Outing report: Ingeli Forest & Harding for summer CWAC - 14 January 2018

Attendees:       Stan & Val Culley, Danie & Bella du Toit, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species:           50                                           Text & Photos: Hazel van Rooyen

 

Black-winged Lapwing

Our first outing of the year was quite ambitious – Ingeli Forest, checking for Cape Parrots and Blue Swallows and the Summer CWAC but six of us gave it a good shot.  After a long drive in very misty conditions we met up at Ingeli Forest Lodge (now called Anew Hotel Ingeli Forest & Spa).  Whilst greeting, we saw Long-crested Eagle, Cape Robin-Chat, Amethyst Sunbird, Jackal Buzzard, Olive Pigeon & Grey Crowned Cranes.  The weather suddenly changed, the sun evaporated the mist and we had blue blue skies for the rest of the day - gorgeous!

We proceeded into the forest to check out our favourite spots.  First up was a little cut-away section which was usually full of little birds but now was quiet except for the incessant call of a bird imitating the “pretty Georgie” call of the Emerald Cuckoo – a hoarse Red-capped Robin-Chat, Val suggested!  In the meantime a Red-chested Cuckoo called its repetitive “Piet my vrou” and not to be outdone a Black Cuckoo joined in with its prettier song. 

Moving deeper into the forest, Purple-crested and Knysna Turacos flapped about in the tree canopy, flashing their red wings.  In this part of the woods the Yellowwoods were massive, putting you in mind of more ancient times.  The Cape Chestnuts made a lovely show of their abundant pink blossoms. 

 

Cape Chestnut

Settling down for breakfast a Bar-throated Apalis proved quite friendly and Stan identified an African Harrier Hawk sailing in the skies.

Bar-throated Apalis

Our next stop was at a small dam which was beginning to look more like a young forest it was so full of saplings but the little stream was gurgling strongly away and looked healthy.  Living here were Little Rush Warbler, African Yellow Warbler (old name Dark-capped Yellow warbler), Tawny-flanked Prinia, Drakensberg Prinia, Common Waxbill and an elusive Bush Black-cap.

African Yellow Warbler

Bush Black-cap

Staying on this dirt track we passed the workers’ homes, which marked the tree spot where the parrot boxes had been installed a few years ago.  Now there was no sign of the boxes and even some of the trees were no longer there.

Still continuing along this track, Val led us back to the tarred road and eventually stopped for us to survey the field where the Blue Swallows used to nest.  Stan scoped it but we could already see there were no hirundines of any description and he identified only a single Croaking Cisticola on the fence and some Fan-tailed Widowbirds.

 

Harding Dam

Arriving at Harding Dam we were alarmed to note the number of local weekend fishermen and their families, plus someone even launching a jet ski on the opposite side (perfect day for it though!).  All these would surely have an effect on the birdlife, either chase it away or send it into hiding.  The view from the road, even with the scope, was rather dismal but once down at the water’s edge Stan began to tot up some numbers but nothing like the usual count.  We erected the gazebo (thank goodness because the heat was intense by this time) and enjoyed our braaied lunch.  During the course of our count we were questioned by a security company but when we explained our purpose and that we were authorised by the farmer who had been notified of our impending visit, they were happy.  They also questioned the jetski family who confirmed they were the owners of the land on the other side which gave them rights of access.

Waterbirds seen were Yellow-billed Duck, Red-knobbed Coot, Spurwing Goose, Goliath Heron, Egyptian Goose, Common Moorhen, Grey Heron, Wood Sandpiper, White-breasted Cormorant, African Fish Eagle and 3-banded Plover.  A full report will be sent out later.  Other species seen were Barn Swallow, Red Bishop, Pin-tailed Whydah and Black-winged Lapwing.

It was an enjoyable and relaxing day.  Thanks for your efforts.

Species

Ingeli Forest: Apalis, Bar-throated Ibis, Hadedah Batis, Cape Black-cap, Bush Bulbul, Dark-capped Buzzard, Jackal Cameroptera, Green-backed Crane, Grey Crowned Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Emerald Cuckoo, Red-chested Eagle, Long-crested Greenbull, Sombre Hawk, African Harrier Kite, Yellow-billed Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, Olive Prinia, Drakensburg Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Cape Sunbird, Amethyst Swallow, Greater-striped Swallow, White-throated Turaco, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Cape Warbler, African Yellow Warbler, Little Rush Waxbill, Common Weaver, Spectacled White-eye, Cape

Blue Swallow site: Cisticola, Croaking Widowbird, Fantailed

Harding Dam: Bishop, Red Cormorant, White-breasted Crane, Grey Crowned Cuckoo, Dideriks Duck, Yellow-billed Eagle, African Fish Fiscal, Common Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spurwing Heron, Grey Lapwing, Blacksmith Lapwing, Black-winged Moorhen, Common Plover, 3-banded Red-knobbed Coot Sandpiper, Wood Swallow, Barn Whydah, Pin-tailed

  ALL PHOTOS PROPERTY OF PHOTOGRAPHER

TROGONS OUTING: Ingeli Forest & Harding Dam

Dear Members

 

Red-billed Firefinch (photo: Stan Culley)

Sunday, 14 January 07:00am BirdLife Trogons will visit Ingeli Forest and Harding Dam.  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 van Rooyen before setting off.  For further details telephone** Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 or visit the blog.  *Please note we cannot respond to text messages or "call me" requests.

 

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

 

Meet at Ingeli Forest Lodge at 07:00am - take N2 road towards Harding/Kokstad.  Continue on N2 road past Harding to Junction of N2/R56.  Turn left towards Kokstad.  Continue approx 7.3km.  Lodge entrance is on the left.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 32 12.8  E29 41 25.5

 

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

UPCOMING OUTING - iNgeli Forest & Winter CWAC count at Harding Dam

Chorister Robin-Chat (photo Stan Culley)

 

Sunday 23 July at 07:30am BIRDLIFE TROGONS will visit iNgeli Forest and Harding Dam.  Bring chairs, breakfast and a picnic 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 telephone ** Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 or visit the blog.

 

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

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

 

Meet at iNgeli Forest Lodge at 07:30am - take N2 road towards Harding/Kokstad.  Continue on N2 road past Harding to Junction of N2/R56.  Turn left towards Kokstad.  Continue approx 7.3km.  Lodge entrance is on the left.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 32 12.8  E29 41 25.5

 

Many thanks

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

 

Outing report - 20th July 2014 Harding Dam & Ingeli Forest

Attendees: Doug Butcher, Stan & Val Culley; Ina de Koker, Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Bobby & Hazel van Rooyen. (8 attendees)

Bar-throated Apalis, Ingeli Forest
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Locust species, Ingeli Forest
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Birds recorded: South African Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe, Red-knobbed Coot, Cape Shoveler, Common Moorhen, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Teal, Black-headed Heron, Spur-winged Goose, Cape Crow, Pied Crow, Fork-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Oriole, Dark-capped Bulbul, Hadeda Ibis, Plain-backed Pipit, Cape Turtle-Dove, African Stonechat, Neddicky, Common Waxbill, Rufous-naped Lark, Brown-throated Martin, Cape Wagtail, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Southern Bald Ibis, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, White-bellied Sunbird, Cape Grassbird, Bar-throated Apalis, Sombre Greenbul, Cape White-eye, Southern Black Tit, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Crowned Crane, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Golden-breasted Bunting, Swee Waxbill, Cape Batis, Chorister Robin-Chat, Tambourine Dove, Red-necked Spurfowl, Cattle Egret, White-starred Robin. (45 species).

Outing report- Ingeli Forest & Summer CWAC 29th January 2012

By Andy Ruffle

One of the clubs two new gazebos
offers welcome shade at Harding Dam
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

Attendees: Stan & Val Culley, Mike Fagan, Eric Kok, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, Andy Ruffle, Ron Whitham. (8 attendees)

The bird list for today's outing speaks for itself, with an impressive 85 species recorded, reflecting the varied habitats visited on this trip.
We decided to start our morning at Ingeli Forest from the top entrance (where we normally exit) for a change. There we found an old quarry, which proved very fruitful on further investigation. Swee Waxbill, Forest Canary, Drakensberg Prinia and Common Waxbill all showed themselves nicely, whilst Barratt's Warbler called incessantly. Did we actually see it? we're not sure. Overhead we caught a glimpse of three large birds scimming the tree line. To our delight they were Southern Ground-Hornbills. This sighting was a first for all present, I believe, with none having seen these birds in-flight before.
Our usual check of the parrot nest boxes again revealed no signs of activity other than bees.
Enroute to Harding Dam, we stopped off at the Weza Blue Swallow site. We were able to identify about 5 birds, but due to time constraints we couldn't stay long.
High water levels, at Harding Dam, didn't fair well for the CWAC count and with only 131 birds present, we weren't proved wrong.
For the results of this count and to compare with last years count see here.

Harding Dam gave us the ideal opportunity to try out the clubs new aquisition, a gazebo (one of two), proving to be a very worthwhile purchase.

Ron, Mike, Bob and Eric put up the gazebo in
minutes (just as it says on the box)
while Andy lights the braai (stage left)
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

To download the results for this and previous counts click here.

Birds recorded: Hadeda Ibis, Fork-tailed Drongo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black-headed Oriole, Sombre Greenbul, Barratt's Warbler, Eastern Olive-Pigeon, Bar-throated Apalis, Swee Waxbill, Forest Canary, Drakensberg Prinia, Dark-capped Bulbul, Green-backed Camaroptera, Cape White-eye, Cape Robin-chat, Knysna Turaco, Common Waxbill, Terrestrial Brownbul, Lazy Cisticola, African Firefinch, Southern Ground-Hornbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Collared Sunbird, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Grey Cuckooshrike, Olive Bush-shrike, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, African Dusky Flycatcher, Black Cuckoo, African Goshawk, Black Saw-wing, Southern Boubou, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Emerald Cuckoo, Forest Buzzard, Red-collared Widow, Speckled Mousebird, Southern Red Bishop, Thick-billed Weaver, Little Rush-Warbler, Long Crested Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, Burchell's Coucal, Common Fiscal, Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, Cape Canary, Neddicky, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Blue Swallow, Barn Swallow, Common Myna, Yellow-billed Duck, Fan-tailed Widow, White-throated Swallow, White-rumped Swift, Red-knobbed Coot, White-breasted Cormorant, Reed Cormorant, Grey-Crowned Crane, Little Grebe, Amethyst Sunbird, Cape Turtle-Dove, Cape Wagtail, Pin-tailed Whydah, Brown-throated Martin, Red-billed Teal, South African Shelduck, Egyptian Goose, Cape Shoveler, Wood Sandpiper, Blacksmith Lapwing, Black-headed Heron, Cape Longclaw, Diederick's Cuckoo, Greater Striped-Swallow, Rufous-naped Lark, African Stonechat, African Jacana, Brimstone Canary, Levaillant's Cisticola, African Marsh-Harrier, Zitting Cisticola, Cattle Egret. (85 species)

Outing report- Winter CWAC Count 24th July 2011

By Andy Ruffle

Breakfast at Harding Dam
From top left clockwise- Moira & Bob Clark, Willie & Wilna van Zyl,
Mike Fagan, Stan & Val Culley, Cathy Lee, Andy Ruffle,
Sue Hansbury and Barry Willis
(Photo Doug Butcher)

Attendees:- Doug Butcher, Bob & Moira Clark, Stan & Val Culley, Mike Fagan, Sue Hansbury, Cathy Lee, Andy Ruffle, Willie, Leon & Wilna van Zyl, Barry Willis. (13 attendees)


CWAC lived up to it's name on Sunday as Certainly Weather Acted Considerately with a mild 6.5 degrees, clear blue skies and calm conditions greeting us at the Umzimkulu turn-off.
After welcoming two new faces, Barry Willis and Sue Hansbury from Uvongo, we proceeded to our usual vantage spot at the quarry to commence the count.
As expected at this time of year, there were good numbers of waterfowl present.
With the scanning of the dam, by Stan and his trusty Swarovski, complete we set off to our picnic spot on the shores of the dam for a breakfast break.
Here we witnessed some intriguing behaviour by the many Brown-throated Martins flitting around. One bird picked up a feather that was floating on the water, carried it aloft and then dropped it. The feather was then retrieved by another bird which again took it, flew for a while and dropped it, only to be caught by yet another bird, and so on and so on it went. Were they just playing or was this perhaps related to a mating display is the question? Although there is no reference to such behaviour in Roberts VII, it does mention feathers being used to line their nests, so mating could possibly be the explanation.
It wasn't just the kleintjies that gave us an interesting spectacle, stunning views of an African Marsh Harrier interacting with a sub-adult Jackal Buzzard high above us were had by all present. They were then joined by an African Harrier-Hawk (Gymnogene) and another African Marsh Harrier, with a Lanner Falcon soaring across the sky at the same time. What a wonderful sight to see all these raptors together and under such perfect light conditions. Long-crested Eagles were also very accomodating.
It didn't stop there, two Cape Vultures swooped in low infront of us as we were leaving to go to Ingeli Forest, these probably being attracted to the carcass of a horse which had tragically come to an untimely end by getting caught in barbed wire fencing.
The honey factory at Ingeli is doing well, but alas no Cape Parrots:)
Ingeli Forest itself again didn't let us down. Although quiet at first, we did manage very nice views of Swee Waxbill, Knysna Turaco, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler and Starred Robin amongst others.
Another pleasant and unexpected surprise were five Southern Ground-Hornbills seen foraging on the burnt verge on the N2 just passed Ingeli Forest Lodge on the way home.
Please remember to report all sightings of these Hornbills, with their location. You can send me an email and I will pass on the information.


One of five Southern Ground Hornbills foraging on the burnt
 verge of the N2 near Ingeli Forest Lodge
(Photo Doug Butcher)

To download the results for this and previous counts click here.