the gate onto the trail proper, Sandy identified the call of a cisticola as that of a Rattling Cisticola., while Bob spotted a Red-throated Wryneck.  

Red-throated Wryneck (photo Hazel Nevin)

In places short bamboo fences had been erected on hillocks, providing a simple hide-like view of the river where a large flock of Egyptian Geese with the odd White-breasted and Reed Cormorant rested on a sandbank.  Little Swifts, Lesser-striped and White-throated Swallows and Black Saw-wings performed their aerial acrobatics over the waterway. 

Lesser-striped Swallow (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Egyptian Geese (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Grey-headed Sparrow (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

After walking for quite a while we started to show signs of dehydration and returned to the business park, the barn provided an excellent shelter as the day had turned surprisingly sunny and hot.  After coffee we started up the trail again but one didn’t need to go far to see a variety of birds – Trumpeter Hornbill, House and Grey-headed Sparrow, Cape White-eye, Yellow-throated Longclaw, amongst others.

Yellow-throated Longclaw (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Klaas's Cuckoo (photo Hazel Nevin)

The mix of trees and grasses and the odd dead tree next to the sandy river created a wonderful habitat for a large variety of birds.  Black-headed and Grey Heron were spotted at the same time as Common Waxbill and Yellow-fronted Canary.  We enjoyed good sightings of both Diederik’s and Klaas’s Cuckoos and even saw the trail’s namesake, a Burchell’s Coucal.  Just as Sandy, Hazel and Alastair were leaving, Robin, who had been watching a Giant Kingfisher from the parking area, suddenly caught sight of a Fish Eagle which had caught a large fish.  Hazel Nevin got this shot of the Fish Eagle with its prey.

African Fish Eagle (photo Hazel Nevin)

Goliath Heron (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

After our picnic we called it a day but as we were leaving Robin spotted a Goliath Heron up the river on a sandbank and as we watched it tried to get some speed up to take off but changed its mind it seemed.  An entertaining end to an entertaining day! Thanks go to the guys who put photos on Andrew’s website, thereby bringing this gem to our attention.

For future reference there is a cafe open 7 days a week if anyone is in too much of a rush to bring food.

(All photos property of photographer)                                  Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 62

Barbet, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Bee-eater, Little Bishop, Southern Red Bulbul, Dark-capped Camaroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Cisticola, Rattling Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, White-breasted Coucal Burchell’s Cuckoo, Didericks Cuckoo, Klass’s Darter, African Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Duck, Yellow-billed Eagle, African Fish Firefinch, African Fiscal, Common Fly-catcher, Southern Black

Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Greenbull, Sombre Heron, Black-headed Heron, Goliath Heron, Grey Hornbill, Trumpeter Ibis, Hadedah Ibis, Sacred Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Pygmy Kite, Yellow-billed Lapwing, Blacksmith Longclaw, Yellow-throated Mousebird, Speckled Plover, 3-banded Prinia, Tawny-flanked Saw-wing, Black Sparrow, Grey-headed

Sparrow, House Swallow, Barn Swallow, Lesser-striped Swallow, White-throated Swift, Little Thick-knee, Water Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Pied Waxbill, Common Weaver, Cape Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Whydah, Pin-tailed Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Red-collared Wryneck, Red-throated