Outing Report: San Lameer Estate - 26 January 2020

Participants: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Pete & Anne Wright (San Lameer residents who generously guided us for the day), Danie & Bella du Toit, Lia Steen, Doug Butcher, Derrick & Edith Megson, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Mark Liptrot & Cecily Salmon (Port Natal club), Bob & Hazel van Rooyen  (16)

Species identified: 44

Photographs: Lia Steen, Doug Butcher, Hazel van Rooyen

Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Amethyst Sunbird (Hazel van Rooyen)

This is a popular venue with the Trogons club and San Lameer are always very kind in allowing us on their estate.  After a drizzle of rain the night before, Sunday morning turned out gorgeous and saw us all donning our sunhats for our first walk between the golf fairways and streams.  Dark-capped Bulbul, Cape White-eye, Brown-hooded Kingfisher and Black-bellied Starling were seen very quickly, followed by Green-backed Camaroptera and Olive Sunbirds calling in the thicker bush.  A Purple-crested Turaco posed on a tree-top, while an Amethyst Sunbird flitted about lower down. 

Purple-crested Turaco (Doug Butcher)

Olive Sunbird (Lia Steen)

We were interested in a beautiful tree looking similar to our Coastal Coral but with different blooms and Ann explained it was Livingston’s Erythrina Coral tree from Zambia.  Moving along, the golf carts were starting to come through and we didn’t want to get in their way, Green Wood-hoopoes cackled and a Black-backed Puffback clicked and whistled.

Livingston's Coral Tree (Hazel van Rooyen)

Tree blossoms (Hazel van Rooyen)

The bird hide pond was really quiet except for a pair of Green-backed Herons.  It was a tranquil spot and we stopped here and breakfasted at the picnic tables.  After that we visited the fishing pond which was also very quiet.

Strolling around looking for birds (Doug Butcher)

A few people in our group had an interest in dragon and damsel flies.  There were plenty of these and they made very colourful photos.  Lia would know their names.

Dragonfly (Doug Butcher)

Dragonfly (Hazel van Rooyen)

The lagoon walk was mostly dead sticks and weeds as it was still recovering from a terrifying fire last September.  A deck provided an excellent view of the lagoon and although the water level was very low, merely large puddles, we still spotted a Pied Kingfisher, Woolly-necked Stork, Little Egret, African Fish Eagle, a few Common Greenshanks and Blacksmith Lapwing. 

Little Egret (Lia Steen)

Village Weaver (Lia Steen)

Woolly-necked Stork (Lia Steen)

Common Greenshank (Lia Steen)

Further along another deck opened up to a beautiful beach view of surf and sunshine.

Participants on the seaview deck (Hazel van Rooyen)

Arriving back at the bird hide, a Yellow-billed Duck proudly showed off her ducklings.

Yellow-billed Duck showing off her brood (Lia Steen)

The heat of the day was climbing and relaxing under a shady tree now seemed a good idea so we made our way to the picnic area by the beach where we chatted and braaied.  Thanks go to Pete & Ann Wright for showing us around.

(All photos property of photographer)
Species identified: 44

Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Camaroptera, Green-backed Coucal, Burchell’s Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Duck, Yellow-billed Eagle, African Fish Egret, Little Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goshawk, African Greenbul, Sombre Hadedah, Ibis Heron, Green-backed Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kite, Yellow-billed Lapwing, Blacksmith

Mannikin, Bronze Oriole, Black-headed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Puffback, Black-backed Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Stork, Woolly-necked Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Olive Swallow, Lesser-striped Swift, Palm Swift, White-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Pied Weaver, Village Weaver, Yellow White-eye, Cape Wood-hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

Outing Report: Culley Dam, 27 October 2019

A quiet corner of the dam  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Attending: Stan & Val Culley, Doug & Angie Butcher, Martin & Lia Steen, Nick Dreyer & Teresa Smith, Danie & Bella du Toit, Derek & Edith Megson, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Margaret & Richard, Hazel van Rooyen (17)

Species identified: 60 (listed below)                                                                              Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                                         Photos: Doug Butcher, Hazel van Rooyen, Lia Steen

Sunday 27^th October dawned sunny and rain-free despite a dodgy weather forecast and 15 eager birders arrived at the Culley’s for our outing.  

Sombre Greenbul (photo Lia Steen)

White-faced Whistling Ducks a-waiting  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

The forest behind their property is usually busy with birdlife at that time of the morning but today was fairly still with only a Sombre Greenbul and Cape Robin-Chat calling plus a Natal Spurfowl screeching a warning of our presence.

Yellow Weaver (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Yellow Weaver (photo: Doug Butcher)

Making our way to the dams, we noticed they were drying out, awaiting the summer rains.  Stan has recently completed another hide in a spot favoured in the past by some rarities.  Meanwhile the Spur-winged Goose juveniles were being shepherded by their parents and numerous White-faced Ducks were waiting for their morning treat of seed from Stan. 

Fork-tailed Drongo (photo: Doug Butcher)

Purple Heron  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

 

Black Crake  (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Black Crake chick (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Great Egret (photo: Doug Butcher)

Thick-billed Weaver (photo: Doug Butcher)

 Taking a slow meander around the dam, pausing at the hides to examine the wetlands for waterfowl and waders, we identified Common Moorhen, Reed Cormorant, Great and Yellow-billed Egrets, Little Rush Warbler, Purple Heron, Black Crake and African Jacana.  Flitting amongst the reeds were Lesser Swamp Warbler, Thick-billed and Yellow Weaver and Fan-tailed Widowbird.

African Jacana  (photo: Lia Steen)

Bronze Mannikin (photo: Lia Steen)

After breakfast on Val’s patio, some people elected to climb the hill whilst others decided the birdlife amongst the indigenous flowers and shrubs from the patio was more their style whilst the indefatigable Lia re-visited the forest area coming up with Green Wood-hoopoe, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Little Bittern, Common Waxbill, Giant Kingfisher, Paradise Flycatcher, Long-crested Eagle and African Fish Eagle, amongst others.

Fan-tailed Widowbird (photo: Lia Steen)

Common Waxbill  (photo: Lia Steen)

A slow trudge up the hill produced Purple-crested Turaco, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Jackal Buzzard, Fork-tailed Drongo.  Clearwater dam was disappointing as it is in the process of being significantly enlarged but still showed Red-knobbed Coot, Common Moorhen and Spur-winged Geese.

Giant Kingfisher  (photo: Lia Steen)

This was followed by a relaxing afternoon with a braai on the patio, at the same time rugby fans followed the Boks in the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup.  Thanks to all who participated.

Relaxing on the patio (photo: Doug Butcher)

Species identified: 60

Barbet, Black-collared Bittern, Little Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Black-capped Bushshrike, Grey-headed Buzzard, Jackal Camaroptera, Green-backed Coot, Red-knobbed Cormorant, Reed Coucal, Burchell’s Crake, Black Crow, Pied Cuckoo, Klaas’s Drongo, Fork-tailed Duck, White-faced Eagle, African Fish Eagle, Long-crested Egret, Great Egret, Yellow-billed Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Goose, Spur-winged Greenbul, Sombre Heron, Purple Hornbill, Trumpeter Jacana, African Kingfisher, Brown-headed Kingfisher, Giant Kite, Yellow-billed

Longclaw, Yellow-throated Moorhen, Common Mousebird, Speckled Pigeon, African Green Pipit, Plain-backed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Puffback, Black-backed Robin-Chat Cape Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Spurfowl, Natal Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Red-winged Starling, Violet-backed Sunbird, Olive Swift, Palm Swift, White-rumped Tchagra, Black-crowned Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Turaco, Purple-crested Wagtail, Cape Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Little Rush Waxbill, Common Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Whydah, Pin-tailed Widowbird, Fan-tailed Woodhoopoe, Green

All photos property of photographer

Outing Report: Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, 8 September 2019

Attendance: Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Doug Butcher, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Johan & Karin Burger, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

Species identified:   34                                         Text: Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                              Photos: Doug Butcher, Hazel van Rooyen

Narina Trogon (photo: H van Rooyen)

Gosh, we are having a lot of wind this year!  And Sunday was no exception with a blustery breeze blowing strongly on our arrival.  However, some brave birds were out and about and a count of 34 was acceptable for such a windy day.  Gathering at our meeting spot by the main road, we watched a Red-capped Robin-Chat carrying large beak-fulls of nesting material to its nest.

Proceeding up the dirt road to the reserve, our usual stopping area was a hive of activity with logs being loaded onto tractors so we made our way directly to the gate.  An early cuckoo flew across our path but it was not identifiable.  After paying our entrance fees we paused in the parking area to look for avian activity.  And what did Sue spot – our namesake – a beautiful female Narina Trogon.  

What a special sight!  It didn’t like to stay still but flew amongst the branches, still bare from their winter shedding which fortunately enabled some reasonable sightings.  Two Dark-backed Weavers were easily spotted in branches overhanging the hut and Green-backed Camaropteras called from the thicker bush.  A Black-headed Oriole called melodiously along with Olive Sunbirds and Yellow-fronted Canaries.

Helicrysum (photo: H van Rooyen)

We continued into the reserve and up to the view site from where two Yellow-throated Longclaws took flight.  

Diascia (photo: H van Rooyen)

There were quite a few wild flowers out but not as many as on our previous visit two years ago, although we were a bit later then.  

Barrie looking for the Short-tailed Pipit (photo: H van Rooyen)

We had a good walk around and Barrie went quite far to see if he could flush the Short-tailed Pipit but to no avail.  We were looking forward to our breakfast at this point so we had some nourishment and eventually drove further into the reserve, on the way disturbing an African Hoopoe. 

Looking for waterfowl (photo: H van Rooyen)

Stopping at the dam to look for waterfowl nothing materialised so we proceeded to the other dam with the same outcome.  We had an enjoyable walk around the dam spotting African Stonechat and Tawny-flanked Prinia. 

African Stonechat (photo: Doug Butcher)

Fan-tailed Widowbird (photo: H van Rooyen)

A small seed-eater had us all flumoxed but on our return our expert Stan Culley confirmed the photo as being that of a non-breeding Fan-tailed Widowbird, the blue bill identifying it as a male. 







We then drove up to the picnic site and took the Mthakathi Trail which goes down a hill, crosses two rocky streams, through coastal forest and up onto a grassy plain.  Still no Short-tailed Pipit but we did have African Pipit, Knysna Turaco, Burchell’s Coucal, Sombre Bulbul, Black Saw-wing and White-rumped Swift. 

At this point we headed back and sank into our chairs to be rewarded with a delicious braai.

Braai-time (photo: Doug Butcher)

The people (photo: Doug Butcher)

Thanks to all who attended.

All photos property of photographer

Species identified: 34

Barbet, Black-collared Boubou, Southern Bulbu, Sombre Camaroptera, Green-backed Canary, Cape Canary, Yellow-fronted Coucal, Burchell’s Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Tambourine Drongo, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Southern Black Goose, Egyptian Hoopoe, African Ibis, Hadedah Kite, Yellow-billed Longclaw, Yellow-throated Oriole, Black-headed

Pipit, African Prinia, Tawny-flanked Robin-Chat, Red-capped Saw-wing, Black Starling, Black-bellied Starling, Glossy Stonechat, African Stork, Woolly-necked Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Swift, Palm Swift, White-rumped Trogon, Narina Turaco, Knysna Weaver, Dark-backed White-eye, Cape