UPCOMING OUTING: Lake Eland - 23 February 2020

Female Violet-backed Starling

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday 23 February at 06:30 BirdLife Trogons will visit Lake Eland. Bring chairs, breakfast and something to braai for lunch.  All Welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons and an entrance fee of R40 for pensioners.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel 072 355 8837 before setting off.  Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Directions:  From Port Shepstone take N2 to Harding. Just before Murchison Hospital turn right into road signposted Oribi Flats East.  Proceed down the hill passed NPC factory, then the road climbs up to Oribi Flats. Keep straight on to Lake Eland which is well signed.  Meet in the car park.

Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 41 35.7   E30 10 42.8

See you there!

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Outing report: Lake Eland Game Reserve - 28 July 2019

Attending: Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Alastair Warman, Lia & Martin Steen, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 88                                                                      Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                                  *Photos: Hazel van Rooyen, Lia Steen

African Stonechat, Jackal Buzzard and Black-winged Kite (new name for the Black-Shouldered Kite) were already up and about on our journey across Oribi Flats to Lake Eland last Sunday morning.  The game reserve looked tempting but the amount of birds in the car park were amazing - Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Lanner Falcon, Cape Rock Thrush and Rock Martin to name just a few.  The morning had a nip in the air but by lunchtime we were looking for shade, just your average Gorgeous winter’s day on the KZN Coast.

Red-winged Starling (photo HvR)

Dark-capped Bulbuls (photo HvR)

Cape Rock-Thrush (photo HvR)

Rufous-naped Lark (photo Lia Steen)

Cape White-eye (photo HvR)

On entering the game reserve, a herd of dainty Blesbok crossed our path, in fact the whole way around the park Giraffe, Zebra, Blou Wildebeest, Impala and Eland of course, were plentiful and looked so healthy.  But we were after smaller fry.  Cape Longclaws and African Pipits foraged on the dirt road in front of us, always keeping a few flutters ahead. 

African Pipit (photo HvR)

Cape Longclaw (photo HvR)

Burchell's Coucal (photo HvR)

A fat and fluffy Burchell’s Coucal sat comfortably in the branches of a tree at the edge of Maryland Dam while a lonely Red-knobbed Coot swam at the edge and an African Darter sat in a bush drying off its wings.

Little Sparrowhawk (photo Lia Steen)

 Choosing the loop past the Natal Fig Tree this Little Sparrowhawk was spotted.  

Cape Canaries (photo Lia Steen)

 

Continuing through the grassland we made a short stop at a cluster of small trees, where a pair of Southern Boubous were duetting loudly.  Meanwhile a White-necked Raven, Lesser Kestrel and Black Saw-wing flew overhead.

Ashy Flycatcher (photo Lia Steen)

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (photo HvR)

Proceeding down to the picnic site a Brown-hooded Kingfisher was hunting from a dead tree trunk.  We tucked into our breakfast and were about to move on but the birdlife was so active we lost track of time – African Hoopoe, Dusky and Ashy Flycatchers, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Sombre Greenbul, White-browed Scrub Robin, Terrestrial Brownbul, Dark-backed Weaver plus a flock of trumpeting Trumpeter Hornbills. 

From the island

Eventually moving on, the lake was placid and calm and no waterbirds were spotted so we had a walk to the island and soon drove back to the picnic site to braai.  On the way we stopped at the Umzimkulwana River where we must have disturbed a pair of African Black Ducks as they flew off.  A pretty glade beside the river was quite productive with Lesser Honeyguide, Village Weaver, Yellow Weaver and Cardinal Woodpecker.  Cape Vultures flew across too.

Enjoying some braaivleis

At the picnic site we made ourselves comfortable beneath a thorn tree and enjoyed some braaivleis.  Lake Eland have improved their facilities for day visitors down at the lake by creating individual shaded braai areas right next to the lake – ideal for fisher families with a side view of the zipline junkies coming in to land.

Thanks to all who turned up.

 88 Species identified

Apalis, Bar-throated Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Brownbul, Terrestrial Bulbul, Dark-capped Bunting, Golden-breasted Bush-Shrike, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Orange-breasted Buzzard, Jackal Camaroptera, Green-backed Canary, Cape Canary, Yellow-fronted Chat, Familiar Cisticola, Lazy Cisticola, Wing-snapping Coot, Red-knobbed Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Crow, Pied Darter, African Dove, Cape Turtle Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Laughing Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Duck, African Black Falcon, Lanner Fiscal, Southern Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, African Dusky Flycatcher, Fiscal Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Grassbird, Cape Greenbul, Sombre Honeyguide, Greater Hoopoe, African Hornbill, Trumpeter Kestrel, Lesser Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kite, Black-winged Lapwing, Blacksmith Lark, Rufous-naped

Longclaw, Cape Mannikin, Bronze Martin, Rock Moorhen, Common Mousebird, Speckled Neddicky Oriole, Black-headed Pigeon, Speckled Pipit, African Pipit, Plain-backed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Raven, White-necked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Scrub-Robin, White-browed Seed-eater, Streaky-headed Sparrowhawk, Little Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Cape Glossy Starling, Red-winged Stonechat, African Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Swallow, White-throated Tchagra, Black-crowned Thrush, Cape Rock Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Tit, Southern Black Turaco, Knysna Vulture, Cape Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, African Pied Warbler, Little Rush Weaver, Cape Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Golden-tailed Wryneck, Red-throated

* All photos property of photographer

UPCOMING OUTING: Lake Eland - 28 July 2019

Long-crested Eagle (photo: Stan Culley)

Dear Members & Friends

Sunday, 28 July 2019 at 7am BIRDLIFE TROGONS will visit Lake Eland Game Reserve.  Bring chairs, breakfast, and something to braai for lunch.  All welcome.  There is a R20pp charge for non-members of BirdLife Trogons and also R40pp for pensioners and R60 for adults entrance charge into Lake Eland.  Outings may be cancelled due to weather, check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com or phone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837

. 

Please let Hazel know if you will be attending the outing.

Directions: From Port Shepstone take N2 to Harding. Just before Murchison Hospital turn right into road signposted Oribi Flats East.  Proceed down the hill passed NPC factory, then the road climbs up to Oribi Flats. Keep straight on to Lake Eland which is well signed.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 41 35.7   E30 10 42.8

See you there!
Hazel van Rooyen
Secretary
BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

OUTING REPORT: Lake Eland Nature Reserve, 8 April 2018

Attendees: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Danie & Bella du Toit, Robin Eccles & Hanli Kloppers, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen joined for the braai only with family

Species:  41

A good morning was spent at Lake Eland Nature Reserve.  Thanks go to Andy Ruffle who negotiated a discount for members.  

Species Waxbill, Blue
Turaco, Knysna
Starling, Black-bellied
Barbet, Black-collared
Mousebird, Speckled
Dove, Tambourine
Drongo, Ford-tailed
Prinia, Tawny-flanked
Tinkerbird, Red-fronted
Weaver, Thick-billed
Cameroptera, Green-backed
Wagtail, Cape
Kingfisher, Brown-hooded
Weaver, Dark-backed
Wagtail, Pied
Kingfisher, Malachite
Eagle, African Fish
Bulbul, Dark-capped
Straling, Red-winged
Weaver, Spectacled
Dove, Red-eyed
Dove, Speckled
Canary, Forest
Heron Grey
Goose, Egyptian
Crow, Pied
Guineafowl, Helmeted
Raven, White-necked
Weaver, Village
Sunbird, Amethysst
Canary, Yellow-fronted
Neddicky
Stonechat, African
Ibis, Hadedah
Coucal, Burchell's
Longclaw, Cape
Pipit, African
Francolin, Red-winged
Crane, Grey-crowned
Vulture, Cape
Apalis, Bar-throated

UPCOMING OUTING: Lake Eland Nature Reserve, 13 August 2017

Dear Members & Friends

 

Long-crested Eagle (photo Stan Culley)

 

Sunday 13 August at 7.00am BirdLife Trogons will visit Lake Eland Nature Reserve at Oribi Gorge.  There is a R40pp entrance fee for pensioners and R60 for adults. 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 telephone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837.

 

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 the entrance at 7.00am.

Directions: From Port Shepstone take N2 to Harding. Just before Murchison Hospital turn right into road signposted Oribi Flats East.  Proceed down the hill passed NPC factory, then the road climbs up to Oribi Flats. Keep straight on to Lake Eland which is well signed.  Set GPS to DD MM SS.S  =  S30 41 35.7   E30 10 42.8

 

Look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards

Hazel van Rooyen

Secretary

BirdLife Trogons Bird Club

Trogon Outing Report - Lake Eland, 28 February 2016

Attendees: Val & Stan Culley, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Eric Kok, Alastair Warman, Joey van Niekerk, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Shona Lawson & Barry van Niekerk, Angie & Doug Butcher, Rob Eccles & Hanli, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

(Text: Hazel van Rooyen)

Bird count:  61 (see end)

Cape Rock Thrush (photo: Stan Culley)

Lake Eland is a popular venue evidenced by the good turnout of 17 people, which included Shona and Barry who we were especially pleased to welcome as they work at Lake Eland.  En route to the venue, numerous birds flitted amongst the sugar cane and grasses by the roadside, including Fan-tailed Widowbird, African Stonechat, Black-capped Bulbul, Speckled Mousebird, Barn Swallow, whilst Long-crested Eagle and Jackal Buzzard cruised the airwaves.  At the entrance a Grey-headed Heron stood sentry-like and Cape Rock Thrushes flashed amongst the tree and roof-tops.

Bulbine (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

White-necked Raven (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Proceeding into the park in a convey, we disturbed a herd of Blou Wildebeest grazing amongst the pretty yellow bulbines scattered throughout the grasslands. 

Red-backed Shrike (F) (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Red-backed Shrike (M) (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Pausing here and there to closer inspect the dams and landscape, we spotted, amongst others Red-backed Shrike, Cape Longclaw, Cape Grassbird and White-necked Ravens.  A white flash in a distant bush caught our eye and proved to be an African Firefinch with a long white feather in its beak.

African (Blue-billed) Firefinch with feather (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

At the picnic site Crowned Hornbills were playing in the treetops on the hill.  A Steppe Buzzard and Yellow-billed Kite also put in an appearance while a Cape Vulture soared lazily in the far-off distance.  A few people left at this juncture owing to previous engagements.

The illusive African Finfoot (photo: Stan Culley)

Moving down to the river the remainder were thrilled to spot the illusive African Finfoot and an African Fish-Eagle. At the lake there were quite a few people fishing so our group stayed on the bank in a new shelter to braai.  Egyptian Geese and African Black Duck flew across the lake, bringing the daily species count to 61. 

African Pipit (Juv) (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Species:

Barbet Black-collared Batis Cape         Boubou Southern Bush-shrike Orange-breasted (heard) Buzzard Jackal Buzzard Steppe Cameroptera Green-backed Canary Cape Canary Yellow-fronted Dove Cape Turtle Dove Red-eyed Drongo Fork-tail Duck African Black Eagle Long-crested Finfoot African Firefinch African Fish-Eagle African Goose Egyptian Grassbird Cape

Greenbul  Sombre Guineafowl Crested Heron Grey Honeyguide  Lesser Hornbill Crowned Kingfisher Pygmy Kite Yellow-billed Lark Rufous-naped Longclaw Yellow-throated Martin Brown-throated Mousebird Speckled Neddicky Oriole Black-headed  Pipit African Plover 3-banded Prinia  Tawny-flanked Raven White-necked Sawwing Black Shrike Common Fiscal Shrike Red-backed Starling Glossy

Starling Red-winged Stonechat African Sunbird Amethyst Swallow Barn Swallow Greater-striped Swallow Lesser-striped Tambourine Dove Thrush Cape Rock Tinkerbird Red-fronted Tinkerbird Yellow-rumped Trogon Narina (heard)  Turaco  Purple-crested Vulture Cape Wagtail Cape Warbler Little Rush Weaver Cape Weaver Thick-billed Whydah Pin-tailed Widowbird Fan-tailed Widowbird Red-collared Wryneck Red-throated

 (All photographs property of owner)