Outing report: Empisini Nature Reserve, 10 June 2018

Attendees: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Stan & Val Culley, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Danie & Bella du Toit, Robin Eccles & Hanli Kloppers, Alastair Warman & family, Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Jonathan Davidson, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (19)

Species: 44                                                               Text: Hazel van Rooyen

We had a good turnout of 19 folk for this once-popular venue.  On arrival we noticed that the reserve had received a lot of attention in recent weeks with pathways being cleared and streams being opened up to drain the reed beds clogging up the wetland.  The wooden huts were a sad sight though – completely broken down with two guys finishing the job, removing the remaining decking and floor boards.

Our first walk up the centre of the reserve produced the most birds of the day, 39.  Some of the species seen were Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Sombre Greenbul, Black-backed Puffback, Black-headed Oriole, Olive Sunbird, a lonely Red-backed Mannikin, plus the usual doves, bulbuls, starlings and barbets (see end).  At the top, not being sure where the pathway went or how long it was, we decided to return the same way.

 

After some welcome coffee and sustenance, we embarked on a walk over the other side of the river.  It looked OK but some of us more mature ladies were appreciative of a strong helping hand from the gentlemen over some soggy riverlets.  No-one ended up getting wet fortunately.  However, this forest patch was quiet, as was the rest of the walk up the side of the reserve, although a Fiery-necked Nightjar was glimpsed by some.  This was very steep and a few decided to return to the picnic spot and wait for the birds to come to them.  An African Fish Eagle and Black Sparrowhawk did show themselves in the skies.  Otherwise the reserve had quietened down and all that remained was for to us to enjoy our braai in the winter sunshine.  Apologies for the lack of photos, it was just not a photo opportunity sort of day.

Species identified: 44

Barbet, Black-collared

Barbet, Crested

Barbet, White-eared

Boubou, Southern

Brownbul, Terrestrial

Bulbul, Black-capped

Cormorant, White-breasted

Dove, Red-eyed

Dove, Tambourine

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Drongo, Square-tailed

Eagle, African Fish

Fly-catcher, Dusky

Flycatcher, Southern Black

Goose, Egyptian

Greenbul, Sombre

Greenbul, Yellow-bellied

Hamerkop

Hornbill, Crowned

Hornbill, Trumpeter

Ibis, Hadedah

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Mannikin, Red-backed

Nightjar, Fiery-necked

Oriole, Black-headed

Puffback, Black-backed

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

Shrike, Grey-headed Bush Shrike

Sparrowhawk, Black

Spurfowl, Natal

Starling, Black-bellied

Starling, Red-winged

Sunbird, Amethyst

Sunbird, Collared

Sunbird, Olive

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Tit, Southern Black Tit

Turaco, Purple-crested

Warbler, Little Rush

Weaver, Dark-backed

Weaver, Spectacled

Weaver, Thick-billed

Wood-hoopoe, Green

Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

UPCOMING OUTING - Empisini NR, Umkomaas - 28 August 2016

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Sunday 28 August 7.00am BirdLife Trogons will visit Empisini NR, Umkomaas. 

Bring chairs, breakfast & something to braai for lunch.

ALL WELCOME.  There is a R20 pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons.

Outings may be cancelled due to weather,  phone Sandy Olver on 083 796 1869 if in doubt before setting off.

 

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

 

PLEASE LET SANDY KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING THE OUTING

 

Take the Umkomaas off-ramp from the N2 and meet at the roadside just over the bridge.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 12 30.2   E30 46 35.3

 

This blog will be silent for a month but will re-activate at the end of September.  Notices of outings will appear in the local press and be emailed to members by Val Culley.

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing report- 9th August 2015 Empisini Nature Reserve, Umkomaas

Text and photos by Hazel van Rooyen

Attendees: Stan & Val Culley, Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Stanley Gengan, Eric Kok, Bob and Hazel van Rooyen.  We were joined by Port Natal members: Tina Haine; Annette Adams; Sandi du Preez and Ros Conrad. (12 attendees).

African Dusky Flycatcher

Arriving at Empisini, four members from Port Natal Club were waiting for us and eager to spot some birds.
We began with the walk straight ahead, which slowly inclined upwards affording some lovely views of the tree tops across the stream which trickled below.  Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Thick-billed Weaver, Olive Sunbird, White-eared Barbet and Dusky Flycatcher abounded.  A Brown Scrub-Robin sang a solo from an opera whilst competing with the Dark-backed Weaver (known in Afrikaans as the Forest Musician).  A Black Cuckooshrike flitted in the tree-tops, Olive, Orange-breasted and Gorgeous Bush-Shrikes were also sighted and a Collared Sunbird dipped into a profusion of provocatively perfumed September Bells flowers (Rothmannia Globosa).

September Bells flowers
Rothmannia Globosa

The Trogons decided their coffee was calling whilst the Port Natal ladies were made of hardier stuff and continued with their walk.  Back at the picnic site a host of Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds were breakfasting on an abundance of fruit from a magnificent fig tree with the occasional White-eared Barbet getting a look-in.  Long-crested and Crowned Eagles made a fly-past, whilst a Yellow-billed Kite performed its diagnostic tail-twisting flight movements.  For most of us this was a welcome first sighting of the season after their migration back to our shores from their winter habitat in warmer African climes.

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird & Cape White-eye

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Sadly the dam which used to be the home of water-fowl is now completely choked with reeds but we took a walk around it and on the far bank we were happy to identify a Brown-backed Honeybird with its crickety-call.

Brown-backed Honeybird

On our return, the braai-fire had been lit and soon we were all munching away, except Team Port Natal who eventually trudged in to join us, weary but pleased to add Lesser-striped Swallow and Black-backed Puff-back to our list.

Thank you to the Port Natal Club ladies who were very knowledgeable and jolly good spotters!

Birds recorded: (Supplied by Sandy Olver) Bar-throated Apalis, Black-collared Barbet, White-eared Barbet, Southern Boubou, Terrestrial Brownbul, Dark-capped Bulbul, Gorgeous Bush-shrike, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Olive Bush-shrike, Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, Green-backed Camaroptera, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Drongo, African Crowned Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, African Fish-eagle, African Dusky Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Spur-winged Goose, Sombre Greenbul, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Brown-backed Honeybird, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Crowned Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Hadeda Ibis, Yellow-billed Kite, Bronze Mannikin, Red-backed Mannikin, Black-headed Oriole, African Paradise-flycatcher, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Black-backed Puff-back, Red-billed Quelea, Red-capped Robin-chat, Brown Scrub-robin, Natal Spurfowl, Amethyst Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Grey Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, White-bellied Sunbird, Lesser Striped Swallow, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Southern Black Tit, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Turaco, Little Rush-Warbler, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Cape White-eye, Golden-tailed Woodpecker. (59 species)

Outing report- 3rd August 2014 Empisini Nature Reserve

Photos by Hazel van Rooyen

Attendees: Stanley Gengan, Hazel Nevin, Sandy Olver, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen. (5 attendees).

Not a very big turnout, but some excellent birding was had.
Good sightings of Narina Trogon, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Grey Cuckooshrike and African Wood-Owl.

African Wood-Owl

Grey Cuckooshrike

Narina Trogon

Spotted Ground-Thrush

Birds recorded: Sombre Greenbul, Natal Spurfowl, Dark-capped Bulbul, Southern Boubou, Spectacled Weaver, Hadeda Ibis, Green-backed Camaroptera, Black-headed Oriole, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Dove, Brown Scrub-Robin, Olive Sunbird, Hamerkop, Cape White-eye, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Purple-crested Turaco, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Grey Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, African Dusky Flycatcher, Collared Sunbird, Burchell's Coucal, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Black-collared Barbet, Crested Barbet, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, African Wood-Owl, Narina Trogon, Square-tailed Drongo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Lesser Honeyguide, Black-backed Puffback, African Firefinch, Grey Cuckooshrike, Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike, Thick-billed Weaver, Terrestrial Brownbul, Southern Black Tit, Woolly-necked Stork, Bronze Mannikin. (45 species) (List supplied by Sandy Olver).

Outing report- 14th October 2012 Empisini Nature Reserve

Attendees : Eric Kok; Andrew Pickles; Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Irma Smook; Doug & Angie Butcher; Stan & Val Culley; Caryl Lowe. (10 attendees) 

 

Birds recorded:- Hamerkop,  Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike,  Lesser Striped Swallow,  Burchell’s Coucal, Hadeda Ibis,  African Goshawk,  Village Weaver,  Olive Sunbird,  Cape White-eye, Dark-capped Bulbul,  Black-backed  Puffback,  African  Paradise-Flycatcher,  Common Myna, Square-tailed Drongo,  Fork-tailed Drongo,  Little Rush-Warbler,  Red-eyed Dove, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird,  Purple-crested Turaco,  Sombre Greenbul,  Yellow Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver,  Thick-billed Weaver,  Georgeous Bush-Shrike (H),  Narina Trogon (H), Tambourine Dove,  Scaley-throated Honeyguide (H),  Golden-tailed Woodpecker,  Cattle Egret, Yellow-bellied Greenbul,  Black-headed Oriole,  Olive Thrush,  Blacksmith Lapwing, Red-capped Robin-Chat,  Tawny-flanked Prinia,  Black-collared Barbet,  Green Malkoha (H), Bar-throated Apalis,  Black-bellied Starling,  Yellow-billed Kite,  Spur-winged Goose, Egyptian Goose,  Wood Sandpiper,  Southern Grey-headed Sparrow,  Pied Crow, Mountain Wagtail,  Brown-throated Martin,  Red-fronted Tinkerbird,  Grey Waxbill, Knysna Turaco,  Speckled Mousebird,  Brown Scrub-Robin,  Green Wood-Hoopoe, Grey Sunbird,  White-bellied Sunbird,  Amethyst Sunbird,  Natal Spurfowl,  Brimstone Canary, Yellow-fronted Canary,  Southern Boubou,  Woolly-necked Stork,  Southern Red Bishop, Bronze Mannikin,  Fan-tailed Widowbird,  Long-crested Eagle,  African Crowned Eagle, African Fish-Eagle,  Black-chested Snake-Eagle,  Lesser Honeyguide. (69 species)