Outing report - Mpenjati Conservancy, 26 February 2017

Attendees: Stan & Val Culley,  Doug & Angie Butcher, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Clive & Margie Cowan, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, Louis & Pat Fourie, Robin Eccles & Hanli Kloppers, Russell & Lorna Johnson, Michelle Pearson (19)

Bird count: 24 (see end)

Today was a different bird count from our previous two outings last July and the January prior.  In fact number-wise it was quite disappointing, the weather was not very conducive, being windy and overcast.  However, a Cotillion of Terns and Flight of Swallows kept our group of 19 folks quite entertained and the grey morning turned into a beautiful late summer day which was enjoyed by everyone.

A Cotillion of Terns (photo Doug Butcher)

Pied Kingfisher (photo Michelle Pearson)

Parking close to the beach on the South side of the reserve, we watched as Woolly-necked Storks circled lazily over the estuary.  A Pied Kingfisher sat sentry-like on its perch , occasionally taking flight, hovering and diving spectacularly.  Roberts mentions that it is often cited as the world’s largest bird capable of sustained hovering in still air.  A Common Sandpiper, tail bobbing, gleaned along the river-edge for tasty morsels.

Common Sandpiper (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Kelp Gull (photo Hazel van Rooyen

Cape Wagtail (photo Doug Butcher)

On the beach close to the breaking waves, a group of Swift and Sandwich Terns huddled together.  A lone Kelp Gull didn’t approve of our scrutiny and took flight at our approach to be joined by its mate further along.  Three tiny White-fronted Plovers darted up and down the tideline – how do their little legs move so fast!  Further out at sea Cape Gannets skimmed the breakers.  Michelle pointed out that this is an unusual sight so early in the year.

White-fronted Plover (photo Michelle Pearson)

White-fronted Plovers (photo Hazel van Rooyen)

There were no signs of birds through the dune forest and even the grassland was devoid of the usual seed-eaters flitting about.  High in the sky a Yellow-billed Kite put in a desultory appearance and a Red-eyed Dove sat fat and drowsy in a tree-top.  A sad sight was the hide lying abandoned outside the offices.  Marina Beach Conservancy had erected it at Marina Lagoon and it had proved excellent for bird viewing until it was removed because of complaints by residents across the river concerned about their privacy,

Crowned Eagle (photo Michelle Pearson)

Having walked up an appetite, we made ourselves comfortable for breakfast on the river bank where a Crowned Eagle being harassed by Hadedah Ibis provided a bit of excitement.   
 

Tucking into breakfast (photo Doug Butcher)

After this we moved to the North side of the reserve to see if we would have some luck there but after a stroll to the beach and through the forest no further species could be added to our day’s list.  Some people, having other commitments, left at this point while others stayed to enjoy the lovely braai.

Terns waiting for the Tide with backdrop of Mpenjati dune forest

 (photo Hazel van Rooyen

Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Dove, Red-eyed Duck, Yellow-billed Eagle, Crowned Falcon, Lanner Gannet, Cape Goose, Egyptian

Greenbul, Sombre Gull, Kelp Ibis, Hadeda Kingfisher, Pied Kite, Yellow-billed Plover, White-fronted Sandpiper, Common Stork, Woolly-necked

Sunbird, Amethyst Swallow, White-throated Swift, Little Tern, Sandwich Tern, Swift Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Wagtail, Cape Wagtail, Pied

Photos property of photographers

Outing report: Izotsha Creek & Uvongo River, 13 November 2016

 

Attendees:  Doug & Angie Butcher, Stan & Val Culley, Eric Kok, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Michelle Pearson, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen,
and Dave Bishop

Species recorded 83:  Izotsha Creek 54; Uvongo River 29 (+ 7 repeats)

Text: Hazel van Rooyen

 

White-breasted Cormorant (photo: Doug Butcher)

After a wet week country-wide (sadly with floods in Gauteng after the pro-longed drought) we decided to take a chance and ventured out to Izotsha Creek Wetland – some with their wellington boots!  However, although there were some puddles around, it was amazingly dry considering the amount of rain that had fallen recently.

After some indecision about parking, we started by inspecting the grassland area.  Here we found Tawny-flanked Prinia, Red-wing Starling and Speckled Mousebird.  Activity amongst the reed-beds proved to be Thick-billed Weaver, Southern Red Bishop and Fan-tailed Widowbird whilst aerial manoevres were being performed by Little Swift, White-rumped Swift, Barn and Lesser-striped Swallow.  In the treetops Village and Yellow Weavers frolicked along with a Black-collared Barbet.  Along the path between the houses and the swampy woodland of wild cotton trees Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds foraged and Green-backed Cameropteras bleated plaintively in the hidden shadows, expecting our movement to stir up insects.  

Fan-tailed Widowbird - Breeding male (photo: Michelle Pearson)

Back: Common Greenshank; L-R: Swift Tern, Sandwich Tern (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Trogons Bird Club (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Swift Tern (photo: Doug Butcher)

Sandwich Tern (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

White-breasted Cormorants (photo: Michelle Pearson)

White-breasted Cormorant "I've got your back"(photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Following the edge of the river down to the beach, White-breasted Cormorants and Swift Terns were casually watching where the river flowed into the sea, hoping for a juicy fish.  The river was too wide for us to cross but we watched the terns and cormorants for quite a while.  Stan spotted Sandwich Terns amongst the Swift Terns and a small flock of Sanderlings scampered up and down the rocks perfectly in tune with the wavelets flushing in nourishment for them.  A Common Greenshank stood on a rock close to the breaking waves whilst a Pied Kingfisher hovered and dived, hovered and dived close by and a single African Black Oystercatcher flew across.  A Ruddy Turnstone showed itself briefly and a Three-banded Plover searched for food on the dry shore in typical run-stop-search mode.  Just as we turned to leave, a flock of Blacksmith Lapwings landed, tinking noisily - as is their way.

Three-banded Plover (photo: Doug Butcher)

Time for breakfast had arrived and while we nourished ourselves we observed a Yellow-billed Kite, Lanner Falcon and a small flock of Woolly-necked Storks, after which we embarked on a walk through long grasses around a tributary of the river, thinking we could get to the shore of the main river but the reeds became too high so we back-tracked.  On the way we saw Yellow-billed Duck, Purple Heron, and Lesser Swamp Warbler.  

As braaiing would have been awkward with the grass so long we decided to move to Uvongo River and this proved to be a good decision.  On arriving we took our time looking around the picnic area where the birds were very busy.  Purple-crested Turacos were bouncing around in the tree-tops, flashing their red wings and calling to each other.  Black-backed Puffback, Lemon Dove, Red-backed and Bronze Mannikins were easily seen.  One group took a walk through the nature reserve and added Sombre Greenbull, Burchell's Coucal, White-belied Sunbird and Mountain Wagtail to the list.   

 

Mountain Wagtail (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Thick-billed Weaver (photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

The remainder sat on the bank overlooking the river and let the birds come to them – African Hoopoe, Paradise Flycatcher, Thick-billed Weaver, Southern Black Flycatcher.  A Giant Kingfisher flew down the river, just above the water.  The walkers returned and everyone relaxed with a braai.  Green Woodhoopoes “serenaded” us with their cackles and chatterings.  Also vocal were Lesser and Scaly-throated Honeyguides and an Olive Thrush was evident by its dartings and rustlings.  To finish off a great day a Crowned Eagle made a fly-past up the river.  Ooh!

Thankyou to Eric for leading us round Izotsha, to Stan for the scope and Stan and Stanley for the braai.

(All photos property of photographer) 

Species seen: 

 

Grassland	Beach/Izotsha Estuary	Reedy breakfast area	Uvongo River
Barbet Black-collared Bishop Southern Red Bulbul Dark-capped Camaroptera Green-backed Cormorant Reed Goose Egyptian Goose Spurwinged Ibis Hadedah Mousebird Speckled Prinia Tawny-flanked Sparrow House Starling Red-winged Swallow Barn Swallow Lesser-striped Swift Little Swift White-rumped Tinkerbird Yellow-rumped Turaco Purple-crested Weaver Thick-billed Weaver Village Weaver Yellow Widowbird Fan-tailed	Cormorant White-breasted Gannet Cape Greenshank Common Kingfisher Pied Lapwing Blacksmith Oystercatcher African Black Plover 3-banded Plover White-breasted Sanderling Sandpiper Common Tern Sandwich Tern Swift Turnstone Ruddy Wagtail Pied	Boubou Southern Coucall Burchell’s Duck Yellow-billed Falcon Lanner Heron Purple Kingfisher Brown-hooded Kite Yellow-billed Mannikin Bronze Pigeon Speckled Starling Black-bellied Stork Woolly-necked Sunbird Amethyst Swift Palm Tchagra Black-crowned Warbler Lesser Swamp Weaver Spectacled White-eye Whydah Pin-tailed	African Hoopoe Barbet Black-collared Cameroptera Green-backed Canary Yellow-fronted Coucall Burchell’s Dove Lemon Drongo Fork-tailed Duck Yellow-billed Eagle Crowned Flycatcher Paradise Flycatcher Southern Black Greenbull Sombre Honeyguide Lesser Honeyguide Scaly-throated Kingfisher Giant Mannikin Bronze Mannikin Red-backed Oriole Black-headed Prinia Tawny-flanked Puffback Black-backed Robin-Chat Red-capped Sunbird Olive Sunbird White-bellied Thrush Olive Turaco Purple-crested Wagtail Cape Wagtail Mountain Weaver Spectacled Wood-hoopoe Green