Outing report- 16th March 2014 Gaze Farm, Port Edward

Photos and text by Andy Ruffle

Clearwater Dam

Attendees: Doug & Angie Butcher, Stan & Val Culley; Stanley & Asothie Gengan; Vic & Kay Neilson; Andy Ruffle, Irma Smook, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen; Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury. (14 attendees).

Another very pleasant outing to Gaze Farm today, with some six species added to the club list (highlighted in red below) for the venue.
An added bonus was the new Culley's Dam, which has been constructed on Stan & Val's property. This will prove to be a very special birding spot in the future we think.

The new Culley's Dam with it's visitor centre

The hide is a converted pump-house

Stanley in the hide, hoping for that Baillon's Crake

Birds recorded: Red-eyed Dove, Hadeda Ibis, Sombre Greenbul, Black-collared Barbet, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Village Weaver, Dark-capped Bulbul, Barn Swallow, Black-bellied Starling, Collared Sunbird, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Brown Scrub-Robin, Chorister Robin-Chat, Purple-crested Turaco, Tambourine Dove, Black-headed Oriole, Common Fiscal, Amethyst Sunbird, Black-crowned Tchagra, Yellow-fronted Canary, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Black Sparrowhawk, Fork-tailed Drongo, Olive Sunbird, Yellow-billed Duck, Black-headed Heron, White-faced Duck, Common Moorhen, African Jacana, Egyptian Goose, Knysna Turaco, Red-winged Starling, Burchell's Coucal, Crowned Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Pin-tailed Whydah, Natal Spurfowl, Little Grebe, Black Saw-wing, Malachite Kingfisher, White-throated Swallow, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Southern Boubou, White-necked Raven, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Speckled Mousebird, Bronze Mannikin.(47 species).

Tough little Green Wood-Hoopoe

Carol Hall has sent in this photo of a Green Wood-Hoopoe that has been visiting her garden for a few years now.

(Photo Carol Hall)

You can see that the lower mandible has grown straight instead of curved, but this doesn't seem to have affected this birds ability to feed.

Carol says that the bird is 'a loner' which indicates that it is self sufficient and not being assisted by family members of this usually gregarious species.

Outing report- 4th May 2014 Bird ringing, Igwalagwala Forest, Melville

Photos & text by Andy Ruffle (unless credited)

Attendees: Liz Blomeyer, Stan & Val Culley, Eric Kok, Vaughan Meyrick, Andy Ruffle, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen, Ron Whitham. (9 attendees).

Andrew & Ivan chose a new spot for this morning's ringing session at Igwalagwala Forest.
With 15 nets erected along the forest track and the weather conditions perfect, expectations were high.

Thrushes started the ball rolling. First out of the bag was an Olive Thrush, followed by a Spotted Ground-Thrush. The latter being a sure sign that winter is well and truly on it's way.

Olive Thrush

Spotted Ground-Thrush

The next batch to come out of the nets looked very interesting as Andrew & Liz returned from the forest.
Did Liz have an Ostrich in that big bag?, we wondered.

What bird is Liz carrying in that big bag!!!!???? 

False alarm, it was only ringing equipment sadly.
This beautiful juvenile Cape Robin-Chat was amongst this next wave of birds to be ringed.
Buff on the wing feathers and the slightly mottled breast identified this as a youngster.

juvenile Cape Robin-Chat

Stan, Vaughan and Eric then decided they would go explore the inner depths of the forest. There timing could not have been worse.
The next specimen to emerge from the bags was met with rings of 'LIFER' from Andy. It was a 'buff morph' Olive Bush-shrike. It was a pleasure to see this very elusive bird at such close quarters. Needless to say, the wanderers were very disappointed on their return, when they realised they had missed it.

'buff morph' Olive Bush-shrike

Always keen to keep his spectators happy, Andrew came up trumps with this stunning Little Sparrowhawk.

Andrew's face says it all with this Little Sparrowhawk

Andrew checks the feathers for moult

Adult Little Sparrowhawk

The special birds didn't stop there though. A pair of Grey Waxbill were also caught today. The last time Andrew ringed this species was some twelve years ago.

one of a pair of Grey Waxbill

What an absolutely excellent day's ringing. Other species ringed included 4x Red-capped Robin-Chat, Cape Batis, 3x Green-backed Camaroptera, 1pr Lemon Dove, Square-tailed Drongo, Dark-backed Weaver, Brown Scrub-Robin. A total of 20 birds were ringed.

Miss the next ringing session at your peril.

Photos copyright of photographer

Culley's Dam, Port Edward, April 2014 visitors

Here are some pics of a few of the visitors to
Culley's Dam during April 2014.

All photos by Stan Culley

Malachite Kingfisher
(Subspp cristata)
(Photo Stan Culley)

African Black Duck
(Subspp sparsa)
(Photo Stan Culley)

Lesser Swamp-Warbler
(Subspp zuluensis)
(Photo Stan Culley)

Lesser Swamp-Warbler
(Subspp zuluensis)
(Photo Stan Culley)

Photos copyright of photographer

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

eHowzit.co.za coverage of the Vulture Hide Launch on 8th February 2014

Outing report- 2nd March 2014 Bushbuck Trail, Southbroom

Text & photos by Doug Butcher

 

view from the Frederika Reserve

Attendees: Doug Butcher,  Barrie Willis and Sue Hansbury,  Bob and Hazel van Rooyen, Margaret Jones, Irma Smook, Stanley and Asothie Gengan, Chris Miller, Russell and Lorna Johnson.

 

A clear day to start with.  The open area before the woodland walk gave some good sightings of Sombre Greenbul, Collared Sunbirds, Palm Swift, Bronze Mannikin, Diderick Cuckoo and Grey-headed Bush-Shrike.

The wooded area gave us many sounds but not so many sightings.  We were greeted at one point when Russell and Lorna Johnson who were expected to meet at the tennis area had gone on a walk themselves (thinking we were not going to pitch up) and had covered a lot of ground.  We then had a larger group of 12.
 

 

Crowned Hornbills and Southern Boubou were among those sighted in the quiet forest type vegetation.
 

Breakfast by the tennis club (nobody playing today) and then we walked to the Frederika Reserve.  We crossed the golf course over the 7^th fairway and no-one got hit by a ball!  We came out on the beach at the Southern end of the reserve.  Trying to go up the path proved difficult as the bush had encroached so much that even a Duiker would have had to crouch!.  So we went back to the beach again and walked up towards the viewing deck.  This proved to be a long way and so we trundled back to our lunch spot.  Seen on this strip of beach were Water Thick knee, Kelp Gulls and several White Fronted Plovers.

 

 

A very pleasant morning and then a bite of lunch.

White-fronted Plover

Birds recorded: (compiled by Barrie Willlis) Red-Winged Starling, Cape Turtle-Dove, African Palm-Swift, Sombre Greenbul, Grey-Headed Bushshrike, Collared Sunbird, Dark-Capped Bulbul, Bronze Manikin, Diderick Cuckoo, Fork-Tailed Drongo, Laughing Dove, Black-Headed Oriole, Cape Glossy Starling,   Amethyst Sunbird, Purple-Crested Turaco, Tambourine Dove, Red-Eyed Dove, Burchell's Coucal, Cape White-Eye, Crowned Hornbill, Southern Boubou, Olive Sunbird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Black Saw-Wing, Lesser Striped-Swallow, Blacksmith Lapwing, Water Thick-Knee,   Kelp Gull, Klaas's Cuckoo, Hadeda Ibis, White-Fronted Plover. (31 species).

Cape Parrot Count 2014 date change

The 2014 Cape Parrot Count has been changed to 17th-18th May this year due to the upcoming elections.

If you would like to take part, but don't have camping equipment, please contact Herbie Osborne on the following email:

berwyn@telkomsa.net

or telephone 039-695-1002 and we will try to make a plan.

If you have already expressed an interest in assisting, please confirm with Herbie that the new dates are okay.

We will also be trying to negotiate a preferential rate at Ingeli Forest Lodge for those who like the more comfortable life.

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)

Official launch of Barry Porter Memorial Hide 8th February 2014

By Andy Ruffle

(Photo Lennart Eriksson)

 

Some 40 guests attended the official launch and naming of our Barry Porter Memorial Hide. They comprised representatives from UGU South Coast Tourism, representatives from Ezinqoleni Municipality, representatives from Ezinqoleni Tourism, BirdLife Trogons members, family members of Barry Porter, Mike & Heidi Neethling, representatives from the local tourism industry and  members of the media.

We assembled at Leopard Rock Coffee Shop before doubling up in cars and setting off to the hide.

Proceedings were opened by myself with a speech welcoming attendees, explaining briefly how the hide came about and thanking all those involved in bringing this exciting project to life.

Andy Ruffle
(Photo Lennart Eriksson)

Howard Kelly, who is on the Board of Directors of UGU South Coast Tourism (Pty) Ltd, then explained how and why UGU SCT became involved in this project.

Howard Kelly
(Photo Doug Butcher)

Next, Warren Porter, Barry’s son, gave a short speech about his father.

Warren Porter
(Photo Doug Butcher)

This was followed by Mike Neethling telling us some fascinating facts and figures about Cape Vultures.

Mike Neethling
(Photo Lennart Eriksson)

Warren Porter was then asked to the cut the ribbon and formally open the hide.

Andy Ruffle with Warren Porter - ribbon cutting
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

Andy thanks Warren
(Photo Lennart Eriksson)

Carol Kent, from Ezinqoleni Tourism, then gave a closing speech.

Carol Kent
(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

With the formal proceedings completed, attendees were eager to check out the hide and experience the vultures for themselves. Mike enthusiastically offered information as guests surveyed the vulture restaurant and then went to the cliffs.

(Photo Doug Butcher)

(Photo Doug Butcher)

(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

(Photo Hazel van Rooyen)

(Photo Doug Butcher)

(Photo Doug Butcher)

The gathering finally moved back to Leopard Rock for refreshments.

The launch was an overwhelming success and we have received nothing but positive feedback.

Certainly a day BirdLife Trogons can be very proud of!!

There are some more photos on our facebook group here.

Thanks go to the photo contributors