THE SOUTH AFRICAN AVIFAUNA SERIES

OF THE PERCY FITZPATRICK INSTITUTE OF AFRICAN ORNITHOLOGY

(Genera[ Editor: PROFESSOR J. M. WINTERBOTTOM, Director of the Institute)

THE OF WINTERSKLOOF, NATAL

BY

T. B. OATLEY & N. R. PINNELL

Price 30C THE BIRDS OF WINTERSKLOOF, NATAL

T.B. Oatley and N.R. Pinnell - 1 -

WinterskJ.oof is a Health·comm.ittee area of 2 square miles in extent and currently housing seventy resident families. It is situated on the escarpment 8 miles north~west of the city of Pieter­ maritzburg and constitutes most of the upper part of a valley lying between horse-shoe .shaped ridges at an altitude of from 3 1 400 to 3 7 900 ft. above sea level. Rainfall averages 51 inches per annum with the bu1k of the precipitation falling between October and March. The mean annual temperature is 15 •. 400. Due to the sloping nature of the terrain there iB good air drainage and frost is infrequent, seldom occurring on more than 20 nights a year. Snow is rare. The south­ western part of Winterskloof is to a slight extent in rain shadow and, being north-facing, receives more inso1ation; it is therefore rather drier in character than the opposite extremity which has a southerly aspect. · There are several deeply incised converging streams, most of which support stands of evergreen forest, much fragmented due to agricultural and resi­ dential development. Eucalyptus sp., Wattle Acacia melanoxylon, and Pinus sp. are the more abundant exotic trees and the area is primarily a wooded one. There are few patches of grassveld of any extent, the only significant one being of some 80 acres in extent and lying to the north of Winterskloof Station~ There is one small dam (Stacey's) but a much larger dam (Walter's) used to attract aquatic birds and waders until it burst after heavy rain in 1961. · A total of 183 birds are listed of which 63 are considered to be resident species. There are 16 regular summer visitors and 4 regular winter visitors, the balance of recorded species being made up of occasional or rare visitors, vagrants and overflying birds. - - 2 - The forest exerts a strong influence on the avifauna and of course in considering such a small area the species list reflects the influence of surrounding districts with differing ecologies. References in the text to "the neighbouring valley" refer to the Townbush Valley of Pietermaritzburg 1 the southern flank of which (traversed by the National Road to Johannes~ burg) is of a relatively dry aspect and contains the only rock faces in the area • Because the majority of breeding birds are forest-dwelling species some notes on the forest are relevant. By virtue of altitude and locality the forest is of a transitional type, including trees more usually associated with the coastal areas of Natal as well as some that are characteristic of the cooler midlands. Dominant trees are Combretum kraussianum, Ficus capensis, Ficui natalensis, africana, Halleria lucida and Xymelos monospora. Unfortunately, two in the understory are dominant in many sections at the expense of the more usual herbs, ferns and mosses. One of these is a species of Commelina which has completely overrun damp areas near streams, and the other is an exotic ginger, Hedychium flavum, apparently descended from two plants introduced to Vvinterskloof in 1913. Its spread has no doubt been aided by birds as the seeds are covered with a juicy red aril which many frugivorous species find highly palatable. The fruiting succession is complete through­ out the year- one species, Solanum mauritianum, providing ripe fruit in every month, but this source is supplemented by Celtis africana, Ficus species, Pygeum africanum, Rhamnus prinoides ,-K:l.gelar~ africana, Xymelos monospora, and Halleria lucida amongst the indigenous trees as well as by exotic species such as the aforementioned ginger; bramble and guavas, plums, avocado pears and berry fruits in gardens provide a surfeit of fruit when in season. ~ .3 - Like the forest, the avifauna inhabiting it is also transitional in character, including in addition to widespread forest species birds which are typically associated with lowlands in these parts of Natal, such as the , Purple­ crested Lourie, Olive and Red-backed Mannikin, as well as species usually associated with the hi5b,er forests of the interior, e.g. Olive Woodpecker, Bush Blackcap, Starred Robin and · Yellow-throated Seicercus. The midlands fauna bulks largest, as might be expected at this altitude, but there are anomalous scarcities of certain species. Until 1965 no '1'uracos were known in the valley, and the virtual absence of the Red-ftontea Tinker Barbet.is difficult to explain, as the habitat appears to lack nothing that it requires and it occurs in a variety of.habitats, including evergreen forest, in neighbouring districts at higher and lower altitudes. The list is.basad on the records of N.R. Pinnell, who has been resident in Winterskloof since 1946 and has collected much breeding data, and T.B. Oatley, resident since 1963. Reference in the text to "Summerwood '.' refers to Pinnell 1 s property ..

The use of the words "common" 9 "uncommon'' 9 "rare" and etc. should be read not as an indication of the number of times ·~f species may be seen or heard, but rather of its actual numbE;)rs in relation to the · numbers one would expect to find in the habitato Thus the Wood Owl and the Olive are both listed ·as common breeding residents, though in actu.al numbers the Thrush is far more numerous than the Owl o ··· 11he systematic order of families follows the revised edition of Roberts Birds of South Africao .. - 4 - SYSTEMATIC LIST Dab chick Podiceps ruficollis Was resident on the dam and bred there until dam burst. Never more than two pairs seen at any one time. Now breeding on Stacey's Dam. Reed Cormorant Phalocrocorax africanus Seen on numerous occasions at dam but never found breeding. Darter Anhinga rufa Single birds were seen on numerous occasions at dam. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea A rare visitor, more usually seen in summer months. A solitary roosted on a dry tree in tbB forest during winter of 1954. Black-headed Heror1 Ardea melanocephala Seen every month but rare and local. Not breeding. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Yellow-billed Egret Mesophoyx intermedius These two species recorded as single individuals in company with Sacred Ib~.:'l feeding in open grassland, but only in very wet seasons. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Common, in association with local dairy cattle herds. Does not roost or breed in Winterskloof. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta ·· One pair seen every month on Summerwood. Suspected to nest lower down in Swartkops Valley. White Stork Ciconia ciconia A flock of eight seen soaring in thermal on 8.5.67. Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Numerous in wet seasons on open ground along Dorp Spruit. Hadeda Hagedashia hagedash Raucous resident in small flocks. Breeds Oct.­ Dec. - 5 .. Spoonbill P1at::Lles. cJ_-bP. Vagrant. One seen on banks of--Dam- in-195"5: Spurwing Goose Plectropterus gambensis Seen several times a year in flight~ passing south to north just after sunrise. Black Duck Anas sparsa Vagrant. One pair heard and seen flying up Dorpspruit in April 1967. Yellowbill Duck Anas undulata Small flocks seen flying over in winter months but not seen in 1966 or 1967. Hedbill Teal Arms er~throrhynch~ Present on Stacey's dam, February 196 • . . . White-faced Duck_ Dendrocygna viduata Flying over, usually at ni.ght, when southerly winds blowing. White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus One record only of three birds passing over in 1961. Secretary Bird Sagittarius serpentarius Vagrant •. One bird. observed on open ground in 1963. Cape Vulture Gyps copro·theres Airspace only. Number~ of these birds seen on two occasions, soaring high up and moving north to south. Lanner Falco biarmicus Only once seen, three birds together, March 1965. Lesser Kestrel -- Falco naumanni One pair observed sitting in tall Eucalyptus tree, 1952. Black Kite lVIilvus migrans One record of a flock of nine flying over in an easterly direction on 11.11.66. Another of s~weh flying south on 15.10.67. ' . Yellow-billed Kite MilvU.s aegyptius ·_ Not common over Winterskloof. Observed·september to March o - 6 - Black-shouldered Kite r;:. -'=',Ells caeruleus Occasionally seen on ridge·-1:>ordering Hilton. One pair nested here in a Eucalyptus tree in 1960. Black Eagl~ !quila verreauxi One specimen in l949o This bird sat on a telephone pole for many days. It was eventually shot by a land owner after it had taken its third australop hen. Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus Seen November 7 January 1 February and March 1 airspace only. Display flight sometimes observed. Resident and breeding in neighbouring districts. Lizard Buzzard ~aupifalco monoe,r8:!QIIlicus One record only, a bird sitting on top of a telegraph pole in June 1963. Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus Occasionally in airspace. Uncommon. Buzzard Buteo buteo Seen fairly re{:,.rularly from October to March. Plumage is very variable and the majority of birds are presumably of the mig:r'a tory B. b • vulpinus • Hed-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris Uncommon resident 1 seen every month of year by N.H.P. African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro Breeding resident. Dawn and dusk flights a regular sight throughout year. ]'eeding fledged ;young in February. African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus One pair resident at dam until it burst. A nest with two young was found there in a clump of bent-over reeds. Gymnogene Polyboroides typus Two records only, August and November, 1964. Redwing Francolin ]'rancolinus levaillantii One covey resident from 1952 to 1956. Believed to have been shot out by poachers. - 7 - Red-necked Francolin Pternistis afor A few birds resident around the edgeo:ftbe~remaining forest patches. African Quail Coturnix coturnix One bird flushed in meadow 9 October 1964. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A resident flock now numbering 30 birds derived from 2 wild pairs and four pairs introduced from Oudtshoorn 1 Cape, in 1966. Corn Crake Crex crex Seldom seen but present in fair numbers during summer months. Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans Heard calling from August to February and doubtless resident. Two nests have been found in October and December and chicks seen on several occasions 1 the last being on 11.10.67. Adults will attack legs of humans if approached with chicks. Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum Numbers .se.en flying over but no terrestrial records. Blue Crane Tetrapteryx paradisea As for Crowned Crane 9 airspace records only. Crowned Plover SteQhanibyx coronatus vvas recorded uncommonly on open ground north of station but not seen or heard for last 3 or 4 years. Blacksmith Plover Hoplopterus armatus One pair observed at the dam in 1953. Little Stint Calidris minuta A common migrant to the dam before it burst 1 but never more than five seen at any one time. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleuca Recorded at the dam. - 8 - Water Dikkop Burhinus vermiculatus A pair were resident until 1962 but have not been seen since. Nests were found .in 1954 and 1955. Cape Dikkop Burhinus capensis A pair presumably resident as often heard calling at night. Rock Pigeon ·calumba guinea One pair arrived at Summerwood in 1958 and took up residence in the·farm buildings. The birds bred regularly but never increased above four in number and were heavily preyed upon by the two Sparrowhuwk species. Have now completely disapp~ared •.· Rameron Pigeon Columba arguatrix Seen every· month of the year in-varying numbers, depending on local indigenous fruit supplies. Very numerous at times and breeds ·in early. spring. Red-eyed Dove .. . Str.eptopelia semi torquata Common breeding r,G:sident. Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola Common breeding.resident. Laughing Dove :~ti&m;atopelia senegalensis Only one seen in 21 years, although the speci.es is common in suburban Pietermaritzburg. Tambourine Dove T~tur tympanistria Numbers VFJ,ry from year.. to year. Recorded breeding by NRP. Seems commonest during l!'ebruary and March. Cinnamon Dove : ...... Aplopelia larvata A breeding resident. · Fully fledged young caught in October 1966. An adult found dead in Oatley's h?use in April 1967 had _eaten 82 seeds of Kiggelaria africana and 8 small snaiTs • · Green Pigeon Treron calva Seen not infrequently by NRP feeding on wild figs. Considered to be a local migrant, perhaps from the Umgeni Valley. - 9 - robustus Infrequent records of flocks passing -through the area since 1946. Purple-crested Loerie Gallirex porphyreolophus Unknown in area until October 1965 -when a solitary bird arrived. Since then the species has been recorded every month. At least three have been observed together and this loerie is now believed to be a breeding _resident. Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius Fairly common summer visitor, recorded by NRP during the period under r$view never to have arrived earlier than 17th September and never later than 29th September. Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus Fairly. common summer visitor, presumed breed·ing in area. Great-spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius One record only of a bird. heard and seen calling in a Wattle plantation in 1956. . Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cu reus Common summer visitor from September to March through· to early June in 1967) • Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas

Fairly common su.mmer. visitor 1 normally present from September to March: some birds may overwinter.· Diederic Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius Summer visitor from October to March, invariably frequenting colonies of weaver birds. Burchell's Coucal Centropus superciliosus

1 Uncommon res:i,dent.~ Nest found in 1956. Barn Owl Tyto alba Only two records but probably more frequent than suspected. Wood Owl Ciccaba woodfordii Common resident in forest. Breeds in Septembero - 10 - Scops Owl Otus scops One pair seen for many days perched in Jacaranda tree in October 1966. Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus Uncommon •.Two sight records, November and March. South African Nightjar · Caprimulgus pectoralis One record only.,. lVIay 1966. . . . European Swift Apus apus Black Swift Apus barbatus Flocks in airs~~ce and impossible to identify with certainty bu.,t recorded only in February and March so possibly the European species is involved. White-rumped Swift . Apus caffer . . Not uncommon i'n Valley 1 ·usually during summer months. One pair bred in a disused Leiser Striped Swallow's nest in 1965. Little Swift Apus affinis Airspace only; records in January, February, April, July and October. This species breeds in the city. Alpine Swift Anus melba Irreb~lar visitor at any tlme of the year in sizeable flocks. Most r.ecords in July, September and March. Palm Swif.t · . . C;yvsiurus parvus Occasionally recorded. in Pietermaritzburg district but onl;y once noticed above Winterskloof; a pair seen by. Ian Garland in February 1966. Speckled Mousebird striat~s Common breeding resident. Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina Fairly common resident. .in Forest. Breeds October, NovembeT. Pied Kingfisher Cer;yle rudis Irregular visitor to area, usually noted at least once in any year. - ll - Giant Kingfisher Me~aceryle maxima An irregularvisitor. In July 194 one bird caught over 100 goldfish from a r~sident 1 s fishpond. Natal Kingfisher Ispidina picta Uncommon summer visitor to area. Passage birds noted in. October. Suspecte.d breeding, but nest not found. Brown-hooded Kingfisher ]ialcyon albiventr;h§.. Fairly common breeding resident. European .B.ee-eater apiaster One record .only of a small flock passing over in a southerly-direction in 1952 •. European Roller Coracias garrulus Used to be .a fairly common summer visitor, sitting on fence poles or telephohe wires but has not been seen in valley now for some· years. African Hoop6e· Upupa africana Uncommon and ~pparently not resident. Seen only occasion- ally. \ \ .. Red-billed Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpurJ2.£.@ · Rare visitor; twq records only, in February 1965 and January l9o8. Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminat~. Rare visitor recorded twice in last five years. Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri One record. Two birds in paddock on 8th June 19~7. . . Black-collared Barbet Lybius torguatus An uncommon breeding resident.· E.ed-fronted Tinker Barbet Pogoniulus pusiliu·s Only recorded from October 1966 to January l967 9 ·during which period orie bird called monotonously from one sector of the forest. Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator One record only,a bird heard calling in December 1964. - 12 - Scaly~throated Honeyguide.Indicator variegatus Unrecorded until August 1967 when a bird. was first heard calling in the forest, and continued to fre­ quent the area for at least four months. Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor Recorded in June, September and October. Uncommon, but probably often overlooked. Sharp-billed Honey·guide Prodotiscus regulus Recorded during period August to May during which time fairly common and presumed·breeding. One observed being irately pursued by male sunbird, Cinnyris chalybeus ~. Golden..:.tailed Woodpecker Carripethera abingoni l!,irst recorded November 1966 and considered a chance visitor, but there was q_uite an influx of these birds in spring of 1967. They did not breed or remain in the area as far as is known. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens Recorded in June and July, 1967. Olive Woocfpecker M_esopicus griseocephalus A fairly common breeding r~sident. · Red-breasted Wrynec~ . Jynx ruficollis Uncommon, and shuns thP. more forested areas. Found breeding in January l9y8 • ... .. European Swallow Hirundo rustica Recorded November to April but uncommon in or over Winterskloo:f; ·seems t·o ·prefer hawking over more open country. · White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis An occasional visitor in the summer months. Does not breed in Winterskloof. - 13 - Lesser-striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica summer visitor in small numbers from September to May. Breeds in October and November and (i~,l967) in April. Rock Martin Ptyonbprogne fuligula Infrequently. re.corded in small flocks, usually with other species of hirundin.es. .Airspace only. · African Sand Martin Riparia paludicola Seen in small numbers most yearso Has bred in holes in railway cu.tt1ng banks. '. Black Saw-wing Swallow Psalidoprocne holomelaena Common visitor August to April. Breeds in holes .in road cuttings. · · · Black Cuckoo-Shrike Campephaga phoenicia Recorded once only in March·l965. · Grey Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina caesia Recorded twice; in September 1963 and June 1965. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis Common breeding resident. Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus · ~airly common; recorded throughout year. Cape Raven Corvultur albicollis Recorged in airspace in spring--of 1967 when a pair took up· residence at nearby. "Worlds View" •. Other reoords of odd birds passing over. Black Tit ~arus niger Common resident, breeding November and December. Bush . Blackcap Lioptilornis nigricapillus Primarily a winter visitor, being present in varying numbers from year to year during the months.March to November. There is:a possibility that it may breed occasionally as NRP has also recorded it during December,· January and ]1ebruary and although no nest has been found it has been seen carrying food. - 14 - Black-eyed Bulbul Ed2n0]10tus barbatus Common resident. Breeding September to January. Terrestrial Bulbul ' Phyllastrephus terrestris Fairly common resident in forest. Sombre Bulbul Andropadus importun~s Common breeding resident. Nests found in October, November, December and April. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus Common breeding resident; nestlng September-Decem­ ber and in April (1967). Gurney's Thrush Turdus 6Urneyi Vagrant. Only one record, of- a bird that spent several hours in the forest on TBO's property on the morning of 11th July, 1966. Stone chat Saxicola torguata Uncommon resident in some open grassland areas. Chorister Robin Cossypha dichroa Fairly common resident in forest. Breeding October- December. Cape Hobin .9ossypha caffra Uncommon resident. Numbers swelled by winter visitors. 1 Breeds: September-January. White-browed Scrub Robin Er~thropygia leucophrys First record in September· 19 7 when a pair of birds frequented Summerwood; since then recorded up to end of January. Starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata Common resident in forest; breeding October-December. Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Only a few records but a species easily overlooked. Summer visitor, recorded January to march. Willow Warbler Ph~lloscopus trochilus Only one record (December 19 6) but probably overlooked like previous species. - 15 - Scrub Warbler Bradypterus barratti A regular winter visitor 9 recorded February to Octo-ber but most common between March and September. Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer Uncommon and local; proba91y resident. Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoraciDa Ooi.umon resident in forests 9 breeding in October­ December. Bleating Bush Warbler Oamaroptera brachyura Localised breeding resident, nesting October to December. Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla Localised resident. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Resident and not uncommon from 1963 to 1966 9 but virtually unrecorded since then. Perhaps unsuccessful in competition with next species. Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa Common resident 9 breeding October to January. Dusky Jnyca teller lVIuscicap§. adusta A fairly conwon if localised breeding resident; nests October to December. Black Flyca teller Melaenornis pammelaina Frequent visitor 9 particularly during winter months. f Yellow-throated Warbler Seicercus rufic~pilla Fairly common breeding resident in forests. Nests in O.ctober o. One clutch found containing a cuckoo egg in October 1967; this certainlY of the Chrysococc~ and assumedly 9 on the basis of markings and colouration, of the species cupreus. Cape Batis Batis capensis Fairly common resident in forests. Breeding November and December. d Blue-mantled :B1lycatcher ~'rochocercus cyanomelas Localised resident in forests, breeding October and November - 16 - Paradise Ji1 lyca t.o,ll.er Terps'ii.phone viridis Common summer visitor from-september to· April. Breeds October-December. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis Rare visitor. Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi Nicholson's Pipit Anthus similis The first-named, tentatively identified, an occasional visito~ to op~n grassland. Nicholson's Pipit a definite' visitor to the area after veld burning. Yellow-.throated Longclaw lVIacronyx croceus An uncorfu:o.o·n and localised species ;-i)resumed resident. Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris An unco:mpwri localised resident.. Breeds in area. Bou-bou Shrike Laniarius fe_rrugineus A breeding resident. :B'airly common. ·· Puffback Shrik.e ... . Dryoscopus cubla A common breeding resident. Black-crowned T.chagra Tchagra senegala Only once recorded in scrub wattle in November 1966. Olive Bush Shrike Chloroph6neus olivaceus· A breeding reS.ident in forests. Bokmakierie ~elophorus zeylonus Uncommon local resident. Indian Mynah Acridotheres tristis .. Although abundant in Pietermaritzburg, rarely seen in Wihterskloof where the higher rainfall is perhaps not to its liking. Cape Glossy· Starling LamEroco.lius ni tens A rare to occas·ionEJ,l visitor. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus moria A small flock recorded in July 1965. - 17 - ned-billed Oxpecker Buphagg.s erythrorhynchus A solitary bird noted on one occasion only, in 1950. It was sitting on a fence post and appeared to be sick as it permitted NRP to approach within 10 feet before flying off to a patch of forest. Gurney's Sugar bird Promer~ps gurneyi One pair of these birds were resident for some years (about 1948) when a resident was cultivating on his plot. In 1964 a neighbour of TBO began culti­ vating proteas •.• the plants are scattered over an area of less than half an acre, yet in August 1967 an adult Sugarbird arrived and spent at least two months in the area. ~'he species is a breeding resident at Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve in the neighbouring valley. Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa A common winter visitor, regularly seen feeding on Aloes in July and August. Some birds may be resident as males in full plumage observed on a couple of occasions in December. Lesser Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus Abundant resident, breeding from September through to as late as April. White-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris talatala Rare visitor; a pair noted in August 1964. Not in- · frequently noted in neighbouring valley. · Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Comn1on resident in forest. Breeding September to January and in April. Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris A common resident. Noted breeding in February and March in 1967. Black Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina Locally common, a breeding resident. One pair raised three broods in 1966/7. - 18 - Cape White-eye Zosterops· pallidus An abundant breeding resident. The great majority of birds are of the green race, ~.p.virens, but in winter small flocks of grey-bellied birds, presumably Z.p. atmorei, make their appearance. Found breeding October­ December. House Sparrow Passer domesticus Locally established at some dwellings but not common. Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia superdiliaris Uncommon visitor, doubtfully resident. Nest found in hollow cabbage tree (Cussonia sp.) 1949. · Forest Weaver .8ymplect.es bicoJ:.£!: Fairil.y common resident. Breeding records for October and November. Spectacled Wee,ver. H;yphanturgus ocularius Resident,· somewhat localised. Has bred at Su.mmerwood every year since 1952. Spotted-backed Weaver Ploceus cucullatus One breeding colony ·known in area; Birds resident. Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis One breeding colony known, there may be others. Birds seem to.move about a great deal.· Thick-billed·weaver. Am.blyospiza albifrons An uncommon and somewhat spasmodic visitor. Usually seen in July-August in small flocks but also appears someti~es in other months. Very fond of feeding on seeds of Celtis africana. Red Bishop Bird . ~uplectes orix Uncommon and localized; wanders up into the valley. sometimes from lower levels. Red-collared Wido0~bird Coliuspasser ardens Noted in summer months in drier part of valley, particularly in scrub wattle areas, and doubtless breeds. Probably resident, winter-plumage birds being overlooked. - 19 - Red-shouldered Widow-bird Q2liuspasser ax~llari~ Uncommon. Was found breeding at Walters Dam in 1949. Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata A common resident species. Red-backed Mannikin Lonchura bico1or Thought to be rare 9 small flocks having been seen on infrequent occasions, but in September last one small flock seen daily for several weeks coming to drink at noon under dense undergrowth covering small stream. swee Waxbill Coccop~Eia melanotis Fairly common breeding resident. Green Twinspot ~pargos nitidulus Uncommon 9 possibly resident, though subject to local movemento Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata Fairly common breeding resident. Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild. Uncommon or perhaps localised .-si:'iiall flocks se·en with swees in summer and autumn. Quail 1!1 inch Ortygospiza atricollis Once recorded; probably rare owing to lack of suit­ able habitat. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Frequently observed in summer months and presumably resident. Black Widow-finch Hypochera funerea Observed in summer months in drier areas 9 particularly scrub wattle. Cape Canary Serinus canicollis Common breeding resident. Forest Canary Serinus scotops Co1nmon breeding resident e - 20 - Yellow-eye Canary Serinus mozambicus Uncommon 1 perhaps not resident. Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiz~ flaviventris A resident speciest uncommon. Presumably breeds in area, as seen feeding fledgeQ. young.