July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 Newsletter of KZN bird clubs which are affiliated to BirdLife South Africa KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 EDITORIAL CONTENTS CHAIR’S CHIRPS WHEN well-seasoned and experienced 3 Chair’s Chirps birders dance a jig and cry “Whoa, Black 3 BirdLife KZN Midlands Betty” with whoops of delight, you know that 4 BirdLife Port Natal birding always will continue to intrigue and 9 BirdLife Trogons provide pleasure to those who pursue this 10 BirdLife Zululand pastime. ON behalf of all the members of BirdLife There are grave concerns about 11 Conservation and Projects KZN Midlands we congratulate conservation issues and the future of some 11 Reporting of rarities Professor Colleen Downs on being species; the effects of the continuing 13 Raptor Centre news appointed Honorary President of drought are worrying, but there is nothing BirdLife South Africa. This is indeed a that beats a once-in-a-lifetime sighting of a 15 Bird Notes and Observations great and well-deserved honour. rare bird. That was the experience in June 15 Delight at rare pelagic sightings Half of the year has almost gone, the of a group of Midlands birders who 18 Red-headed Quelea KZN increase migrants have returned to their northern accompanied Niall Perrins, David Allan and 19 Amur Falcons’ long journey territories, and hopefully are breeding in Rich Everett on one of their regular winter 20 Klepto-Kite steals Hamerkop’s lunch great numbers so that many birds will be pelagic trips out of Durban. See page 15. 21 Polymorphism in African Wood Owl back here in Spring. Due to the severe These rare sightings, and even the more drought, and in some areas late rains, pedantic experiences of finding birds out of 23 Bird Trips birding over the past few months has not range or in unexpected places, are very 23 Vickers’ trip to Namibia been as rewarding as in the past. The Crystelle Wilson valuable. But they only become so if they outings continue to have good support ABOVE: Prof Colleen Downs of the are recorded, and I am urging you to report 25 Honorary Recorder’s Report despite there being fewer birds than we University of KwaZulu-Natal in rarities and to participate in projects such as are used to. Pietermaritzburg is the new honorary the Southern African Bird Atlas Project, 30 Club Activities The monthly visits to Darvill have president of BirdLife South Africa. SABAP2. Colin Summersgill provides much 30 BirdLife Port Natal delivered a few surprises and thanks go Widely respected by her peers and needed guidelines on how to go about 32 BirdLife KZN Midlands to Gordon Bennett for leading these current and past students, Colleen reporting rarities on page11. 34 BirdLife Trogons early morning sessions. Other outings also is chair of the Cape Parrot But the best is, it is fun, whether you are have been to Weenen Nature Reserve, Working Group, co-ordinating the on a boat, a bird trip, or spending time in the uMngeni Valley, Cumberland Nature annual Cape Parrot Big Birding Day for garden observing the behaviour of birds. Reserve and Shongweni Dam NR. My the past 19 years. A keen birder, she Crystelle Wilson thanks to all those who have led these has found innovative ways of outings and supported them. incorporating her passion into her The Doreen Clark Nature reserve at work, and has inspired her many KZN BIRDS Hilton is not often visited by the club, but students to do the same; half of her KZN Birds is the newsletter of BirdLife Port Natal, BirdLife KZN Midlands, BirdLife Zululand, BirdLife Sisonke and postgraduate students have completed BirdLife Trogons, all branches of Birdlife South Africa, and is published three times a year. Any member of the public, Ian Gordon saw Bush Blackcap, Yellow- whether members of a branch or not, are invited to submit articles for publication. Views expressed in KZN Birds are throated Woodland Warbler, Grey research focused on birdlife. Currently, not necessarily those of the editor, the aforementioned clubs or BirdLife SA. All national rarities are subject to Sunbird and Barratt's Warbler amongst most of her students are researching acceptance by the National Rarities Committee. Submissions are used at the discretion of the editor and may be held back for future editions. Contributions can be sent to the Editor, Crystelle Wilson, at [email protected] or other birds there at the end of May. aspects of the effects of changing land typed or neatly written and posted to Crystelle at 2 Lanville, 149 North Ridge Road, Durban 4001. Good quality, high Out-of-range birds have been use on biodiversity. Colleen and her resolution digital photographs are also welcome. students are regular contributors to the Telephone: 031 2080577 or 082 7235158 popping up in strange places all over the Advertising in KZN Birds KZN Bird Forum held twice a year in Per issue country. One such bird is a Lesser The deadline for the next issue Front cover logo R1000 Jacana which has been at the Darvill Howick Back page colour R1500 is 1 October 2016 Full page inside b&w R 1000 Sewage ponds for the past few months. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park has Front cover: Sooty Albatross juvenile by Niall Perrins Half page R 500 Ian Gordon also saw a Collared had very good rains and many species Desktop Publishing: Crystelle Wilson Quarter page R 250 Pratincole and Eurasian Hobby here on of water birds have made their way up Smalls R2 per word 29 May. north. Those who were able to visit this July 2016 2 3 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 EDITORIAL CONTENTS CHAIR’S CHIRPS WHEN well-seasoned and experienced 3 Chair’s Chirps birders dance a jig and cry “Whoa, Black 3 BirdLife KZN Midlands Betty” with whoops of delight, you know that 4 BirdLife Port Natal birding always will continue to intrigue and 9 BirdLife Trogons provide pleasure to those who pursue this 10 BirdLife Zululand pastime. ON behalf of all the members of BirdLife There are grave concerns about 11 Conservation and Projects KZN Midlands we congratulate conservation issues and the future of some 11 Reporting of rarities Professor Colleen Downs on being species; the effects of the continuing 13 Raptor Centre news appointed Honorary President of drought are worrying, but there is nothing BirdLife South Africa. This is indeed a that beats a once-in-a-lifetime sighting of a 15 Bird Notes and Observations great and well-deserved honour. rare bird. That was the experience in June 15 Delight at rare pelagic sightings Half of the year has almost gone, the of a group of Midlands birders who 18 Red-headed Quelea KZN increase migrants have returned to their northern accompanied Niall Perrins, David Allan and 19 Amur Falcons’ long journey territories, and hopefully are breeding in Rich Everett on one of their regular winter 20 Klepto-Kite steals Hamerkop’s lunch great numbers so that many birds will be pelagic trips out of Durban. See page 15. 21 Polymorphism in African Wood Owl back here in Spring. Due to the severe These rare sightings, and even the more drought, and in some areas late rains, pedantic experiences of finding birds out of 23 Bird Trips birding over the past few months has not range or in unexpected places, are very 23 Vickers’ trip to Namibia been as rewarding as in the past. The Crystelle Wilson valuable. But they only become so if they outings continue to have good support ABOVE: Prof Colleen Downs of the are recorded, and I am urging you to report 25 Honorary Recorder’s Report despite there being fewer birds than we University of KwaZulu-Natal in rarities and to participate in projects such as are used to. Pietermaritzburg is the new honorary the Southern African Bird Atlas Project, 30 Club Activities The monthly visits to Darvill have president of BirdLife South Africa. SABAP2. Colin Summersgill provides much 30 BirdLife Port Natal delivered a few surprises and thanks go Widely respected by her peers and needed guidelines on how to go about 32 BirdLife KZN Midlands to Gordon Bennett for leading these current and past students, Colleen reporting rarities on page11. 34 BirdLife Trogons early morning sessions. Other outings also is chair of the Cape Parrot But the best is, it is fun, whether you are have been to Weenen Nature Reserve, Working Group, co-ordinating the on a boat, a bird trip, or spending time in the uMngeni Valley, Cumberland Nature annual Cape Parrot Big Birding Day for garden observing the behaviour of birds. Reserve and Shongweni Dam NR. My the past 19 years. A keen birder, she Crystelle Wilson thanks to all those who have led these has found innovative ways of outings and supported them. incorporating her passion into her The Doreen Clark Nature reserve at work, and has inspired her many KZN BIRDS Hilton is not often visited by the club, but students to do the same; half of her KZN Birds is the newsletter of BirdLife Port Natal, BirdLife KZN Midlands, BirdLife Zululand, BirdLife Sisonke and postgraduate students have completed BirdLife Trogons, all branches of Birdlife South Africa, and is published three times a year. Any member of the public, Ian Gordon saw Bush Blackcap, Yellow- whether members of a branch or not, are invited to submit articles for publication. Views expressed in KZN Birds are throated Woodland Warbler, Grey research focused on birdlife. Currently, not necessarily those of the editor, the aforementioned clubs or BirdLife SA.