Outing report - 12th April 2015 NPC Conservancy, Oribi

Attendees: Stanley Gengan, Andy Ruffle, Stan & Val Culley; Ina de Koker, Rick & Janet Proctor; Charmaine Klintworth & Linda Klintworth. (9 attendees).

Birds recorded: Dark-capped Bulbul, Pied Crow, Red-eyed Dove, Yellow-fronted Canary,
Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Black-collared Barbet, Dusky Flycatcher, Little Rush-Warbler, Southern Black Flycatcher, Southern Boubou, Spur-winged Goose, Village Weaver, African Hoopoe, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Sombre Greenbul, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Common Waxbill, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Grey-headed  Bush-Shrike, Red-winged Starling, Collared Sunbird, Cape Glossy Starling, Ashy Flycatcher, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Dark-backed Weaver, Knysna Turaco, Black-headed Oriole, Black-bellied Starling, Natal Spurfowl, Tambourine Dove, Cape Wagtail, Purple-crested Turaco, White-bellied Sunbird,
Green-backed Camaroptera, Southern Red Bishop, Common Moorhen, Malachite Kingfisher, Crowned Hornbill, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Red-faced Cisticola, Yellow Weaver, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Hadeda Ibis, Black-backed Puffback, Cape White-eye, Half-collared Kingfisher, Brown Snake-Eagle, Speckled Mousebird, Terrestrial Brownbul, Mountain Wagtail, Chinspot Batis. (53 species)

Outing report- NPC Oribi Conservancy 13th April 2014

Attendees: Doug Butcher, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Margaret Jones,  Hazel Nevin, Sandy Olver, Barry Pullock, Andy Ruffle, Irma Smook, John & Gloria Taylor; Bob van Rooyen, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury. (14 attendees).

Not an outstanding bird count for this visit, but we did add the following four species to the bird list:- African Darter, Common Moorhen, Red-faced Cisticola and Scaly-throated Honeyguide.  

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

 

Birds recorded: Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Pied Crow, White-necked Raven, Natal Spurfowl, Spectacled Weaver, Black-headed Oriole, Common Fiscal, Dark-capped Bulbul, Black-backed Puffback, Red-eyed Dove, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Cape Starling, Fork-tailed Drongo, Giant Kingfisher, Yellow-fronted Canary, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Tambourine Dove, Purple-crested Turaco, Common Moorhen, Sombre Greenbul, Southern Boubou, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Knysna Turaco, Burchell's Coucal, African Firefinch, Bar-throated Apalis, Green-backed Heron, Crowned Hornbill, Malachite Kingfisher, Red-faced Cisticola, Green-backed Camaroptera, African Darter, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Thick-billed Weaver, Black-collared Barbet, Hamerkop, Chinspot Batis, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Southern Black Flycatcher, Hadada Ibis, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Bronze Mannikin, Village Weaver, African Pied Wagtail, African Dusky Flycatcher. (47 species).

Photos by Doug Butcher

Outing report- 12th May 2013 NPC Oribi (Simuma) Conservancy

(Photo Andy Ruffle)

 

Attendees: Doug & Angie Butcher, Stan & Val Culley, Andy Ruffle, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (7 attendees)

An unusually low turnout from members for today’s outing, which was probably due to the bad weather the day before. However, the morning broke with not a cloud in the sky and no wind.

As normal, birding was very good even though we could not manage to cross the river again.
The majority of birds recorded were actually seen for a change. Stan witnessed a poor Yellow-fronted Canary being snapped up by a Little Sparrowhawk, not an everyday sighting.

This unusual spider web in the shape of a dish intrigued us.
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

Another glorious winter's day in Africa
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

The local Zebra kept a watchful eye on us.
(Photo Andy Ruffle)

Birds recorded: White-necked Raven, Yellow-fronted Canary, African Hoopoe, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Dark-capped Bulbul, Red-winged Starling, Cape Starling, Spectacled Weaver, African Pied Wagtail, Hamerkop, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-collared Barbet, African Dusky Flycatcher, Common Fiscal, Red-eyed Dove, Green-backed Camaroptera, Chinspot Batis, Fork-tailed Drongo, Sombre Greenbul, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Trumpeter Hornbill, Cape White-eye, Black-headed Oriole, Southern Boubou, Natal Spurfowl, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Hadada Ibis, Cape Robin-Chat, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Black-bellied Starling, Neddicky, Olive Sunbird, Little Sparrowhawk, White-bellied Sunbird, Village Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, African Firefinch, African Fish-Eagle, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Common Waxbill, Yellow Weaver, Speckled Mousebird, Ashy Flycatcher, Crowned Hornbill, Burchell's Coucal, African Green-Pigeon, Golden-breasted Bunting, Southern Black Flycatcher, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Knysna Turaco, Grey Cuckooshrike, Southern Black Tit, Bar-throated Apalis, Bronze Mannikin, Red-throated Wryneck, Crowned Eagle, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-backed Puffback, Pied Crow. (61 species)

Outing report- 16th September 2012 Simuma Conservancy

Birds recorded:- Lesser striped Swallow,  Knysna Turaco,  Black-collared Barbet,  Dark-capped Bulbul, Black-crowned Tchagra,  Yellow Weaver,  Grey Cuckooshrike,  Spectacled Weaver, Village Weaver,  Cape Glossy Starling,  Black-bellied Starling,  Red-winged Starling, Brown-hooded Kingfisher,  Raven,  Pied Crow,  Hadeda Ibis,  Red-eyed Dove, Amethyst Sunbird,  White-bellied Sunbird,  Little Rush-Warbler,  Rock Martin, African Palm- Swift,   Egyptian Goose,  Crowned Hornbill,  Trumpeter Hornbill, Tawny-flanked Prinia,  Neddicky,  Southern Boubou,  Green-backed  Camaroptera, Speckled Mousebird,  African Green-Pigeon,  Fork-tailed Drongo,  Black-headed Oriole, African Dusky Flycatcher,  Dark-backed Weaver,  Thick-billed Weaver,  Square-tailed Drongo,
Sombre Greenbul,  African Paradise-Flycatcher,  African Black Duck, Puffback, Southern Black Tit,  White-throated Swallow,  Lesser Honeyguide,  Klaas’s  Cuckoo, Yellow-fronted Canary,  Olive Sunbird,  Cape White-eye,  Collared Sunbird, African Fish-Eagle,  Red-fronted Tinkerbird,  Cape Robin –Chat,  Yellow-billed Kite, Southern Black Flycatcher,  Martial Eagle,  Grey-headed Bush-Shrike,  Cape Batis, Orange-breasted  Bush-Shrike,  African Firefinch,  African Harrier-Hawk,  Olive Thrush,  Green Wood-Hoopoe,  Bronze Mannikin,  Chinspot Batis, Jackal Buzzard. (65 species)

Outing report- 18th December 2011 Simuma Conservancy

(Photo Ron Whitham)

Attendees: Stan & Val Culley, Mike Fagan, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, Andy Ruffle, Stefan Schoeman & family, Ron Whitham, Sue Hansbury & Barry Willis (plus grandson Cameron). (15 attendees).

Considering we have normally wrapped up our outings for the year by now, the attendance for today's outing was very good. It was nice to have the Schoeman family join us, along with Barry & Sue's grandson Cameron. The two boys thoroughly enjoyed exploring the big outdoors and kept disappearing into the bush.
Birding was pretty good, albeit quieter than we would normally find. This aside, the conservancy still lived up to it's reputation by producing an extremely special bird in the form of a European Honey Buzzard. The first sighting was rather distant, with juv Jackal Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard and African Harrier-Hawk (there seemed to be lots of yellow on the face) being thrown into the discussion pot. Stan's (C) gut reaction was that it resembled a European Honey Buzzard and the discussion deepened further. Whilst walking back for breakfast, the bird showed itself again, but this time much lower, flying along the river. This time, the lack of contrast on the upper wings could be seen clearly.
With the help of the Schoeman's hi-tec gadget, we were satisfied we had seen a Honey Buzzard by the time we had finished breakfast.
Photos, taken by Ron (below), which were later scrutinized, confirmed the ID. Stan (C) even thinks there may have been two separate birds, one of the photos showing a more rufous form.
There are many different plumage variations for the European Honey Buzzard as demonstrated by a plate from a book scanned by Stan (C). I am awaiting permission to post this on the blog.

European Honey Buzzard taken at 07h13
(Photo Ron Whitham, enhanced by Stan Culley)

European Honey Buzzard taken at 09h01
Very possibly a female bird.
Note the dark patches on the rear of the wings
(Photo Ron Whitham, enhanced by Stan Culley)

Birds recorded: Golden-breasted Bunting, Diederick Cuckoo, African Green-Pigeon, Tambourine Dove, Brown-Hooded Kingfisher, Dark-capped Bulbul, Natal Spurfowl, Southern Black Flycatcher, Hadeda Ibis, Red-winged Starling, African Firefinch, Red-eyed Dove, Village Weaver, Yellow Weaver, Chinspot Batis, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Little Swift, Fork-tailed Drongo, Yellow-fronted Canary, Violet-backed Starling, Thick-billed Weaver, Common Waxbill, Black-collared Barbet, Black-headed Oriole, Trumpeter Hornbill, Black-bellied Starling, Southern Boubou, Burchell's Coucal, Purple-crested Turaco, Speckled Mousebird, White-bellied Sunbird, Sombre Greenbul, Knysna Turaco, Amethyst Sunbird, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Hamerkop, Crowned Hornbill, African Hoopoe, Yellow-billed Kite, European Honey Buzzard,  African Fish-Eagle, Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, Dark-backed Weaver, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Black Cuckoo, Black Saw-wing, Red-chested Cuckoo, Southern Black Tit, Egyptian Goose. (51 species)

Outing report- 15th March 2009 Simuma Conservancy

(Photo Barry Porter)