Outing Report: Bushbuck Trail, Southbroom - 24 March 2019

Attendees: Margie Cowan, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Sue & Graham Salthouse, Jona Jacobs, Mike Lavin, Doug Butcher, Robin Eccles, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (11)

White-fronted Plover (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Species identified (25)                                                                Text: Hazel van Rooyen

A beautiful sunny day greeted this morning’s Trogons club outing and while we waited for everyone to arrive at our meeting point, the first birds we saw was a flock of seven Trumpeter Hornbills.  Moving on down to the trail, we were greeted by the usual cock-a-doodle-do in this area – always a friendly sound but not quite what we were looking for. 

Crossing the grassland we noticed that a super jungle gym had been erected for visiting children – sorry pensioners, only under 12’s allowed!  At the tennis club, we also observed that new brick braais had been built and the verandah had been extended.  You could see a lot of hard work had been put into the garden which had improved the overall look and the examples of indigenous flora were growing well.  Most interesting too.

The Bushbuck trail was quiet except for the continuous pop-pop-pop of the Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird.  A sunny patch of bush produced Bronze and Red-backed Mannikins plus Paradise Flycatcher and more activity was seen when we came out of the forest on to the sunny road.  Here we saw Cape White-eye, Sombre Greenbul, Speckled Mousebird, Black-collared Barbet and White-eared Barbet amongst others.

Black-collared Barbet (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

After breakfast we wandered across the road, over the golf course to the beach and along the Frederika Trail.  We were brought to an abrupt halt where a large tree had fallen across the path and had to back-track, there was no getting over or under that. A helpful young man said he would organise a clean-up operation, it had probably happened as a result of the strong winds we had been experiencing recently, the tail end of Cyclone Idai.  Back on the beach Robin spotted two White-fronted Plovers huddled in a sheltered nook atop an outcrop of rocks.  At our approach they flew off on to the sand and stood with their eyes closed against the windswept beach.  I felt sorry we had disturbed them.

White-fronted Plovers (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

As it was getting very hot we decided to return to the shade by the tennis club and held a short committee meeting.  Doug and Robin visited the whale deck but didn’t get any further sightings.

It was a bit of a disappointing day bird-wise but wonderful to get out in the fresh air with good company.  Thanks to everyone.

Species identified:

Barbet, Black-collared

Barbet, White-eared

Bulbul, Dark-capped

Crowned, Trumpeter

Dove, Red-eyed

Flycatcher, Paradise

Goose, Egyptian

Greenbul, Sombre

Hornbill, Trumpeter

Ibis, Hadedah

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Mannikin, Bronze

Mannikin, Red-backed

Mousebird, Speckled

Puffback, Black-backed

Starling, Red-wing

Sunbird, Collared

Sunbird, Olive

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Turaco, Knysna

Turaco, Purple-crested

Waxbill, Common

Weaver, Spectacled

White-eye, Cape

Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

TROGONS UPCOMING OUTING - Bushbuck Trail, Southbroom

Dear Members and Friends

Trumpeter Hornbill (photo: Stan Culley)

Sunday 24 March at 6.30am BirdLife Trogons will visit Bushbuck Trail, Southbroom.  Bring chairs, breakfast and a PICNIC lunch (no braai). ALL WELCOME.  There is a R20 pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel on 072 355 8837 before setting off.  For further details  visit the blog.

PLEASE LET HAZEL KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING BY FRIDAY 

From the R61 turn at the robots and meet near the entrance to Southbroom North

Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 54 45.9  E30 18 46.3

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

TROGONS OUTING REPORT - Bushbuck Trail, Southbroom, 25 June 2017

Attending:  Doug & Angie Butcher, Alistair Warman, Robin Eccles, Danie du Toit, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Eric Kok, Dave Bishop, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Species: 35 (see end)

 

On arrival at the Bushbuck Trail, a cock crowed loudly close by, somehow befitting the wintry morning.   Although the sun was just reaching the top-most branches of the forest trees, nobody had, as yet, told the birds.  Stepping into the forest the visibility was poor, all was quiet and a bit eerie – a rustle amongst the carpet of leaves on the forest floor, a twig breaking.  Just the occasional bird called – Red-eyed Dove, Sombre Greenbul, Red-capped Robin-Chat, White-browed Scrub-Robin but they were still in hiding following their night’s slumber.  

However, on emerging into the sunshine, it was as though someone had opened a door and turned on the light.  We stood enthralled as first a Purple-crested Turaco flew from the low branches of a tree in an almost slow-mo  flash of red wings, then Collared, Amethyst and Olive Sunbirds flitted like jewels in the shrubbery and a Southern Black Flycatcher swooped down in an arc on a tasty morsel barely landing to pick it up.  Suddenly a flock of about 20 Trumpeter Hornbill’s flew in, and they entertained us for quite a while flying in and out of the trees, emitting their baby-like calls.

 

Trumpeter Hornbill (photo: Doug Butcher)

Trumpeter Hornbill (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Trumpeter Hornbill (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Glossy Starling (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Strolling along the road, we passed the most wonderful gardens with one in particular like a fairy-glade.  Black-backed Puffback, Cardinal Woodpecker, Glossy Starling, Black-collared Barbet and Yellow-fronted Canary and more put in an appearance.

Eventually arriving back at the carpark (we were on a new road) we were enjoying our coffee when Dave noticed some African Green Pigeons high up in a monkey-puzzle tree.  They were still fluffed up against the cold.

African Green Pigeon (photo: Doug Butcher)

African Green Pigeon (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

At this point some folk left for other engagements while Angie & Doug and others braved the beach.  The White-fronted Plover didn’t let us down and scurried around busily but otherwise the beach was lonely and even the dolphins were out too far to photograph.

White-fronted Plover (photo: Doug Butcher)

A quiet morning, but lots of enthusiasm.  Thanks everyone.

“Let no-one cage who you were born to be”

(Photos property of photographer) 

Species: 35

Apalis Bar-throated Barbet Black-collared Boubou Southern Bulbul Black-capped Bulbul Terrestrial Canary Yelow-fronted Dove Red-eyed Drongo Fork-tailed Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Southern Black Greenbul Sombre Hoopoe African

Hornbill Trumpeter Kingfisher Brown-hooded Mousebird Speckled Pied Wagtail Pigeon African Green Prinia Tawny-flanked Puff-back Black-backed Robin-Chat Red-capped Scrub-Robin White-browed Starling Black-bellied Starling Glossy Starling Red-wing

Stork Woolly-necked Sunbird Amethyst Sunbird Collared Sunbird Grey Sunbird Olive Tinkerbird Yellow-rumped Turaco Knysna Turaco Purple-crested Weaver Southern Masked Weaver Spectacled Woodpecker Cardinal

Trogons Outing Report - Bushbuck Trail, Southbroom, 12 June 2016

Text: Val Culley

Attendees: Stan & Val Culley, Doug & Angie Butcher, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Clive & Margie Cowan, Ron & Elaine Whitham

Ten folk turned out on Sunday morning at Southbroom and even though there weren’t the usual number of birds (39 species recorded) we had a nice time.  The weather wasn’t too cold as there was no wind and quite sunny at times.

Before breakfast we walked right through the forest and into the small reserve just over the road. That was quiet though and with the stream being totally dry there weren’t as many birds around as usual.   

While we were sat having coffee  a huge flock of Trumpeter Hornbills flew overhead – there must have been 60+ – tried to count them but had to give up! 

 

Breakfast-time (Photo: Doug Butcher)

White-fronted Plovers (Photo: Stan Culley)

After our break we went across the golf course to the beach but didn’t walk as far along as to the viewing deck.  On the beach White-fronted Plovers were taking a break on the rocks instead of their usual scurryings.  Stan pointed out that both birds are in breeding plumage, the one of the left probably being the male.  But this is quite a variable species with five races being recognized so can look different again in other parts of Southern Africa. 

Doug & Angie and Clive & Margie had to leave early so there were just 6 of us for lunch which was enjoyable as usual.  

Birds recorded (39 species)

Red-capped Robin-Chat;  Hadeda Ibis;  Fork-tailed Drongo; Dark-capped Bulbul;  Golden-tailed Woodpecker;  Red-eyed Dove; Sombre Greenbul;  Olive Sunbird;  Tambourine Dove;  Egyptian Goose; Square-tailed Drongo;  Purple-crested Turaco;  Southern Boubou; Black-collared Barbet;  Dark-backed Weaver;  Ashy Flycatcher; Dusky Flycatcher;  Cape White-eye;  Black-bellied Starling; Collared Sunbird; Grey Sunbird;  Trumpeter Hornbill;  Lemon Dove; Knysna Turaco;  Amethyst Sunbird;  Red-winged Starling;  Spectacled Weaver;  Black-headed Oriole;  African Green-Pigeon; Tawny-flanked Prinia;  Bronze Mannikin;  Woolly-necked Stork; Cape Gannet;  White-fronted Plover;  Kelp Gull;  Giant Kingfisher; Blacksmith Lapwing;  African Crowned Eagle; Crowned Hornbill

All photographs copyright of owner