Trogons Outing Report - Stott Farm, Umtentweni, 22 May 2016

Attending: Doug & Angie Butcher, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Clive & Margie Cowan, Michelle Pearson, Graham & Sue Salthouse, Andrew Maree, Fran & Ray Coole, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, and Errol.

Species seen: 40 (see end)

Thanks to everyone who got up early for our walk on a lovely, crisp autumn morning.  Even before we moved into the farmland, the indigenous woodland revealed Olive Sunbird, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Red-eyed Dove, Paradise Flycatcher and – wait for it – a Narina Trogon (this, thanks to the eagle eyes of Fran Coole, all the way from Johannesburg). 

Narina Trogon (Photo: Michelle Pearson)

 

Paradise Flycatcher (Photo: Michelle Pearson)

Further into the farm, the edge of the forest was quiet.  Our usual pathway had been blocked for some reason so we walked further around the sugar cane which soon led us back to the woodland.  Along here we came to some ancient trees with wide-spreading branches which suddenly abounded with life – Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, Dusky, Ashy and Southern Black Flycatchers, Cape White-eyes, Village and Spectacled Weavers.  The melodious piping sounds of a Black-headed Oriole and the ripple-laugh of the Paradise Fly-catcher floated in the air – we didn’t know where to look first. 

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

African Hoopoe (Photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

Eventually moving on we completed the circle back to the cars, spotting Collared Sunbirds and a Thick-billed Weaver on the way.   

It's over there! (Photo: Doug Butcher)

Finding a sunny spot where we could have our breakfast, a pair of African Hoopoes and a family of Yellow-throated Longclaws checked out our presence.  An African Fish-Eagle called overhead.

Little Bea-eaters (Photo: Michelle Pearson)

Moving on again closer to the farmhouse a Natal Spurfowl squawked indignantly while Little Bee-eaters hawked insects from a telephone wire.  Usually the avenue of trees leading to the farmhouse is busy with birdlife but not today.  However, proceeding to where the road tumbles down the hillside a tree in fruit with small juicy red berries attracted a host of birdlife, including Dark-capped Bulbuls, Forktailed Drongos, Sombre Greenbuls and a Purple-crested Turaco.  In the same vicinity a dead tree was host to several Black-collared Barbet nestholes, and indeed we had seen and heard many of these vocal birds on our walk.  Later on a Cardinal Woodpecker and Burchell’s Coucal were seen at this site too.

I always enjoy the avenue of old knarled Coast Coral trees lining the pathway down to the river, wondering who planted them many years ago.  Close to the river which was now just a trickle we spotted Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Yellow-fronted Canary, Bronze and Red-backed Mannikins, Southern Boubou, and White-rumped Swifts skulled about in the air looking for insects.  In a patch of dead khakibos, one lonely green plant struggled on and Errol noticed a large green insect feeding on it, mimicking a leaf.  Maybe someone can identify it? 

What sort of bug is this? (Photo: Doug Butcher)

 
Trudging wearily back up the hill we were urged on by the jumbled trilling of Black-bellied Starlings.

A shady spot (Photo: Doug Butcher)

By this time our tongues were hanging out and we enjoyed some cold refreshment under a shady tree.  All in all, another great day out – not a huge number of species but an abundance of birdlife.  Many thanks to the Stott family.

Narina Trogon (Photo: Hazel van Rooyen)

 Species seen: 

Barbet, Black-collared Bee-eater, Little Boubou, Southern Bulbul, Dark-capped Cameroptera, Green-backed Canary, Yellow-fronted Coucal, Burchell’s Dove, Red-eyed Drongo, Fork-tailed Fish Eagle, African Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black

Greenbul, Sombre Hoopoe, African Ibis, Hadedah Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Long-claw, Yellow-throated Mannikin, Bronze Mannikin, Red-backed Oriole, Black-headed Prinia, Tawny-flanked Red-capped Robin-Chat Spurfowl, Natal Starling, Black-bellied Stonechat, African Sunbird, Collared

Sunbird, Olive Swift, White-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped Trogon, Narina Turaco, Knysna Turaco, Purple-crested Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver, Village White-eye, Cape Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Golden-tailed

 
All photos property of photographer

UPCOMING OUTING- 22 May 2016 Stott Farm, Umtentweni

Time: 07h00

Bring chairs, breakfast & a packed lunch. NO BRAAI.

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 & lift sharing telephone**  Hazel 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

From the R102 coast road turn inland at the robots into Rethman Drive. Meet at the farm entrance track approx 2km on the right.

Set GPS to DD MM SS.S = S30 42 38.5  E30 27 41.6

ALL WELCOME

Outing report - 24th May 2015 Stott Farm, Umtentweni

Text and photos by Hazel van Rooyen

Attending: Eric Kok, Barry Willis & Sue Hansbury, Stanley & Asothie Gengan, Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Willie & Walter, Graham & Patricia Pirie,  Alistair Warman, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, apologies if I have missed anyone.

Quite a few birds were spotted at our meet and greet point at the entrance to the farm, including Purple-crested Turaco, Olive Sunbird and African Paradise Flycatcher. The morning’s birding began with a circular stroll along the edge of the sugar cane and past evergreen forest.  The forest yielded, amongst others, Black-collared Barbet, Terrestrial Brownbul and at the top of the road some small birds were dropping like stones from the branches of a magnificent tree behind the sugar cane, then flying up again.  On close inspection Magpie Mannikins were busily building a large nest.

Further around lots of birds were calling, including Sombre Greenbul, Knysna Turaco and Black-headed Oriole.  Amethyst and Collared Sunbirds flitted in the treetops and a Woodpecker was identified as a Cardinal.  Almost back at the cars and an African Goshawk was spotted, which instantly flew off, upsetting a family of Natal Spurfowl scratching amongst the recently cut sugar cane.

Coffee was calling and we drove further onto the farm to find a grassy, shady place to take some refreshment.  The birds seem to love the area surrounding the farmhouse and the hedgerows up to the farmhouse were alive with birds – Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds, Yellow-fronted Canaries, Red-winged and Black-bellied Starlings amongst them.   A short way past the house, a Black Cuckoo-shrike was spotted and at the same time another greyish bird posed on a branch, later identified from a photograph as a Lesser Honeyguide by our expert Stan (who wasn’t even there).  Usually at this point we drive a bit further but some folk had their walking legs on so the rest of us dutifully followed, commenting that the trouble with downhills is the uphills.  However, it was a beautiful autumn day and we were happy to be out and about in our wonderful climate.  Down, down and along the avenue of coral trees (who had the foresight to plant this lovely avenue for future generations of humans and birds to enjoy I wondered?) and on reaching the bottom an African Fish Eagle circled slowly over our heads, greeting us with its evocative cry.

After watching some Pin-tailed Whydahs commuting between  grass and tree, most of us turned our eyes upwards and started plodding uphill as the sun turned up its heat.  Brown-hooded Kingfishers, Ashy Flycatchers, a Black-backed Puffback accompanied our upward trek.

A few of us made ourselves comfortable with some liquid refreshments and a picnic, while most decided to have an early day and another good day’s birding was over. 

Magpie Mannikin

Lesser Honeyguide

Dusky Flycatcher

Magpie Mannikin

Cardinal Woodpecker

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Dusky Flycatcher

Birds recorded (courtesy Sandy Olver):

Sparrow House

Ibis Hadeda

Turaco Purple-crested

Sunbird Olive

Dove Red-eyed

Bulbul Dark-capped

Robin-chat Red-capped

Paradise-flycatcher African

Hornbill Trumpeter

Brownbul Terrestrial

Spurfowl Natal

Barbet Black-collared

Mannikin Magpie

Flycatcher African Dusky

White-eye Cape

Greenbul Sombre

Drongo Fork-tailed

Weaver Spectacled

Weaver Dark-backed

Woodpecker Cardinal

Turaco Knysna

Oriole Black-headed

Sunbird Amethyst

Sunbird Collared

Starling Black-bellied

Goshawk African

Wagtail African Pied

Starling Red-winged

Canary Yellow-fronted

Rush-warbler Little

Saw-wing Black (Southern race)

Weaver Thick-billed

Tinkerbird Yellow-rumped

Mousebird Speckled

Cuckoo-shrike Black

Thrush Olive

Hamerkop Hamerkop

Fish-eagle African

Wood-hoopoe Green

Whydah Pin-tailed

Kingfisher Brown-hooded

Flycatcher Ashy

Puffback Black-backed

Quelea Red-billed

Fiscal Common (Southern)

Outing report- 23rd February 2014 Stott Farm, Umtentweni

Text by Angie Butcher
Photos: Hazel van Rooyen

Attendees – Doug & Angie Butcher, Margaret Jones, Eric Kok, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen (6 attendees)

And nearly only four, as Bob and Hazel flew past the end of the road three times in an attempt to find the entrance to the farm.   Only a few of us, but what a great morning, with cool weather, short grass and 15 sightings before we even set out.   Our first walk on the edge of the cane and back through the woodland yielded a flock of Green Pigeons, African Goshawk and good views of Cape Batis and Black-backed Puffback flitting around in the canopy.   Further along the road rows of Barn Swallows were congregating on the telephone wires, whilst Village Weavers popped in and out of the bush.
 

male Violet-backed Starling

female Violet-backed Starling

 

After breakfast, during which a Knysna Turaco sat in the tree overhead eyeing sandwiches and muffins, we left the cars and walked the coral tree-lined road to the farmhouse.   These trees were alive with birds – we counted at least a dozen Violet-backed Starlings, and woodpeckers were busy in the branches (Cardinal, Olive and Golden-tailed).   Outstanding sightings were had of Grey-headed Bush Shrike and Orange-breasted Bush Shrike which we followed for a distance, and a mysterious call at the end of the road had us searching our bird books, until we realised that it was Bernie’s African Grey calling from it’s cage on the stoep!   Back to the cars with a lone sighting of a Yellow-billed Kite preening on a pylon, and the end of four hours of profitable and enjoyable birding.

Yellow-throated Longclaw - note the 'long claw'

Knysna Turaco

Species recorded:  Barn Swallow, African Green-Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Goshawk, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Southern Black Flycatcher, Green-backed Cameroptera, Hadeda Ibis, Tambourine Dove, Olive Thrush, Black-bellied Starling, Pintailed Whydah, Knysna Turaco, White-rumped Swift, Trumpeter Hornbill, Black-headed Oriole, Brown Scrub-Robin, Violet-backed Starling, Dark-capped Bulbul, Black-collared Barbet, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Purple-crested Turaco, Klass’s Cuckoo, Red-winged Starling, Square-tailed Drongo, Cardinal Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Little Bee-Eater, Bronze Mannikin, Common Fiscal, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Orange-breasted Bush Shrike, Spectacled Weaver, Southern Boubou, Olive Woodpecker, Collared Sunbird, Cape Batis, Dark-backed Weaver, Black-backed Puffback, Amethyst Sunbird, Cape Glossy Starling, Village Weaver, Natal Spurfowl, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Feral Pigeon, Burchell’s Coucal, Yellow-fronted Canary, Olive Sunbird, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Green Woodhoopoe, Speckled Mousebird, Yellow-billed Kite, Golden-tailed Woodpecker (54 species)