Outing report: Perlemoen Estate, Umzumbe - 8 March 2020

Malachite Kingfisher

Attending: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Derrick & Edith Megson, Robin Eccles, Teresa Smith & Nick Dreyer, Lia Steen, Graham Wells, Kobus Wentzel, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 38 (see below) 

                                                                                       Text & Photos: Hazel van Rooyen

For once, the weather was kind to us, although it did become very hot and most birds wisely stayed hidden in the coolth of the vegetation.  

First we had a pleasant walk through the lower forest area where the stream trickled and gurgled, wild foxgloves like delicate lace, edged the pathways.  After breakfast we took a longer walk up the hill where we split into two groups and one group climbed higher while the other got a bit lost, although we all came back together eventually. 

Wild Foxgloves, like lace, edged the pathways

Although the birds were difficult to find, butterflies and dragonflies were bountiful. 

Layman Butterfly

The terrain is quite challenging and we were happy to sit back and relax when braai-time came around.

Thanks to all the members who attended and to our two visitors, Graham Wells and Kobus Wentzel.  Thank you also to Bernhard Grdseloff for letting us visit his charming farm.

38 species

Barbet, Black-collared

Barbet, White-eared

Boubou, Southern

Bulbul, Black-capped

Brownbul, Terrestrial

Bushshrike, Grey-headed

Cameroptera, Green-backed

Dove, Lemon

Dove, Red-eyed

Dove, Tambourine

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Drongo, Square-tailed

Duck, African Black

Eagle, African Fish

Hoopoe, African

Hornbill, Trumpeter

Ibis, Hadedah

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Kingfisher, Malachite

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

Saw-wing, Black

Starling, Black-bellied

Starling, Cape (Glossy)

Sunbird, Amethyst

Sunbird, Collared

Sunbird, Greater Double-collared

Sunbird, Olive

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Tit, Southern Black

Turaco, Knysna

Turaco, Purple-crested

Waxbill, Grey

Weaver, Spectacled

Weaver, Thick-billed

White-eye, Cape

Woodhoopoe, Green

Woodpecker, Cardinal

Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

Outing Report: Perlemoen Farm, Umzumbe, 26 May 2019

Attending: Danie du Toit, Stan & Val Culley, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Doug & Angie Butcher, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified: 39                                                                      Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                         

An Umzumbe farmer invited the club to visit his property as he is thinking of using it for birding visitors and wanted to start a bird list.  A pleasant morning greeted us at Perlemoen where the gate had already been opened for us and we parked just inside.  The terrain was varied but rugged and offered both forest and grassland species. The fitter ones amongst us scrambled up and down the hillside, producing quite a few species, especially towards the top where the forest opened up to the sunshine.

At the highest point a Grey-headed Bushshrike led us a merry dance flitting amongst the tree-tops whilst an Ashy Flycatcher was content to overlook his terrain.

Grey-headed Bushshrike (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Ashy Flycatcher (photo Doug Butcher)

The hills proved too much of an obstacle for the not-so-fit and they did a couple of short walks, spending the rest of the time sitting by one of the small dams underneath shady indigenous trees where we later braaied.  

African Black Duck ( photo Hazel van Rooyen)

African Black Duck ( photo Hazel van Rooyen)

A stream meandered through the low-lying forest, feeding the dams, one of which was home to a pair of African Black Duck which were quite shy, flying in, and immediately disappearing into a shady backwater.

Good company ( photo Doug Butcher)

A most pleasant venue ( photo Hazel van Rooyen)

It was a most pleasant venue and the owner said he would be happy for us to come back whenever we wanted to. We decided to plan a summer visit next time to get the migrants. 




























Order of sight:

Sparrowhawk, Little (seen previous week on our recon visit)

Stork Woolly-necked (seen previous week on our recon visit)

Wood-hoopoe, Green

Darter, African

Starling, Black-bellied

Dove, Red-eyed

Dove, Tambourine

Sunbird, Olive

Camaroptera, Green-backed

Bulbul, Dark-capped

Boubou, Southern

Barbet, Crested

Bushshrike, Grey-headed

Flycatcher, Ashy

Flycatcher, Southern Black

Barbet, White-eared

Starling Glossy

Sunbird, Amethyst

Turaco, Knysna

Weaver, Thick-billed

Mannikin, Bronze

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded

Canary, Yellow-fronted

Barbet, Black-collaredd

Weaver, Spectacled

Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped

Sunbird, White-bellied

Robin-Chat, Red-capped

White-eye, Cape

Turaco, Purple-crested

Sunbird, Collared

Duck, African Black

Spurfowl, Natal

Woodpecker, Cardinal

Puffback, Black-backed

Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

Drongo, Square-tailed

Weaver, Dark-backed

Drongo, Fork-tailed

Eagle, African Fish

Hoopoe, African

(All photos property of photographer)