Outing Report: Culley Dam, 27 October 2019

A quiet corner of the dam  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Attending: Stan & Val Culley, Doug & Angie Butcher, Martin & Lia Steen, Nick Dreyer & Teresa Smith, Danie & Bella du Toit, Derek & Edith Megson, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Margaret & Richard, Hazel van Rooyen (17)

Species identified: 60 (listed below)                                                                              Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                                         Photos: Doug Butcher, Hazel van Rooyen, Lia Steen

Sunday 27^th October dawned sunny and rain-free despite a dodgy weather forecast and 15 eager birders arrived at the Culley’s for our outing.  

Sombre Greenbul (photo Lia Steen)

White-faced Whistling Ducks a-waiting  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

The forest behind their property is usually busy with birdlife at that time of the morning but today was fairly still with only a Sombre Greenbul and Cape Robin-Chat calling plus a Natal Spurfowl screeching a warning of our presence.

Yellow Weaver (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Yellow Weaver (photo: Doug Butcher)

Making our way to the dams, we noticed they were drying out, awaiting the summer rains.  Stan has recently completed another hide in a spot favoured in the past by some rarities.  Meanwhile the Spur-winged Goose juveniles were being shepherded by their parents and numerous White-faced Ducks were waiting for their morning treat of seed from Stan. 

Fork-tailed Drongo (photo: Doug Butcher)

Purple Heron  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

 

Black Crake  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Black Crake chick (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Great Egret (photo: Doug Butcher)

Thick-billed Weaver (photo: Doug Butcher)

 Taking a slow meander around the dam, pausing at the hides to examine the wetlands for waterfowl and waders, we identified Common Moorhen, Reed Cormorant, Great and Yellow-billed Egrets, Little Rush Warbler, Purple Heron, Black Crake and African Jacana.  Flitting amongst the reeds were Lesser Swamp Warbler, Thick-billed and Yellow Weaver and Fan-tailed Widowbird.

African Jacana  (photo: Lia Steen)

Bronze Mannikin (photo: Lia Steen)

After breakfast on Val’s patio, some people elected to climb the hill whilst others decided the birdlife amongst the indigenous flowers and shrubs from the patio was more their style whilst the indefatigable Lia re-visited the forest area coming up with Green Wood-hoopoe, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Little Bittern, Common Waxbill, Giant Kingfisher, Paradise Flycatcher, Long-crested Eagle and African Fish Eagle, amongst others.

Fan-tailed Widowbird (photo: Lia Steen)

Common Waxbill  (photo: Lia Steen)

A slow trudge up the hill produced Purple-crested Turaco, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Jackal Buzzard, Fork-tailed Drongo.  Clearwater dam was disappointing as it is in the process of being significantly enlarged but still showed Red-knobbed Coot, Common Moorhen and Spur-winged Geese.

Giant Kingfisher  (photo: Lia Steen)

This was followed by a relaxing afternoon with a braai on the patio, at the same time rugby fans followed the Boks in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.  Thanks to all who participated.

Relaxing on the patio (photo: Doug Butcher)

Species identified: 60

Barbet, Black-collared Bittern, Little Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Black-capped Bushshrike, Grey-headed Buzzard, Jackal Camaroptera, Green-backed Coot, Red-knobbed Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Crake, Black Crow, Pied Cuckoo, Klaas’s Drongo, Fork-tailed Duck, White-faced Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Long-crested Egret, Great Egret, Yellow-billed Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Greenbul, Sombre Heron, Purple Hornbill, Trumpeter Jacana, African Kingfisher, Brown-headed Kingfisher, Giant Kite, Yellow-billed

Longclaw, Yellow-throated Moorhen, Common Mousebird, Speckled Pigeon, African Green Pipit, Plain-backed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Puffback, Black-backed Robin-Chat Cape Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Spurfowl, Natal Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Starling, Violet-backed Sunbird, Olive Swift, Palm Swift, White-rumped Tchagra, Black-crowned Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Cape Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Little Rush Waxbill, Common Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Whydah, Pin-tailed Widowbird, Fan-tailed Woodhoopoe, Green

All photos property of photographer

UPCOMING OUTING: Culley's Dam - 27 October 2019

African Pygmy-Goose

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 27 October 6.30am BIRDLIFE TROGONS will visit Culley’s Dam, Port Edward.  Bring chairs, breakfast & 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 (072 355 8837)  or visit the blog. 

PLEASE LET HAZEL KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING.

Directions: Take N2 (old R61) to Port Edward. Turn right at the robots to iZingolweni. Meet at Banners 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

Kind regards

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

UPCOMING OUTING: Culley Dam - 11 November 2018

Little Bittern (photo: Stan Culley)

Dear Members and Friends

Sunday 11 November 6.30am. BIRDLIFE TROGONS will visit Culley’s Dam, Port Edward.

Bring chairs, breakfast & 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 Val before setting off.  For further details telephone Val Culley on 072 550 8303

or visit the blog.  ** Please note we cannot respond to text messages or “call me” requests.

PLEASE LET VAL KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING

Take R61 to Port Edward. Turn right at the robots to iZingolweni. Meet at Banners Rest Bottle 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

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing Report: Culley's Dam and Old Pont, Umtamvuna River Walk - 22 October 2017

Culley's Dam (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Attendees:  Stan & Val Culley, Margie & Clive Cowan, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Richard & Margaret, Alastair Warman, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Doug & Angie Butcher, Irma Smook, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Danie & Bella du Toit, Dave Bishop & Barbaroza Bernaldo, Eric Kok, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (23)

Species:  59 (see below)                                                  Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Happily we were blessed with a beautiful sunny morning for our outing last Sunday.  Having met up at Banners Rest, we proceeded, for a change, down towards the Old Pont where we walked through primeval riverine forest, which had somehow managed to grow amidst massive boulders that had tumbled down the bank of the gorge over millennia.

 
Bobby led the way, fending off the spider webs with a long stick.  Most of the many different trees were labelled and trail directions were clearly marked by pretty pottery signs.

At the entrance a Crowned Hornbill flew over to see if we had anything tasty for it (no) and a Water Thick-knee family used a quiet corner of the adjacent complex as their home base. 

Water Thick-knee (photo: Doug Butcher)

A Burchell’s Coucal glug, glug, glugged in the distance while a Black-collared Barbet doo-puddlied close by.  Our presence startled a pair of Yellow-billed Ducks which flew off the river in a panic but the forest was very quiet.  Maybe the birds hadn’t returned since the river broke its banks two weeks ago.

We walked as far as the bridge and returned via the other half of the circular route which was a bit more open and sunny.  Here, a Green-backed Camaroptera was unusually visible, issuing its penetrating call from high in the top of a tree.  It kindly stayed while the photographers clicked happily away.

Green-backed Camaroptera (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Green-backed Camaroptera (photo: Doug Butcher)

Woolly-necked Storks (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Moving on to Culley Dam, we made ourselves comfortable on Stan & Val’s patio for our breakfast.  A Black Cuckoo called nearby “I’m so sad”.  Eric had arrived earlier and was keen to tell me all the birds he had seen, which included an African Darter and Black Crake.  These had made themselves scarce by the time we arrived.  But we did have the lovely sight of a graceful flock of nine Woolly-necked Storks circling over the dam.  Other birds seen were Little Rush Warbler, Hamerkop, Malachite Kingfisher and Common Waxbills entertained us swinging on the grasses.

Common Waxbill (photo: Doug Butcher)

Common Waxbills (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

After a great morning of bird-spotting in and out of the hides, we relaxed with a hearty braai, kindly made by Stanley and Barrie – with a little help from their friends, of course.

The Braai Masters - Stanley & Barrie (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Pin-tailed Whydah (photo: Doug Butcher

Lunch on Val's patio (photo: Doug Butcher)

Umtamvuna NR (24)

Culley Dam (35)

Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Camaroptera, Green-backed Coucall, Burchell’s Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Duck, Yellow-billed Goose, Egyptian Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Trumpeter Kite, Yellow-billed Mousebird, Speckled Oriole, Black-headed Robin-Chat, Red-capped Starling, Black-bellied Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Olive Thick-knee, Water Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Turaco, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Weaver, Village

Canary, Yellow-fronted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, White-fronted Crake, Black Cuckoo, Black Darter, African Dove Red-eyed Firefinch, African Goose Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Greenbul, Sombre Hamerkop Hornbill, Trumpeter Kingfisher Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Longclaw, Yellow-throated Mannikin Red-backed Mannikin, Bronze Oriole, Black-headed Prinia Tawny-flanked Sparrow, Grey-headed Stork, Woolly-necked Swallow, Lesser-striped Swallow, White-throated Swift African Palm Swift White-rumped Warbler, Little Rush Waxbill, Common Weaver Spectacled Weaver, Cape Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow Whydah, Pin-tailed Widowbird, Fan-tailed

All photographs property of photographer