Bulwer away-trip, 26-30 November 2018 including Ashtonvale, Hela Hela, Highover, Sani Pass

Total Species identified: 102

Script: Hazel van Rooyen

Jackal Buzzard (photo Stan Culley)

Participants: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Stan & Val Culley, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Vic & Kay Neilson, and Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

View from Ashtonvale (photo: HvR)

A motley crew! (photo Sue Salthouse)

Red-chested Cuckoo (photo Stan Culley)

At the end of November 2018, 12 club members visited Ashtonvale Guest Farm for our Spring trip away.  On arrival, a pair of friendly Familiar Chats flitted in the garden of our house and became a “familiar” sight during our stay.  A small herd of cows and some donkeys grazed in the field next to us adding to the sense of peace of the rural scene of rolling hills and forestry.  The weather was threatening rain and so we contented ourselves with settling in and exploring the property and found a lovely place to braai on the garden patio which was next to an enclosed patio where we made ourselves comfortable each evening around a table tennis table to eat our supper.  Later we discovered a dining room but nobody seemed to mind our choice of eating-place!  Other birds seen on our way in and round about the farm were a Long-crested Eagle, Jackal Buzzard and Barn Swallows, amongst others (see list at end).

On Tuesday we added Speckled Mousebird, White-rumped Swift and a Red-chested Cuckoo which called incessantly from a forest across the field.  A 6am start found us en route to Hela Hela. 

View from Hela Hela

African Stonechat abounded on the telephone wires, while a Yellow-billed Kite and Jackal Buzzard graced the skies. 

Jackal Buzzard (photo: Stan Culley)

Cape Vulture (photo HvR)

Arriving at the farm gate a couple of Cape Vultures sailed curiously overhead.  We had called ahead to arrange a key from the Highover manager but a team of labourers were already busy moving recently logged trees.  Our target was the Black-rumped Buttonquail so we spread out to cover the grassland in the hope of flushing this special bird. 

Spread out to look for the Black-rumped Buttonquail

A slow walk of about 2 hours in 44 deg heat ensued, the only quails found being Common Quails.  We did disturb a Denham’s Bustard which was a nice sighting.  On returning to the vehicles, those who hadn’t managed more than 100 metres gleefully reported that the Black-rumped Buttonquail had flushed at their feet.  Some other species identified were African Black Swift, African Pipit, Rufous-naped Lark, Fan-tailed Widowbird, and Emerald Cuckoo.

Cape Batis (photo) HvR)

This was followed by a visit to Highover where we found a shady place to breakfast.  Green Wood-Hoopoe. Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Cape Batis, Bar-throated Apalis were noted, even though the bush was very very dry.  The accommodation looked quite run down which was a pity as we had enjoyed our previous stay so much.

On rising the next day our hopes for another early start dwindled as the heavy mist turned into rain.  We moved into the huge hotel lounge where the staff made us cosy with a roaring log fire as temperatures had dropped to 18 deg.  Barrie came to our rescue with a fun quiz – boys vs girls – which was won by the boys by half a point!  Around the hotel grounds we added Drakensburg Prinia, Hamerkop and Greater-striped Swallow and Ant-eating Chat to our Ashtonvale list
.

Ant-eating Chat (photo Stan Culley)

By this time it looked as if the weather was clearing so we took to our vehicles (doubling up as usual) and followed directions from Roberts to Comrie Dam.  We found an indentation that looked as if  it could have been a shallow dam sometime in the distant past but after travelling 15km over and above the 4km required, with no sign of water, we decided to turn around.  However, later on we thought we may have been hasty and should have continued along the dirt road.

African Olive Pigeons (photo Stan Culley)

So we moved on to the Marutswa Forest & Boardwalk, searching for the Orange Ground Thrush and Cape Parrot.  Close to the entrance a flock of African Olive Pigeons perched on a tall dead tree. The forest was lovely, wild gloxinias flowered at the foot of massive trees.  The boardwalks had sadly been trashed and some attractive, fairly new reception rooms at the entrance had been vandalised.  Very sad, what a waste.  Birdlife was scarce but we did at least hear the Orange Ground Thrush calling several times quite close by.  No sign of the Cape Parrot but Russell Hills, our host at Ashtonvale brought some of us up the next afternoon just before sunset to see them as they usually roost there.  He had recently taken an overseas film crew there with success. However, still no sign, maybe we left a little early – later I read the roosting times can be extended during misty weather.  Other birds heard in the forest were Sombre Greenbul, Knysna Turaco and Green-backed Cameroptera.  Stan also saw an African Harrier Hawk.

On some recently ploughed fields a flock of Blue Cranes, White Storks and two Grey Crowned Cranes foraged.

Brown-throated Martin (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Streaky-headed Seedeater (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

On Thursday we took a drive around the area and part-way up the Sani Pass.  We crossed a pretty river called the Polelwa, over which Brown-throated Martin and White-throated Swallows swooped.  Further on we spotted a Streaky-headed Seedeater, Levaillant’s Cisticola and a Red-necked Spurfowl, a Lifer for some.  

Red-necked Spurfowl (photo Stan Culley)

Giant Kingfisher (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Lake near Himeville (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

It was lovely to see Vic & Kay Neilson who are well and enjoying their retirement in Himeville, they joined in all the activities and send their kind regards to all the members they used to know.   Close to Himeville Vic & Kay took us to a pretty lake surrounded by exotic parkland, which was privately owned and maintained but open to the public.  Here we saw Little Grebe, Reed Cormorant, Common Moorhen, Giant Kingfisher, Red-knobbed Coot, and Brown-hooded Kingfisher.

When we reached the base of the Sani Pass we stopped off at the Giant Teacup where Vic arranged for us to trek up one of their trails.  Here we saw the Ground Woodpecker and Long-crested Eagle and around the tearoom were Olive Thrush, Drakensburg Prinia and Greater Double-collared Sunbird.

At Sani Pass major road works are happening and the going is very very slow.  Halfway up we pulled off for some lunch.  The scenery was amazing and the birdlife was good, especially considering the upheaval going on around. 

View of Sani Pass

Yellow Bishop (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Gurney's Sugarbird (photo Stan Culley)

Cape Canary (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Yellow Bishop, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Cape Canary, Red-collared Widowbird and Buff-streaked Chat kept us entertained.  On the drive back we passed a dam, close to Okhalweni Railway Station where we added Cape Shoveller, Black-winged Stilt, Whiskered Tern, Ruff, African Spoonbill, Shelduck, amongst others.

The owners of Ashtonvale Guest Farm, Russell and Carol Hills made us very welcome and if the accommodation stretched our imagination, the great company made up for it.  Thanks go to Russell and Carol for accommodating us and making us feel at home.  They have a great family holiday establishment with lots of animals including a friendly pot-bellied pig, milking cows, croquet, bowls, tennis and table tennis, a tiny chapel for weddings, plus a lovely swimming pool which cooled the writer down on the hottest of days.

Thanks again to one and all for another great trip.

Common (Steppe) Buzzard (photo Stan Culley)

 All photos copyright of photographer

Species identified: Apalis, Bar-throated; Barbet, Black-collared; Batis, Cape; Bishop, Southern Red; Bishop, Yellow; Bokmakierie; Boubou, Southern; Bulbul, Black-capped; Bustard, Denham’s; Buttonquail, Black-rumped; Buzzard, Common; Buzzard, Jackal; Cameroptera, Green-backed; Canary, Cape; Canary, Yellow-fronted; Chat, Ant-eating; Chat, Buff-streaked; Chat, Familiar; Cisticola, Levaillant’s ; Coot, Red-knobbed; Cormorant, Reed; Crane, Blue; Crane, Grey-crowned; Crow, Cape; Cuckoo, Black; Cuckoo, Emerald; Cuckoo, Red-chested; Darter, African; Drongo, Fork-tailed; Duck, Yellow-billed; Eagle, African Fish; Eagle, Crowned; Eagle, Long-crested; Egret, Great; Egret, Little; Fiscal, Common; Flycatcher, Dusky; Flycatcher, Paradise; Flycatcher, Southern Black; Goose, Egyptian; Grebe, Little; Greenbul, Sombre; Guineafowl, Helmeted; Hamerkop; Hawk, African Harrier; Heron, Black-headed; Ibis, Sacred (Polela River); Kingfisher, Brown-hooded; Kingfisher, Giant; Kite, Yellow-billed; Lapwing, Blacksmith; Lapwing, Wattled; Lark, Rufous-naped; Martin, Banded; Martin, Brown-throated; Moorhen, Common; Oriole, Black-headed; Pigeon, African Olive; Pipit, African; Prinia, Drakensburg; Prinia, Tawny-flanked; Puffback, Black-backed; Quelea, Red-billed; Raven, White-necked; Robin-Chat, Cape; Ruff; Seedeater, Streaky-headed; Shelduck; Shoveller, Cape; Sparrow, House; Spoonbill, African; Spurfowl, Red-necked; Starling, European; Stilt, Black-winged; Stonechat, African; Stork, White; Sugarbird, Gurney’s; Sunbird, Collared; Sunbird, Greater Double-collared; Sunbird, Olive; Sunbird, Southern Double-collared; Swallow, Greater-striped; Swallow, White-throated; Swift, African Black; Teal, Red-billed; Tern, Whiskered; Thrush, Olive; Thrush, Orange Ground; Turaco, Knysna; Vulture, Cape; Wagtail, Cape; Warbler, Yellow-throated Woodland; Waxbill, Common; Weaver, Cape; White-eye, Cape; Whydah, Pin-tailed; Widowbird, Fan-tailed; Widowbird, Long-tailed; Widowbird, Red-collared; Wood-hoopoe, Green; Woodpecker, Ground; Woodpecker, Olive.

Trip Away report- 24th-28th March 2014 Highover, Hela Hela

Text and photos by Andy Ruffle (unless otherwise credited)

Attendees: Doug & Angie Butcher; Stan & Val Culley; Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Margaret Jones, Cathy Lee, Andy Ruffle, Irma Smook, Bob van Rooyen, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury. (13 attendees).

Monday 24th March

Well there was absolutely no doubt that we had stumbled upon a little gem when we arrived at this delightful reserve. Access down the pass to the valley was a little hairy at times, but it was certainly worth it.
The accommodation was perfect and to top it all, Irma and I were kindly upgraded from the bunk house to a basic chalet.

One of the basic chalets

and this was the view from the basic chalet!!

Once everyone had settled in to their respective chalets, we took a short walk to find our bearings.
The braai was then lit and the evening faded in to a haze.

Tuesday 25th March

(Photo Doug Butcher)

Well rested, we were all up for an early morning walk through the camp site. The bush was alive and we soon started notching up a healthy bird list. Violet-backed Starlings gave us a nice show and an African Emerald Cuckoo could be heard calling in the distance.

In the afternoon we headed out on another walk which turned out to be slightly more adventurous than in the morning. The trail (or should I say Barrie) took us along the hillside and seemed to go up and up, with no prospect of it descending again.

a bit of a hike on this trail, but well worth the views

the tricky part, going back down

and safely back on terra firma

what a backdrop as the sun began to set

Wednesday 26th March

The vulture restaurant is behind us marked by a beacon
(Photo Doug Butcher)

Wednesday morning we arranged to drive up to the grasslands which form the upper part of the Highover property. Here we hoped to find buttonquail for Barrie and also Blue Swallow if it was still around.
As we parked our cars, we noticed a rather pungent smell, which to me was very familiar - dead animal. We were right next to an apparent vulture restaurant.

searching for the grassland specials

Mkomazi River Valley
(Photo Doug Butcher)

Scouring the pristine grasslands proved fruitless for the buttonquail and African Grass-Owl, the grass probably being too short for the latter.

LBJ's were a plenty, giving us brief views and then darting for cover. Wailing Cisticola and Neddicky were the only two we could positively identify.

Hirundines were in full force also. White-rumped Swift, African Black Swift, Rock Martin, Alpine Swift, Black Saw-wing and Barn Swallow all being seen.

We weren't to be disappointed by the Blue Swallows either, with atleast three individuals seen swooping through the ravines.

The wildlife went to Andy's head.
Here he is sporting a Springbok skull.
(Photo Doug Butcher)

The views from the grasslands was absolutely stunning. Great debate was had, trying to work out where our camp was. It was only when we returned back to the main reserve that we realised it was directly under where we had been standing looking out.

The rest camp is located directly below this cliff edge

Back at Highover, some of us decided to take a look at the Lodge situated near the reception. The start of a trail was noticed here, so we couldn't resist checking it out.
Although we didn't get far due to the increasing heat of the day, the spectacle of butterflies on this walk was amazing. At one point you felt like you had died and gone to heaven.....there were so many butterflies flying around.

two male Dusky Acraea having a bit of a dual

In the afternoon, we took a walk along the river and the SAPPI Tree Trail.

alongside the river

scanning the adjacent hillsides

Zebra and Wildebeest on the far hills - honestly they are there

The Mkomazi River

Thursday 27th March

So far we had been blessed with glorious weather, but as morning broke, things were about to change.

low cloud with rain, shrouds the valley

Low cloud and rain had set in and it didn't look as though it was going anywhere. Our plans for the morning were therefore put on hold.
But for every cloud there is a silver lining and the group were treated to a charming display by three beautiful butterflies....................well..........

can they really be angels?

Luckily, by early afternoon conditions had improved for us to do a walk. Once again we headed through the camping area to a lovely vantage point by the river.

Stan is looking for an elusive Terrestrial Brownbul 

Mkomazi River from the camping site

and so ends another trip away

farewell Jane
(Photo Doug Butcher)

(Photo Doug Butcher)

(Photo Doug Butcher)

Friday 28th March

Another wonderful trip away came to an end. We had some good birding in a gem of a setting.
A must for a return trip we think.

Highover website: http://www.highover.co.za/index.htm

Birds recorded: (Mon afternoon) Black-headed Heron, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Long-crested Eagle, Amur Falcon, Cape Glossy Starling, Southern Black Flycatcher, Cape Wagtail, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Crow, Mountain Wagtail, (Tuesday) Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Hamerkop, African Dusky Flycatcher, African Hoopoe, Cape Batis, Southern Black Tit, Dark-capped Bulbul, Village Weaver, Black-shouldered Kite, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Cape White-eye, Hadeda Ibis, African Sacred Ibis, Crowned Hornbill, Egyptian Goose, Olive Thrush, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Natal Spurfowl, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Green-backed Camaroptera, Sombre Greenbul, Bar-throated Apalis, Southern Boubou, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Cape Turtle-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, African Emerald Cuckoo, Violet-backed Starling, Kurrichane Thrush, Yellow-fronted Canary, Ashy Flycatcher, Red-throated Wryneck, Black-collared Barbet, Terrestrial Brownbul, Dark-backed Weaver, Black Cuckooshrike, Forest Canary, Fork-tailed Drongo, Spectacled Weaver, African Pied Wagtail, Black-backed Puffback, Cardinal Woodpecker, Knysna Turaco, African Olive-Pigeon, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Fish-Eagle, Spotted Eagle-Owl, (Wednesday) African Firefinch, African Stonechat, Common Waxbill, Red-winged Starling, Rock Martin, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Wailing Cisticola, Blue Swallow, Speckled Pigeon, Black Saw-wing, Rock Kestrel, Alpine Swift, Barn Swallow, Neddicky, White-rumped Swift, Common Fiscal, White-necked Raven, African Black Swift, Cape Longclaw, African Harrier-Hawk, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Collared Sunbird, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Olive Bush-Shrike, Black-crowned Tchagra, Giant Kingfisher, Thick-billed Weaver, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, (Thursday) White-breasted Cormorant, Speckled Mousebird, African Crowned Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, Grey Cuckooshrike, Olive Sunbird, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove. (94 species).