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. 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 park were very surprised to find a spoke in Howick on “Gorilla Expedition from Nature's Valley near Plettenberg not organise any ourselves. If anyone is juvenile African Jacana on the dune road to Uganda with some local bird Bay to deliver a fascinating talk entitled keen to take on some of the weekday or on 5 April and an African Darter on 7 May. specials”. He will repeat this talk at “Cities, Beaches and Birds - striving for weekend outings, that would also be Closer to home, a Narina Trogon, an Woodgrove on 11 October for those who co-existence”. The research that Mark, great. unusual sighting at Midmar, was seen by missed the talk up on the hill. together with students, interns and Paul and Sally Bartho wrapped up Karin and Craig Nelson on 22 May. The club now has its own Facebook locals, is doing on those birds that nest February on the 28th with a visit to Indoor meetings continue to be well page; “BirdLife KZN Midlands”. Our in dunes is so absolutely necessary at Darvill. Many of the waterbirds were supported both in Pietermaritzburg and thanks go to Peter Turner for setting this this time, and I was particularly struck by missing, but despite that, 92 species Howick. David Allan spoke to both up. It has already received tremendous the plight of the White-fronted Plover, were still counted. Please do check our groups on “Red-necked Buzzard: New support and is a very useful tool for club more vulnerable to breeding loss than website regularly as Paul always posts a for both South and Southern Africa, with information. other dune birds. All strength to him in number of bird photographs from their notes on the identification of other The next BirdLife KZN Forum will be his ongoing work. outings and travels and they make very juvenile buzzards in the region.” In April, held on 10 September at WESSA, Your club too is suffering a loss of worthwhile viewing. Daniel Dolpire presented a photographic Howick and all members are welcome to birders who are willing to give some time March blew in with an outing to appreciation of “Cranes, other birds and attend. to the committee and to assist in running Umbogavango with Dave Rimmer and a animals” and this was followed by an the activities that I know you so small group of 15 birders. Those early Peter Divall update on the cranes in the Midlands by appreciate. We lost both Virginia and enough were treated to seeing a flock of 033 239 5537 Tanya Smith. In May, David Johnson Des this year, but have been able to co- 34 African Openbills fly in from the opt Flick McKenzie to take over Amanzimtoti area heading northwards. outside my door during the day. And with Virginia's portfolio. However, we have Apparently they were roosting in the Bird the Leonotis leonuris all aflame right had to drop both education and the shop Sanctuary in Toti at night. Those with now, I am constantly drawn away to look from full-time portfolios. Our treasurer, cameras were afforded a great outside the window and watch the Frankie Berghorst, will keep the shop photographic opportunity. Again, you various sunbirds come and go whilst until all the contents are sold, but we can pick up the full report and having their fill of the plant's sweet have agreed not to continue with it. We photographs on the website. I have wished a bird would fly away will respond to requests for educational That same weekend - 5 and 6 March - And not sing by my house all day; nectar. February was hot and humid, so the outreaches as they come to us, but will was the regional BirdLife Forum in Have clapped my hands at him from the door organised walk with Elena Russell on When it seemed as if I could bear no more. the 6th to Burman Bush gave promise of BELOW: Guest speakers at the March KZN Bird Forum in Howick were (from left) cool shady areas. The excellent turnout Judy Mann of uShaka Seaworld, Fanie du Plessis of BirdLife South Africa, Andre The fault must partly have been in me. meant a split into three groups and the Botha of the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Simon Gear, BLSA The bird was not to blame for his key. Crystelle Wilson total bird count was 69. The ants were And of course there must be something wrong horrendous with atrocious bites, but . . . In wanting to silence any song. “we still made sure we all saw the bird of the day - a family of at least five Ashy Robert Frost Flycatchers”. ROBERT Frost, he of the path less This outing was followed by a talk by travelled. I shouldn't think he'd be writing David Allan for Krantzkloof Birds, and his the above poem in our time – the birds subject kept the audience cool - pelagic are scarcer, so to have one sing by one's trips off Durban. It is amazing how these house all day is a pleasure and a trips have become a staple with many privilege. The Hadedas, the Dark- local and regional birders hoping to see capped Bulbuls, the Fork-tailed some of the rarities found off our coast. Drongos, the Spectacled Weavers, the Saturday 20 February was a beautiful Red-capped Robin-Chat, the White- day for our AGM, once again held in the eared Barbets, the Black-headed Oriole, Palmiet NR in Westville. We were very the African Olive Sunbird, all singing lucky to bring Mark Brown all the way July 2016 4 5 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 park were very surprised to find a spoke in Howick on “Gorilla Expedition from Nature's Valley near Plettenberg not organise any ourselves. If anyone is juvenile African Jacana on the dune road to Uganda with some local bird Bay to deliver a fascinating talk entitled keen to take on some of the weekday or on 5 April and an African Darter on 7 May. specials”. He will repeat this talk at “Cities, Beaches and Birds - striving for weekend outings, that would also be Closer to home, a Narina Trogon, an Woodgrove on 11 October for those who co-existence”. The research that Mark, great. unusual sighting at Midmar, was seen by missed the talk up on the hill. together with students, interns and Paul and Sally Bartho wrapped up Karin and Craig Nelson on 22 May. The club now has its own Facebook locals, is doing on those birds that nest February on the 28th with a visit to Indoor meetings continue to be well page; “BirdLife KZN Midlands”. Our in dunes is so absolutely necessary at Darvill. Many of the waterbirds were supported both in Pietermaritzburg and thanks go to Peter Turner for setting this this time, and I was particularly struck by missing, but despite that, 92 species Howick. David Allan spoke to both up. It has already received tremendous the plight of the White-fronted Plover, were still counted. Please do check our groups on “Red-necked Buzzard: New support and is a very useful tool for club more vulnerable to breeding loss than website regularly as Paul always posts a for both South and Southern Africa, with information. other dune birds. All strength to him in number of bird photographs from their notes on the identification of other The next BirdLife KZN Forum will be his ongoing work. outings and travels and they make very juvenile buzzards in the region.” In April, held on 10 September at WESSA, Your club too is suffering a loss of worthwhile viewing. Daniel Dolpire presented a photographic Howick and all members are welcome to birders who are willing to give some time March blew in with an outing to appreciation of “Cranes, other birds and attend. to the committee and to assist in running Umbogavango with Dave Rimmer and a animals” and this was followed by an the activities that I know you so small group of 15 birders. Those early Peter Divall update on the cranes in the Midlands by appreciate. We lost both Virginia and enough were treated to seeing a flock of 033 239 5537 Tanya Smith. In May, David Johnson Des this year, but have been able to co- 34 African Openbills fly in from the opt Flick McKenzie to take over Amanzimtoti area heading northwards. outside my door during the day. And with Virginia's portfolio. However, we have Apparently they were roosting in the Bird the Leonotis leonuris all aflame right had to drop both education and the shop Sanctuary in Toti at night. Those with now, I am constantly drawn away to look from full-time portfolios. Our treasurer, cameras were afforded a great outside the window and watch the Frankie Berghorst, will keep the shop photographic opportunity. Again, you various sunbirds come and go whilst until all the contents are sold, but we can pick up the full report and having their fill of the plant's sweet have agreed not to continue with it. We photographs on the website. I have wished a bird would fly away will respond to requests for educational That same weekend - 5 and 6 March - And not sing by my house all day; nectar. February was hot and humid, so the outreaches as they come to us, but will was the regional BirdLife Forum in Have clapped my hands at him from the door organised walk with Elena Russell on When it seemed as if I could bear no more. the 6th to Burman Bush gave promise of BELOW: Guest speakers at the March KZN Bird Forum in Howick were (from left) cool shady areas. The excellent turnout Judy Mann of uShaka Seaworld, Fanie du Plessis of BirdLife South Africa, Andre The fault must partly have been in me. meant a split into three groups and the Botha of the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Simon Gear, BLSA The bird was not to blame for his key. Crystelle Wilson total bird count was 69. The ants were And of course there must be something wrong horrendous with atrocious bites, but . . . In wanting to silence any song. “we still made sure we all saw the bird of the day - a family of at least five Ashy Robert Frost Flycatchers”. ROBERT Frost, he of the path less This outing was followed by a talk by travelled. I shouldn't think he'd be writing David Allan for Krantzkloof Birds, and his the above poem in our time – the birds subject kept the audience cool - pelagic are scarcer, so to have one sing by one's trips off Durban. It is amazing how these house all day is a pleasure and a trips have become a staple with many privilege. The Hadedas, the Dark- local and regional birders hoping to see capped Bulbuls, the Fork-tailed some of the rarities found off our coast. Drongos, the Spectacled Weavers, the Saturday 20 February was a beautiful Red-capped Robin-Chat, the White- day for our AGM, once again held in the eared Barbets, the Black-headed Oriole, Palmiet NR in Westville. We were very the African Olive Sunbird, all singing lucky to bring Mark Brown all the way July 2016 4 5 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Howick. Once again, Roy had other guides and participants. “Gardens by the Bay - Singapore's new put together an excellent Twenty birders headed with Cheryl one-billion-dollar garden” on 12 April, Saturday programme - Andre Bevan for a weekend away at Sand and this was followed by a very well Botha of the EWT tackled the Forest Lodge for 11-13 March. Once attended indoor evening meeting on 13 Savannah Vulture Project again I urge you to check this outing on April when Harry Gazendam graciously and also spoke on the the website with a full report and some accepted our invitation to be guest Southern Ground-Hornbill wonderful photographs. speaker and no-one was disappointed, project in the Kruger Park. As On 17 March, many of our club even the non-photographers there. Nicholas Theron could not members attended the opening of a bird Some superb photographs brought attend owing to the imminent exhibition at the Artisan Gallery - some indrawn breaths and oohs and aahs! arrival of his second son, beautiful pieces were on display - Harry also gave some excellent advice Fanie du Plessis and Simon paintings, ceramics, jewellery and much and shared some of his photographic Gear were there from BLSA to more. Sandi du Preez and Mike White expertise. give the regional update, the closed March with visits to New I attended the Coastwatch AGM on shorebird counts and what Germany NR and Brettenwood Estate. Saturday 16 April - BirdLife Port Natal w a s h a p p e n i n g i n Crystelle Wilson Luckily no-one was confronted by the supports their work on EIAs and their conservation and advocacy ABOVE: The contribution to all things birds and forest cobras about which we had been support for Arnia van Vuuren's at BLSA. Bruce and Judy birding in South Africa made over many decades warned. comments has been inestimable. The Mann spoke on climate by Tim Wood (right) was recognised with The Saturday outing to the Bluff meeting was held at uShaka, with change and the oceans, a a certificate of appreciation at the Chairs’ Forum Nature Reserve on 2 April was not supporters and friends - they are doing really hot topic at the moment, on 6 March. With Tim were Roy Cowgill washed out - a steady drizzle sometimes an excellent job in monitoring our coast. with Bruce also discussing and Lesley Frescura light and sometimes heavy did not deter! Wednesday 20 April and off to 'Toti in the marine protected areas of So off we set; a good percentage of the the morning - some of the birders had South Africa and Tracy Shaw discussing The packing party got together to birding was on call but some good stuff started earlier, but all had a very good the plight of the African Penguin. BirdLife send out the magazine on 8 March, and I was seen as well. A large growth of morning with Sithembiso Majoka South Africa has set up a special African then attended the CROW AGM that Lorantus in one of the trees was a pointing out birds one might have Penguin project with its own offices in afternoon. Their director Claire magnet for Olive Sunbirds. In fact there missed. We explored both sides of the Cape Town. Maryna Jordaan brought us Hodgkinson has also just left them, was quite a nice bird party going on, reserve and ended with scones, toasted up to date with Redbilled Oxpeckers in which is a sadness for me as we had Terrestrial Brownbuls calling in the sarmies, tea and coffee at the kiosk. I KZN, Crispin Hemson discussed the built up a good relationship over time. undergrowth, Cape White-eyes, White- have since been informed that there has championing of a nature reserve and Dr However, we wish her the very best and eared Barbets, Dark-capped Bulbuls, been an attack after the fence was cut, Sandy Willows-Munro ended the day look forward to your club's visit to CROW Sombre and Yellow-bellied Greenbuls but that a group of Friends of the with a fascinating input on the research in July. and Black-bellied Starlings, to name but Reserve and others have quickly moved that is being conducted into the genetics The indoor meetings resumed on 9 a few. to repair this and improve the security. of the Cape Parrot. A feast of information March with Steve Davis coordinating a Tuesday 5 April saw the celebration of The SAPPI bird hide near Stanger for those present. brief photographic quiz and then the proclamation of the Roosfontein NR has given many some wonderful lifers The Sunday Chairs' meeting was discussing the photographs that which Virginia and I attended. After a this year, and Sunday 24 April was no rather tame by comparison, and very members had brought to show and talk brief visit to the site, we returned to the exception. Here is Rex Aspeling's report regretfully we said goodbye to Tim about. A very worthwhile evening. uMkhumbane Community Hall where in his own words : “There are not many Wood, who has been treasurer of the Your club shared with BL Sisonke the Debra Roberts and a spokesperson for perfect birding days. Sunday at SAPPI Forum since its inception. Indeed, he funding for the participation of guide the Minister of Economic Affairs, S t a n g e r w a s o n e t h a t w i l l b e and Roy had the initial idea and held the Dalu Ncobo, stationed at Ntsikeni Vlei, Tourism and Environmental Affairs remembered by a small group of seven meetings in the very early days so I am to the annual BLSA flock in the Kruger spoke about their plans for the future as an absolute cracker. We started at the sure that those present were more than a Park this year which took place in the and the importance of proclaiming more hide with African Rail, numerous little heart-sore to say goodbye and bon week from 9-14 March. The guides reserves in eThekwini in the near future. Squacco Herons and a bird count of voyage to Tim as he and Carolyn leave benefit hugely from attending the LAB - Chris Dalzell gave a rivetting talk to nearly 60 and then walked to the for the UK and a new life there. Learn about Birds, and interacting with the Krantzkloof Birds meeting entitled chemical plant. This proved to be July 2016 6 7 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Howick. Once again, Roy had other guides and participants. “Gardens by the Bay - Singapore's new put together an excellent Twenty birders headed with Cheryl one-billion-dollar garden” on 12 April, Saturday programme - Andre Bevan for a weekend away at Sand and this was followed by a very well Botha of the EWT tackled the Forest Lodge for 11-13 March. Once attended indoor evening meeting on 13 Savannah Vulture Project again I urge you to check this outing on April when Harry Gazendam graciously and also spoke on the the website with a full report and some accepted our invitation to be guest Southern Ground-Hornbill wonderful photographs. speaker and no-one was disappointed, project in the Kruger Park. As On 17 March, many of our club even the non-photographers there. Nicholas Theron could not members attended the opening of a bird Some superb photographs brought attend owing to the imminent exhibition at the Artisan Gallery - some indrawn breaths and oohs and aahs! arrival of his second son, beautiful pieces were on display - Harry also gave some excellent advice Fanie du Plessis and Simon paintings, ceramics, jewellery and much and shared some of his photographic Gear were there from BLSA to more. Sandi du Preez and Mike White expertise. give the regional update, the closed March with visits to New I attended the Coastwatch AGM on shorebird counts and what Germany NR and Brettenwood Estate. Saturday 16 April - BirdLife Port Natal w a s h a p p e n i n g i n Crystelle Wilson Luckily no-one was confronted by the supports their work on EIAs and their conservation and advocacy ABOVE: The contribution to all things birds and forest cobras about which we had been support for Arnia van Vuuren's at BLSA. Bruce and Judy birding in South Africa made over many decades warned. comments has been inestimable. The Mann spoke on climate by Tim Wood (right) was recognised with The Saturday outing to the Bluff meeting was held at uShaka, with change and the oceans, a a certificate of appreciation at the Chairs’ Forum Nature Reserve on 2 April was not supporters and friends - they are doing really hot topic at the moment, on 6 March. With Tim were Roy Cowgill washed out - a steady drizzle sometimes an excellent job in monitoring our coast. with Bruce also discussing and Lesley Frescura light and sometimes heavy did not deter! Wednesday 20 April and off to 'Toti in the marine protected areas of So off we set; a good percentage of the the morning - some of the birders had South Africa and Tracy Shaw discussing The packing party got together to birding was on call but some good stuff started earlier, but all had a very good the plight of the African Penguin. BirdLife send out the magazine on 8 March, and I was seen as well. A large growth of morning with Sithembiso Majoka South Africa has set up a special African then attended the CROW AGM that Lorantus in one of the trees was a pointing out birds one might have Penguin project with its own offices in afternoon. Their director Claire magnet for Olive Sunbirds. In fact there missed. We explored both sides of the Cape Town. Maryna Jordaan brought us Hodgkinson has also just left them, was quite a nice bird party going on, reserve and ended with scones, toasted up to date with Redbilled Oxpeckers in which is a sadness for me as we had Terrestrial Brownbuls calling in the sarmies, tea and coffee at the kiosk. I KZN, Crispin Hemson discussed the built up a good relationship over time. undergrowth, Cape White-eyes, White- have since been informed that there has championing of a nature reserve and Dr However, we wish her the very best and eared Barbets, Dark-capped Bulbuls, been an attack after the fence was cut, Sandy Willows-Munro ended the day look forward to your club's visit to CROW Sombre and Yellow-bellied Greenbuls but that a group of Friends of the with a fascinating input on the research in July. and Black-bellied Starlings, to name but Reserve and others have quickly moved that is being conducted into the genetics The indoor meetings resumed on 9 a few. to repair this and improve the security. of the Cape Parrot. A feast of information March with Steve Davis coordinating a Tuesday 5 April saw the celebration of The SAPPI bird hide near Stanger for those present. brief photographic quiz and then the proclamation of the Roosfontein NR has given many some wonderful lifers The Sunday Chairs' meeting was discussing the photographs that which Virginia and I attended. After a this year, and Sunday 24 April was no rather tame by comparison, and very members had brought to show and talk brief visit to the site, we returned to the exception. Here is Rex Aspeling's report regretfully we said goodbye to Tim about. A very worthwhile evening. uMkhumbane Community Hall where in his own words : “There are not many Wood, who has been treasurer of the Your club shared with BL Sisonke the Debra Roberts and a spokesperson for perfect birding days. Sunday at SAPPI Forum since its inception. Indeed, he funding for the participation of guide the Minister of Economic Affairs, S t a n g e r w a s o n e t h a t w i l l b e and Roy had the initial idea and held the Dalu Ncobo, stationed at Ntsikeni Vlei, Tourism and Environmental Affairs remembered by a small group of seven meetings in the very early days so I am to the annual BLSA flock in the Kruger spoke about their plans for the future as an absolute cracker. We started at the sure that those present were more than a Park this year which took place in the and the importance of proclaiming more hide with African Rail, numerous little heart-sore to say goodbye and bon week from 9-14 March. The guides reserves in eThekwini in the near future. Squacco Herons and a bird count of voyage to Tim as he and Carolyn leave benefit hugely from attending the LAB - Chris Dalzell gave a rivetting talk to nearly 60 and then walked to the for the UK and a new life there. Learn about Birds, and interacting with the Krantzkloof Birds meeting entitled chemical plant. This proved to be July 2016 6 7 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 fantastic, with Dark-capped Yellow body to catch the sunlight and show the Warbler, Black-throated Wattle-eye, watching female how magnificent he Little Rush Warbler, Lesser Swamp was. Dave Rimmer ended the month Warbler and Kurrichane Thrush evoking with a visit to Cumberland where 15 lots of lively discussion. Later we walked birders braved the early morning chill back to the hide and noted all three teals, and were treated to a raptor frenzy Baillon's Crake, Black-crowned Night initiated by a pair of African Goshawks Heron and Glossy Ibis, and at the picnic flying overhead, followed thereafter by a area a view of an African Marsh Harrier pair of Lanner Falcons going in the being chased by Blacksmith Lapwing opposite direction and soon after that by overhead, and then a Western Yellow a Peregrine Falcon. Not to be outdone, a Wagtail teasing us as it darted amongst couple of Jackal Buzzards were seen the foliage. The day ended with a count perched atop a pylon and a distant tree of 91 birds. A fantastic birding respectively. experience that left of all of us driving The first half of the year has brought home with a huge grin”. us many wonderful sightings and What a pleasure to join Crystelle on a outings, but I urge you all to consider the trip to Hugh Chittenden's home in words of Dr Andrew Mack, “Dedicated, Mtunzini on 5 May. We went to choose well-trained and competent people are the photographs for next year's pretty much the lowest common calendar, and whilst the two of them denominator to all our conservation pored over his collection, I was able to successes; the opposite is a common Stan Culley have a look at the preparations for the denominator for many conservation ABOVE: Spotted Crake, Port Edward January 2016 new Roberts field guide - what a feast failures,” he told mongabay.com. “I am awaits us, excellent illustrations and cautious with the idea of innovation in I N i s i Z u l u hopefully our extensive rains of a few wording. I can't wait! conservation. Innovation can provide “ n g i b a n j w e weeks ago will have washed them out. From one great birding day to a tools for conservation. Great new n g e z i n y o n i ” The real success story, however, is washed-out day on 7 May at Palmiet NR, remote sensing technology and GIS means, “I have Culley's dam near Port Edward, where even though four hardy souls joined models are extraordinary tools. But they been taken captive by birds”. In my case Stan and Val turned a banana plantation Elena to view the raging river. The do not result in conservation … the gaoler is the laptop! into wetlands. The wetland was only weekend coastal rain was very Conservation results when some The new Trogons committee is: Eric established in the winter of 2013 when welcome, and has brought so much late person, or usually group of people, Kok, outings co-ordinator, 073 8882827; the banana trees were removed and a blooming to Durban and many happy changes their behaviour … Many Hazel Nevin, treasurer, 082 3442172; dam wall constructed. When the first birds as they forage, joined by absolute conservation leaders, organizations, Sandy Olver, chair, 083 7961869; rains came and flooded the area, results masses of butterflies, wonderful to see. and donors forget this.” What Dr Mack Andrew Pickles, vice-chair and ringing, were virtually instantaneous and the David Attenborough recently turned has learned after 20 years of working on 082 3383302; Hazel van Rooyen, water birds flocked in. The areas around 90 and to celebrate, Arnia and Sean t h e g r o u n d i n P N G s t u d y i n g secretary, outings, administration and the water have now reverted to brought the video of his journey to Cassowaries is that conservation comes blog, 072 3558837. Val Culley has kindly grassland. Special/uncommon species Papua-New Guinea and the amazing from people. agreed to act as our adviser. seen so far include Lesser Moorhen, Birds of Paradise to our indoor meeting “Although birds coexist with us on this eroded Hazel has done excellent articles Lesser Jacana, Spotted Crake, Baillon's on the 11th, where they also shared their planet, they live independently of us with photos of all our outings on the Crake, Allen's Gallinule, Greater visit a few years ago. with a self-sufficiency that is almost a rebuke.” blog. Go to Painted Snipe, Rufous-bellied Heron, At a wet North Park on 18 May the - Brooks Atkinson, American critic http://www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com Little Bittern, African Rail and Fulvous species count was 48 for Sandi and her A new venue was the river below Whistling Duck. faithful four, including a display by a Lesley Frescura Sezela Mill where an extensive reedbed Early in May three Common Terns Crowned Eagle. This was truly a 083 231 3408 provided excellent birding. The river were taken to Michelle Pearson of wonderful sight as the male turned his itself was blocked with water hyacinth; Second Chance Avian Rescue at July 2016 8 9 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 fantastic, with Dark-capped Yellow body to catch the sunlight and show the Warbler, Black-throated Wattle-eye, watching female how magnificent he Little Rush Warbler, Lesser Swamp was. Dave Rimmer ended the month Warbler and Kurrichane Thrush evoking with a visit to Cumberland where 15 lots of lively discussion. Later we walked birders braved the early morning chill back to the hide and noted all three teals, and were treated to a raptor frenzy Baillon's Crake, Black-crowned Night initiated by a pair of African Goshawks Heron and Glossy Ibis, and at the picnic flying overhead, followed thereafter by a area a view of an African Marsh Harrier pair of Lanner Falcons going in the being chased by Blacksmith Lapwing opposite direction and soon after that by overhead, and then a Western Yellow a Peregrine Falcon. Not to be outdone, a Wagtail teasing us as it darted amongst couple of Jackal Buzzards were seen the foliage. The day ended with a count perched atop a pylon and a distant tree of 91 birds. A fantastic birding respectively. experience that left of all of us driving The first half of the year has brought home with a huge grin”. us many wonderful sightings and What a pleasure to join Crystelle on a outings, but I urge you all to consider the trip to Hugh Chittenden's home in words of Dr Andrew Mack, “Dedicated, Mtunzini on 5 May. We went to choose well-trained and competent people are the photographs for next year's pretty much the lowest common calendar, and whilst the two of them denominator to all our conservation pored over his collection, I was able to successes; the opposite is a common Stan Culley have a look at the preparations for the denominator for many conservation ABOVE: Spotted Crake, Port Edward January 2016 new Roberts field guide - what a feast failures,” he told mongabay.com. “I am awaits us, excellent illustrations and cautious with the idea of innovation in I N i s i Z u l u hopefully our extensive rains of a few wording. I can't wait! conservation. Innovation can provide “ n g i b a n j w e weeks ago will have washed them out. From one great birding day to a tools for conservation. Great new n g e z i n y o n i ” The real success story, however, is washed-out day on 7 May at Palmiet NR, remote sensing technology and GIS means, “I have Culley's dam near Port Edward, where even though four hardy souls joined models are extraordinary tools. But they been taken captive by birds”. In my case Stan and Val turned a banana plantation Elena to view the raging river. The do not result in conservation … the gaoler is the laptop! into wetlands. The wetland was only weekend coastal rain was very Conservation results when some The new Trogons committee is: Eric established in the winter of 2013 when welcome, and has brought so much late person, or usually group of people, Kok, outings co-ordinator, 073 8882827; the banana trees were removed and a blooming to Durban and many happy changes their behaviour … Many Hazel Nevin, treasurer, 082 3442172; dam wall constructed. When the first birds as they forage, joined by absolute conservation leaders, organizations, Sandy Olver, chair, 083 7961869; rains came and flooded the area, results masses of butterflies, wonderful to see. and donors forget this.” What Dr Mack Andrew Pickles, vice-chair and ringing, were virtually instantaneous and the David Attenborough recently turned has learned after 20 years of working on 082 3383302; Hazel van Rooyen, water birds flocked in. The areas around 90 and to celebrate, Arnia and Sean t h e g r o u n d i n P N G s t u d y i n g secretary, outings, administration and the water have now reverted to brought the video of his journey to Cassowaries is that conservation comes blog, 072 3558837. Val Culley has kindly grassland. Special/uncommon species Papua-New Guinea and the amazing from people. agreed to act as our adviser. seen so far include Lesser Moorhen, Birds of Paradise to our indoor meeting “Although birds coexist with us on this eroded Hazel has done excellent articles Lesser Jacana, Spotted Crake, Baillon's on the 11th, where they also shared their planet, they live independently of us with photos of all our outings on the Crake, Allen's Gallinule, Greater visit a few years ago. with a self-sufficiency that is almost a rebuke.” blog. Go to Painted Snipe, Rufous-bellied Heron, At a wet North Park on 18 May the - Brooks Atkinson, American critic http://www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com Little Bittern, African Rail and Fulvous species count was 48 for Sandi and her A new venue was the river below Whistling Duck. faithful four, including a display by a Lesley Frescura Sezela Mill where an extensive reedbed Early in May three Common Terns Crowned Eagle. This was truly a 083 231 3408 provided excellent birding. The river were taken to Michelle Pearson of wonderful sight as the male turned his itself was blocked with water hyacinth; Second Chance Avian Rescue at July 2016 8 9 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Shelley Beach, all suffering from another Cape Gannet from CROW, Richards Bay will never disappoint you more meetings and outings, but also exhaustion and malnourishment. They were ringed and then taken out to sea when it comes to birding. It is birding in a because of the electronic social media. If didn't survive. All three were only half with the kind assistance of C-Freaks city, but the lake and the sandbanks in you become part of some of these the normal weight. Charters for release. It is amazing what the harbour area have been giving us groups you are constantly exposed to I had recently heard Mark Addison birds are having to be rehabilitated. lovely birding. bird pictures and that helps to keep you talking on the severe drop in numbers on African Harrier-Hawk, Kurrichane It is good to see that many of our sharp when you go about your birding. It the sardine run during a presentation Buttonquail and Water Thick-knee are birders are taking a bigger interest in also gives you an indication of where with incredible pictures of Cape Gannets among some of the more interesting what is going on in their gardens and people are birding and what they are diving through the shoals. He blamed the birds of late, all of which are ringed prior have been amazed at what they have recording. drop in fish stocks on the foreign trawlers to release where they came from or in a found. I have been encouraging birders Our club has once again been invited off the Transkei Coast and Cape suitable habitat. Plans for her to do a to keep a monthly list of the birds that to go to Zimanga Game Reserve near Agulhas, depleting our breeding stocks p r e s e n t a t i o n t o P e n n i n g t o n they observe in their gardens. Mkuze in July and this is an outing not to with dire consequences - hence these Conservancy on 21 August are going The Crowned Eagle and the Ayres’s be missed. There is a magnificent terns dying on their way to the breeding ahead. Hawk Eagle have been seen a number garden and beautiful aloes attract a grounds. I was delighted to read this Andrew Pickles is in touch with Nick of times lately. A good find at the end of great number of birds where you can just week that the SA Government is starting and Rina Theron, making plans for the May was a Southern Banded Snake sit down on one spot and have a to take action by impounding Chinese club to assist in monitoring Blue Eagle that was showing itself for a few wonderful day. trawlers in Cape Town. Swallows for Rina's research, when the days at the same spot in Meerensee, That's all for today. Do please come Michelle successfully rehabilitated season starts later in the year. Richards Bay. And there were some and visit our area for some wonderful and released two Cory's Shearwaters immature Palm-nut Vultures in Richards birding. Sandy Olver and a Cape Gannet which, along with Bay and Mtunzini. [email protected] Johan Gouws The knowledge of our birders is 083 294 3370 improving due to the fact that we have and the trip to St Lucia was very productive. It is a good area to visit any CONSERVATION AND PROJECTS time of the year. Mangrove Kingfishers IT IS still very dry in certain areas, but we were found at numerous locations and Reporting of rarities have had some rain at least and Mother we welcome them back after their Nature is really trying her utmost best to migration. Nice to have them in our area WITH the advent of email and social constituting your record as being restore the environment. Much more rain during winter. media there is a much wider and faster formally accepted on any level. While is, however, needed to break the Dlinza and Ongoye forests have been dissemination of rarity sightings, Trevor may currently chair the BLSA drought. good to birders and can help you add allowing many more people to see these National Rarity Committee, the decision The Pan in Richards Bay has been specials to your bucket list. We are lucky birds than might have happened in the to formally accept a national rarity is not very hard hit. After some rain all sorts of to have very competent guides, so do past. Facebook and Trevor Hardaker's his alone; it is also up to the rest of the vegetation has sprung up, overgrowing please make use of them when you visit. email and internet-based rarity alert committee. His rarity reporting service is large areas of the pan. Late in May we Many of our club members will also be service are perhaps the best examples merely a means to disseminate info had rain which got some water into a more than willing to share their of this. about a bird, allowing as many people as number of pans. Anything that was knowledge with you. However, birdwatchers need to be are willing to follow the service and the hollow managed to retain some water. Despite the severe drought at clear about their purpose with bird to find that bird. It is perhaps best to But dam levels remain critically low and Mkhuze, the birding is good since the disseminating their sightings. If your look at what constitutes a bird rarity, and we desperately need them to be filled. birds need to go to water at the hides and only goal is to make sure that as many what levels of rarity are possible. The bright side of all of this is that the interesting species are seen. The little other people as possible get to see this The rarest bird is of course any of birding remains good, even though most gem, Stanger Sappi Hide, has been well bird, simply reporting this to Trevor's those on the SA National Rarity list. of the migrants are gone. Males have visited this year, producing many good email service is fine. However, as Should you see any bird on this list, lost their beautiful breeding plumage, sightings. Many birders submitted their admirable as this is, do not confuse aside from reporting this as soon as making birding more difficult. photos on the social media which helps Trevor placing your sighting in an email possible to Trevor, so that he can let the Our outings have been well attended to spread news of these sightings. or even in his bi-weekly report, as rest of us know (and of course all of your July 2016 10 11 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Shelley Beach, all suffering from another Cape Gannet from CROW, Richards Bay will never disappoint you more meetings and outings, but also exhaustion and malnourishment. They were ringed and then taken out to sea when it comes to birding. It is birding in a because of the electronic social media. If didn't survive. All three were only half with the kind assistance of C-Freaks city, but the lake and the sandbanks in you become part of some of these the normal weight. Charters for release. It is amazing what the harbour area have been giving us groups you are constantly exposed to I had recently heard Mark Addison birds are having to be rehabilitated. lovely birding. bird pictures and that helps to keep you talking on the severe drop in numbers on African Harrier-Hawk, Kurrichane It is good to see that many of our sharp when you go about your birding. It the sardine run during a presentation Buttonquail and Water Thick-knee are birders are taking a bigger interest in also gives you an indication of where with incredible pictures of Cape Gannets among some of the more interesting what is going on in their gardens and people are birding and what they are diving through the shoals. He blamed the birds of late, all of which are ringed prior have been amazed at what they have recording. drop in fish stocks on the foreign trawlers to release where they came from or in a found. I have been encouraging birders Our club has once again been invited off the Transkei Coast and Cape suitable habitat. Plans for her to do a to keep a monthly list of the birds that to go to Zimanga Game Reserve near Agulhas, depleting our breeding stocks p r e s e n t a t i o n t o P e n n i n g t o n they observe in their gardens. Mkuze in July and this is an outing not to with dire consequences - hence these Conservancy on 21 August are going The Crowned Eagle and the Ayres’s be missed. There is a magnificent terns dying on their way to the breeding ahead. Hawk Eagle have been seen a number garden and beautiful aloes attract a grounds. I was delighted to read this Andrew Pickles is in touch with Nick of times lately. A good find at the end of great number of birds where you can just week that the SA Government is starting and Rina Theron, making plans for the May was a Southern Banded Snake sit down on one spot and have a to take action by impounding Chinese club to assist in monitoring Blue Eagle that was showing itself for a few wonderful day. trawlers in Cape Town. Swallows for Rina's research, when the days at the same spot in Meerensee, That's all for today. Do please come Michelle successfully rehabilitated season starts later in the year. Richards Bay. And there were some and visit our area for some wonderful and released two Cory's Shearwaters immature Palm-nut Vultures in Richards birding. Sandy Olver and a Cape Gannet which, along with Bay and Mtunzini. [email protected] Johan Gouws The knowledge of our birders is 083 294 3370 improving due to the fact that we have and the trip to St Lucia was very productive. It is a good area to visit any CONSERVATION AND PROJECTS time of the year. Mangrove Kingfishers IT IS still very dry in certain areas, but we were found at numerous locations and Reporting of rarities have had some rain at least and Mother we welcome them back after their Nature is really trying her utmost best to migration. Nice to have them in our area WITH the advent of email and social constituting your record as being restore the environment. Much more rain during winter. media there is a much wider and faster formally accepted on any level. While is, however, needed to break the Dlinza and Ongoye forests have been dissemination of rarity sightings, Trevor may currently chair the BLSA drought. good to birders and can help you add allowing many more people to see these National Rarity Committee, the decision The Pan in Richards Bay has been specials to your bucket list. We are lucky birds than might have happened in the to formally accept a national rarity is not very hard hit. After some rain all sorts of to have very competent guides, so do past. Facebook and Trevor Hardaker's his alone; it is also up to the rest of the vegetation has sprung up, overgrowing please make use of them when you visit. email and internet-based rarity alert committee. His rarity reporting service is large areas of the pan. Late in May we Many of our club members will also be service are perhaps the best examples merely a means to disseminate info had rain which got some water into a more than willing to share their of this. about a bird, allowing as many people as number of pans. Anything that was knowledge with you. However, birdwatchers need to be are willing to follow the service and the hollow managed to retain some water. Despite the severe drought at clear about their purpose with bird to find that bird. It is perhaps best to But dam levels remain critically low and Mkhuze, the birding is good since the disseminating their sightings. If your look at what constitutes a bird rarity, and we desperately need them to be filled. birds need to go to water at the hides and only goal is to make sure that as many what levels of rarity are possible. The bright side of all of this is that the interesting species are seen. The little other people as possible get to see this The rarest bird is of course any of birding remains good, even though most gem, Stanger Sappi Hide, has been well bird, simply reporting this to Trevor's those on the SA National Rarity list. of the migrants are gone. Males have visited this year, producing many good email service is fine. However, as Should you see any bird on this list, lost their beautiful breeding plumage, sightings. Many birders submitted their admirable as this is, do not confuse aside from reporting this as soon as making birding more difficult. photos on the social media which helps Trevor placing your sighting in an email possible to Trevor, so that he can let the Our outings have been well attended to spread news of these sightings. or even in his bi-weekly report, as rest of us know (and of course all of your July 2016 10 11 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 close birding friends), you should also lthe regional rarity form (RRF) and useful, they are not the be-all and end-all licensed and permitted, and has been complete a National Rarity Form and send it back to the SABAP2 regional co- of identification. More often than not a instrumental in setting up the norms and return this to BirdLife South Africa ordinator to pass along to the KZNRBC detailed description is far better than a standards for bird of prey rehabilitation ([email protected]). This allows the for adjudication or poor image. Remember also that call throughout the country. record to be formally adjudicated by the lthe national rarity form (NRF) and and behaviour can be better guides to The centre treats 100 to 120 constituted committee and, if accepted, return it to BLSA. identification than images, especially individual birds of prey a year. The this record is kept and added to BLSA's In any of these events, at least the with some similar species. So photos, average success rate for rehabilitation is annual rarity reports. r e c o r d i s h e l d o n t h e A n i m a l while useful, are not necessarily 60%, with the remaining 40% of birds Regional rarities are birds considered Demography Unit's database, even essential. dying, being euthanized or transferred to to be rare at a regional level. In KwaZulu- those not accepted by the relevant Above all, enjoy your bird watching captive facilities. In the instance of birds Natal we have a KZN Rare Bird committee. and do not be afraid to add value to it by dying, it is often a case of the bird being Committee (KZNRBC), duly This brings us to formally submitting your rarity records, found too late, and despite intensive constituted by the six BLSA how to complete any or even submitting all of your records to treatment on admission, simply being affiliated clubs in the province, of these rarity forms. SABAP2. This really does add scientific too weak to recover. Birds are at their bi-annual forum. The first thing is to and conservation value to your bird euthanized by a veterinarian only once it T h e K Z N R B C realise that the more watching. has been decided that the injuries maintains a list of information that you sustained are too severe for the bird to Colin Summersgill what it considers to provi d e w i t h y o u r fully recover. Those birds which are [email protected] be birds that are rare submission, the better the treated and recover fully, but remain [email protected] or 082 780 0376 in KZN. Should any resulting decision will be. debilitated in some way, are found https://www.facebook.com/groups/sararebirds/ bird on this list be The cardinal rule is to homes in sanctuaries and educational seen within KZN, the ensure that you include [email protected] facilities where they will remain as rare bird alert aside, a enough info. Far too permanent captive ambassadors for submission should be many records aren't Centre provides their wild counterparts. made and submitted to accepted because too The centre itself consists of the clinic J e n n y N o r m a n , t h e little information is another chance building and several outside recovery KZNRBC secretary. Again, provided. Often the to birds of prey enclosures. Inside the clinic is a should the record be accepted, this m o s t important thing is to be treatment room where all examinations record gets added to the KZNRBC files, able to detail why you were able to WHEN Ben Hoffman was a young boy, and first aid treatment of newly admitted so the data are not lost. exclude similar species. This exercise he developed a fascination with birds of birds are carried out. There are two Birds can also be out of range. The often also ensures that you have prey. It was to become a lifelong passion rooms containing four fully enclosed general rule of thumb here is any bird not included enough detail. that saw him joining the falconry club as treatment boxes each. These boxes within the distribution as recorded by a Remember that the committee a teenager, graduating from university have solid panels to minimise stress on bird atlas, most normally SABAP or the members are human and that their as a biologist and finally running his own the occupants, with the additions of Natal Atlas. The crux of the matter here is default position is to err on the side of bird of prey rehabilitation centre. The small vents for air and light and to allow the word recorded. The best way to caution, so the more detail they have to journey took him from his birth place in for non-invasive observation. While the ensure that bird data are recorded is to work with, the less likely they are to err. Zimbabwe to a small piece of land just b i r d s a r e h a v i n g m e d i c a t i o n s submit these data to SABAP2. The Rather include too much than too little, outside Pietermaritzburg that is now the administered and broken limbs need SABAP2 system is set up in such a way and by too much, please do not copy h o m e o f t h e R a p t o r R e s c u e time to set, the boxes restrict the that you will be automatically notified of what your favourite, or any, field guide Rehabilitation Centre. movement of the birds enough to allow any rarity. You are advised by return says. Anyone can copy what someone There is no book that can replace five easy access for cleaning and treatment, email of the level of the rarity and what else has written, and this often puts the decades of hands-on work with birds of but minimise the risk of further injury. action is now appropriate on your part, committee in a frame of mind that you prey, and there is very little that Ben There are also two small rooms in the i.e. do you complete either: are describing what you would have does not know about them. Raptor clinic that adequately house larger birds lthe out-of-range form (ORF) that liked to have seen, rather than what you Rescue is the only dedicated bird of prey of prey such as eagles, vultures and was sent to you and send it back to the saw. Please use your own words. rehabilitation centre in South Africa. It secretary birds. SABAP2 regional co-ordinator, Bear in mind that while photos can be has world-class facilities, is fully Once a bird has successfully July 2016 12 13 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 close birding friends), you should also lthe regional rarity form (RRF) and useful, they are not the be-all and end-all licensed and permitted, and has been complete a National Rarity Form and send it back to the SABAP2 regional co- of identification. More often than not a instrumental in setting up the norms and return this to BirdLife South Africa ordinator to pass along to the KZNRBC detailed description is far better than a standards for bird of prey rehabilitation ([email protected]). This allows the for adjudication or poor image. Remember also that call throughout the country. record to be formally adjudicated by the lthe national rarity form (NRF) and and behaviour can be better guides to The centre treats 100 to 120 constituted committee and, if accepted, return it to BLSA. identification than images, especially individual birds of prey a year. The this record is kept and added to BLSA's In any of these events, at least the with some similar species. So photos, average success rate for rehabilitation is annual rarity reports. r e c o r d i s h e l d o n t h e A n i m a l while useful, are not necessarily 60%, with the remaining 40% of birds Regional rarities are birds considered Demography Unit's database, even essential. dying, being euthanized or transferred to to be rare at a regional level. In KwaZulu- those not accepted by the relevant Above all, enjoy your bird watching captive facilities. In the instance of birds Natal we have a KZN Rare Bird committee. and do not be afraid to add value to it by dying, it is often a case of the bird being Committee (KZNRBC), duly This brings us to formally submitting your rarity records, found too late, and despite intensive constituted by the six BLSA how to complete any or even submitting all of your records to treatment on admission, simply being affiliated clubs in the province, of these rarity forms. SABAP2. This really does add scientific too weak to recover. Birds are at their bi-annual forum. The first thing is to and conservation value to your bird euthanized by a veterinarian only once it T h e K Z N R B C realise that the more watching. has been decided that the injuries maintains a list of information that you sustained are too severe for the bird to Colin Summersgill what it considers to provi d e w i t h y o u r fully recover. Those birds which are [email protected] be birds that are rare submission, the better the treated and recover fully, but remain [email protected] or 082 780 0376 in KZN. Should any resulting decision will be. debilitated in some way, are found https://www.facebook.com/groups/sararebirds/ bird on this list be The cardinal rule is to homes in sanctuaries and educational seen within KZN, the ensure that you include [email protected] facilities where they will remain as rare bird alert aside, a enough info. Far too permanent captive ambassadors for submission should be many records aren't Centre provides their wild counterparts. made and submitted to accepted because too The centre itself consists of the clinic J e n n y N o r m a n , t h e little information is another chance building and several outside recovery KZNRBC secretary. Again, provided. Often the to birds of prey enclosures. Inside the clinic is a should the record be accepted, this m o s t important thing is to be treatment room where all examinations record gets added to the KZNRBC files, able to detail why you were able to WHEN Ben Hoffman was a young boy, and first aid treatment of newly admitted so the data are not lost. exclude similar species. This exercise he developed a fascination with birds of birds are carried out. There are two Birds can also be out of range. The often also ensures that you have prey. It was to become a lifelong passion rooms containing four fully enclosed general rule of thumb here is any bird not included enough detail. that saw him joining the falconry club as treatment boxes each. These boxes within the distribution as recorded by a Remember that the committee a teenager, graduating from university have solid panels to minimise stress on bird atlas, most normally SABAP or the members are human and that their as a biologist and finally running his own the occupants, with the additions of Natal Atlas. The crux of the matter here is default position is to err on the side of bird of prey rehabilitation centre. The small vents for air and light and to allow the word recorded. The best way to caution, so the more detail they have to journey took him from his birth place in for non-invasive observation. While the ensure that bird data are recorded is to work with, the less likely they are to err. Zimbabwe to a small piece of land just b i r d s a r e h a v i n g m e d i c a t i o n s submit these data to SABAP2. The Rather include too much than too little, outside Pietermaritzburg that is now the administered and broken limbs need SABAP2 system is set up in such a way and by too much, please do not copy h o m e o f t h e R a p t o r R e s c u e time to set, the boxes restrict the that you will be automatically notified of what your favourite, or any, field guide Rehabilitation Centre. movement of the birds enough to allow any rarity. You are advised by return says. Anyone can copy what someone There is no book that can replace five easy access for cleaning and treatment, email of the level of the rarity and what else has written, and this often puts the decades of hands-on work with birds of but minimise the risk of further injury. action is now appropriate on your part, committee in a frame of mind that you prey, and there is very little that Ben There are also two small rooms in the i.e. do you complete either: are describing what you would have does not know about them. Raptor clinic that adequately house larger birds lthe out-of-range form (ORF) that liked to have seen, rather than what you Rescue is the only dedicated bird of prey of prey such as eagles, vultures and was sent to you and send it back to the saw. Please use your own words. rehabilitation centre in South Africa. It secretary birds. SABAP2 regional co-ordinator, Bear in mind that while photos can be has world-class facilities, is fully Once a bird has successfully July 2016 12 13 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

training has not only allowed historical associations with Raptor continues to grow its reach and f o r a h i g h e r p o s t - Rescue, with the African Bird of Prey involvement with birds of prey in South rehabilitation survival rate, Sanctuary in particular collaborating Africa, an achievement which is quite but has also added greatly to with Raptor Rescue on several projects, notable considering its very humble research and understanding most notably the Bearded Vulture beginnings. of many of these usually Recovery Project run under the scope of P l e a s e v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e elusive species, in turn Project Vulture (www.raptorrescue.org.za) and our impacting positively on the (www.projectvulture.org.za). Facebook page (Raptor Rescue c o n s e r v a t i o n o f w i l d Supported only by donations and the Rehabilitation Centre) to find out more populations. goodwill of conservation-minded about what we do. R a p t o r R e s c u e ' s individuals and organisations (as well as Tammy Caine involvement in bird of prey some very passionate staff and Clinic manager r e s e a r c h h a s g r o w n committee members), Raptor Rescue 076 724 6846 considerably over the past decade, so much so that recently it was decided to BIRD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS extend the scope of this research under the umbrella Rare sightings of Sooty Albatross and of Predatory Bird Projects White-faced Storm Petrel off Durban (163-459 NPO). Students

Andre Botha from the University of delight birders ABOVE: Ben Hoffman, the founder of Raptor KwaZulu-Natal, the Percy A RECENT pelagic seabird trip off about 30.058S; 31.242E and was about Rescue, carries a vulture Fitzpatrick Institute and Durban (on 4 June 2016) was 26 km offshore. s e v e r a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l particularly remarkable in recording two Our chum soon pulled in several completed its treatment phase, it is universities have all benefitted from on- extremely rare Procellariform seabirds, White-chinned Petrels and a few Indian moved to one of nine outside recovery site and in-field training and research as well as in seeing not just one, but two Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Flesh-footed enclosures to allow it the freedom of assistance facilitated by Raptor Rescue. individuals of one of these species. Shearwaters and Sooty Shearwaters. movement to build up lost muscle mass Ben's skills in the development and This particular pelagic was one that One or two adult Shy Albatrosses also and fitness, and to exercise newly fitting of tracking devices has resulted in BirdLife KZN Midlands book annually made an appearance. But the most mended limbs. To this end, there are two his involvement in several other with us and, as usual, Eve Hughes had abundant seabirds drawn to the feast flight tunnels to assist with the conservation and research initiatives done the hard work of rounding up were Wilson's Storm Petrels and the assessment of fitness. A 75-metre flight run by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the enough club members to make the trip numbers of these gradually increased tunnel is designed to check the flying Endangered Wildlife Trust's Bird of Prey possible. until over a hundred were present. We ability of bigger birds such as eagles and Working Group. The sea conditions on the morning even thought we glimpsed a very late vultures prior to release, while a shorter Raptor Rescue has a history of solid in question were challenging and this European Storm Petrel amongst them at 20-metre tunnel is sufficient for owls and networking and liaising with many other was very likely implicated in the one stage. smaller birds of prey. rehabilitation centres including CROW occurrence of these two rarities. A strong Suddenly pandemonium broke out For high performance flyers such as (Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) south-westerly wind had been blowing when a distinctly different storm petrel falcons and hawks, which have to rely on and Free Me, as well as the SPCA and in the immediately preceding period and appeared amongst its darker cousins top fitness and speed to chase down several experienced wildlife vets high swells were still surging up from the and flew past us only metres away. A their quarry, highly trained and including Kerry Eason from Riverside south. Indeed, these swells were so high White-faced Storm Petrel! This competent falconers from the Natal Veterinary Clinic, Tina Kaldenberg and (>3m) as we reached the edge of the individual made a few passes through Falconry Club devote their time to train Werner Odendaal from Village offshore 'channel' beyond which we the chum slick giving us all excellent the birds up to peak hunting fitness prior Veterinary Clinic and Oliver Tatham from usually chum that we turned back to views before it disappeared. Almost 40 to release. This system has proved Veterinary House Hospital. quieter waters before we offloaded the minutes later, what we assumed was the invaluable as the synergy between the The African Bird of Prey Sanctuary first of our two buckets of chum and same bird was seen again and this time rehabilitation process and falconry and Umgeni River Bird Park both have awaited the results. This location was at the bird hung around for quite a bit July 2016 14 15 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 training has not only allowed historical associations with Raptor continues to grow its reach and f o r a h i g h e r p o s t - Rescue, with the African Bird of Prey involvement with birds of prey in South rehabilitation survival rate, Sanctuary in particular collaborating Africa, an achievement which is quite but has also added greatly to with Raptor Rescue on several projects, notable considering its very humble research and understanding most notably the Bearded Vulture beginnings. of many of these usually Recovery Project run under the scope of P l e a s e v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e elusive species, in turn Project Vulture (www.raptorrescue.org.za) and our impacting positively on the (www.projectvulture.org.za). Facebook page (Raptor Rescue c o n s e r v a t i o n o f w i l d Supported only by donations and the Rehabilitation Centre) to find out more populations. goodwill of conservation-minded about what we do. R a p t o r R e s c u e ' s individuals and organisations (as well as Tammy Caine involvement in bird of prey some very passionate staff and Clinic manager r e s e a r c h h a s g r o w n committee members), Raptor Rescue 076 724 6846 considerably over the past decade, so much so that recently it was decided to BIRD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS extend the scope of this research under the umbrella Rare sightings of Sooty Albatross and of Predatory Bird Projects White-faced Storm Petrel off Durban (163-459 NPO). Students

Andre Botha from the University of delight birders ABOVE: Ben Hoffman, the founder of Raptor KwaZulu-Natal, the Percy A RECENT pelagic seabird trip off about 30.058S; 31.242E and was about Rescue, carries a vulture Fitzpatrick Institute and Durban (on 4 June 2016) was 26 km offshore. s e v e r a l i n t e r n a t i o n a l particularly remarkable in recording two Our chum soon pulled in several completed its treatment phase, it is universities have all benefitted from on- extremely rare Procellariform seabirds, White-chinned Petrels and a few Indian moved to one of nine outside recovery site and in-field training and research as well as in seeing not just one, but two Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Flesh-footed enclosures to allow it the freedom of assistance facilitated by Raptor Rescue. individuals of one of these species. Shearwaters and Sooty Shearwaters. movement to build up lost muscle mass Ben's skills in the development and This particular pelagic was one that One or two adult Shy Albatrosses also and fitness, and to exercise newly fitting of tracking devices has resulted in BirdLife KZN Midlands book annually made an appearance. But the most mended limbs. To this end, there are two his involvement in several other with us and, as usual, Eve Hughes had abundant seabirds drawn to the feast flight tunnels to assist with the conservation and research initiatives done the hard work of rounding up were Wilson's Storm Petrels and the assessment of fitness. A 75-metre flight run by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the enough club members to make the trip numbers of these gradually increased tunnel is designed to check the flying Endangered Wildlife Trust's Bird of Prey possible. until over a hundred were present. We ability of bigger birds such as eagles and Working Group. The sea conditions on the morning even thought we glimpsed a very late vultures prior to release, while a shorter Raptor Rescue has a history of solid in question were challenging and this European Storm Petrel amongst them at 20-metre tunnel is sufficient for owls and networking and liaising with many other was very likely implicated in the one stage. smaller birds of prey. rehabilitation centres including CROW occurrence of these two rarities. A strong Suddenly pandemonium broke out For high performance flyers such as (Centre for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) south-westerly wind had been blowing when a distinctly different storm petrel falcons and hawks, which have to rely on and Free Me, as well as the SPCA and in the immediately preceding period and appeared amongst its darker cousins top fitness and speed to chase down several experienced wildlife vets high swells were still surging up from the and flew past us only metres away. A their quarry, highly trained and including Kerry Eason from Riverside south. Indeed, these swells were so high White-faced Storm Petrel! This competent falconers from the Natal Veterinary Clinic, Tina Kaldenberg and (>3m) as we reached the edge of the individual made a few passes through Falconry Club devote their time to train Werner Odendaal from Village offshore 'channel' beyond which we the chum slick giving us all excellent the birds up to peak hunting fitness prior Veterinary Clinic and Oliver Tatham from usually chum that we turned back to views before it disappeared. Almost 40 to release. This system has proved Veterinary House Hospital. quieter waters before we offloaded the minutes later, what we assumed was the invaluable as the synergy between the The African Bird of Prey Sanctuary first of our two buckets of chum and same bird was seen again and this time rehabilitation process and falconry and Umgeni River Bird Park both have awaited the results. This location was at the bird hung around for quite a bit July 2016 14 15 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

albatross was a recently fledged juvenile was revealed by the absence of any yellow markings on the beak and its completely uniform and fresh plumage. The Sooty Albatross is renowned as a seabird of the very furthest offshore waters that very rarely comes onto the continental shelf, typically staying at least 150-200 km offshore. So, normally, this dark denizen of the deep remains well beyond the reach of one-day pelagic trippers everywhere in southern Africa. Under extreme weather David Allan conditions, occasional individuals get ABOVE: Another extremely rare find, stranded ashore and apparently the only White-faced Storm Petrel previous close inshore record of the anticipated Flock-at-Sea voyage in April species in KZN was of such an individual 2017. Sooty Albatross and White-faced found at Lake St Lucia in September Storm Petrel are two of the most sought- 1977. 'Our' bird seems to be the first after species on that trip. Let's hope we seen on a one-day pelagic anywhere in still have some rubbed-off local luck to southern Africa for some 20 years. contribute to that expedition! All three of us, and perhaps a few of David Allan the BirdLife KZN Midlands members David Allan, Niall Perrins and ABOVE: The juvenile Sooty Albatross, dubbed “Black Betty” who were also on the trip, will be on Richard Everett by excited birders on a pelagic trip off Durban in June board BirdLife South Africa's much- Durban Natural Science Museum longer. The further surprise came later our three records off Durban appear to on that night when a comparison of be the 17th, 19th and 20th records ever photos showed that two different in southern Africa as a whole. The fact individuals were involved, as revealed that all four KZN records come from b y d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e i r h e a d May-June suggests that this is the 'best' features/pattern, state of overall moult, time for the species in our local waters. and, perhaps most particularly, extent of It almost defies belief that this feather wear at the tip of the tail. memorable encounter with the storm We have only once before recorded petrel could be followed up by an equally this species off Durban during our good or even better sighting. But almost pelagics: a fleeting glimpse of a single an hour after the last sighting of the bird that flashed past the boat on the way second storm petrel, a roar erupted up out to our chumming point in May 2014. from the assembled birders on the boat Nothing like the fantastic close-up and when a Sooty Albatross, with its lengthy views we had of these two birds. distinctly wedge-shaped tail, raced into Interestingly, the earlier bird was seen at view and began circling the boat. It was about the same distance offshore. It present for about 15 minutes in all and seems that this species has never flew directly overhead on several otherwise been recorded off Durban. occasions. By this stage we were at The only other record off the KwaZulu- 30.073S; 31.244E, had drifted about 1.7 Natal coast appears to be of a bird found km south of our initial stopping point and off Richards Bay in June 2007. Indeed were now about 28 km offshore. That the July 2016 16 17 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

albatross was a recently fledged juvenile was revealed by the absence of any yellow markings on the beak and its completely uniform and fresh plumage. The Sooty Albatross is renowned as a seabird of the very furthest offshore waters that very rarely comes onto the continental shelf, typically staying at least 150-200 km offshore. So, normally, this dark denizen of the deep remains well beyond the reach of one-day pelagic trippers everywhere in southern Africa. Under extreme weather David Allan conditions, occasional individuals get ABOVE: Another extremely rare find, stranded ashore and apparently the only White-faced Storm Petrel previous close inshore record of the anticipated Flock-at-Sea voyage in April species in KZN was of such an individual 2017. Sooty Albatross and White-faced found at Lake St Lucia in September Storm Petrel are two of the most sought- 1977. 'Our' bird seems to be the first after species on that trip. Let's hope we seen on a one-day pelagic anywhere in still have some rubbed-off local luck to southern Africa for some 20 years. contribute to that expedition! All three of us, and perhaps a few of David Allan the BirdLife KZN Midlands members David Allan, Niall Perrins and ABOVE: The juvenile Sooty Albatross, dubbed “Black Betty” who were also on the trip, will be on Richard Everett by excited birders on a pelagic trip off Durban in June board BirdLife South Africa's much- Durban Natural Science Museum longer. The further surprise came later our three records off Durban appear to on that night when a comparison of be the 17th, 19th and 20th records ever photos showed that two different in southern Africa as a whole. The fact individuals were involved, as revealed that all four KZN records come from b y d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e i r h e a d May-June suggests that this is the 'best' features/pattern, state of overall moult, time for the species in our local waters. and, perhaps most particularly, extent of It almost defies belief that this feather wear at the tip of the tail. memorable encounter with the storm We have only once before recorded petrel could be followed up by an equally this species off Durban during our good or even better sighting. But almost pelagics: a fleeting glimpse of a single an hour after the last sighting of the bird that flashed past the boat on the way second storm petrel, a roar erupted up out to our chumming point in May 2014. from the assembled birders on the boat Nothing like the fantastic close-up and when a Sooty Albatross, with its lengthy views we had of these two birds. distinctly wedge-shaped tail, raced into Interestingly, the earlier bird was seen at view and began circling the boat. It was about the same distance offshore. It present for about 15 minutes in all and seems that this species has never flew directly overhead on several otherwise been recorded off Durban. occasions. By this stage we were at The only other record off the KwaZulu- 30.073S; 31.244E, had drifted about 1.7 Natal coast appears to be of a bird found km south of our initial stopping point and off Richards Bay in June 2007. Indeed were now about 28 km offshore. That the July 2016 16 17 July 2016 KZNKZN BIRDSBIRDS NoNo 4848 KZNKZN BIRDSBIRDS NoNo 4848

dips in the 1960s (1 record) and 1990s birders not publishing sightings as the Red-headed Quelea increase in KwaZulu-Natal (Figure 1). The records up to 1985 were records are being captured in SABAP2 ONE of the most dramatic increases in comprehensively reviewed by Cyrus (and the decade has a few years to go!). numbers over the last century by a bird in (1986). Over the 20th century, however, this KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is shown by the The increase in records is mirrored by quelea has increased in KZN, and South Red-headed Quelea, even though this the atlas projects. The Bird Atlas of Natal Africa, from nearly non-existent to being species is largely restricted to the (Cyrus & Robson 1980) recorded it in 6 a regular migrant. QDS grids (1970-79), SABAP1 (1986- eastern seaboard in South Africa. In this H. Dieter Oschadleus 91) recorded it in 17 QDS grids in KZN, brief analysis, I collated published References: and SABAP2 (2007-2016) recorded it in records from KZN where the year is Beven G. 1945. An area census in Zululand. 41 QDS grids (converted from pentads). known. Ostrich 16: 1-18,240. The Red-headed Quelea is a summer The Red-headed Quelea was first Cyrus D & Robson NF. 1980. Bird Atlas of Natal. recorded in KZN as a specimen - Gordge migrant, and numbers, as well as the southern limit reached, vary annually. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg. collected one in 1876 in the Durban area Cyrus D. 1986. Seasonal and spatial distribution (Cyrus 1986). The next record was of a The drop in published records in the current decade is probably due to of Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) in few specimens collected on the South Africa. Ostrich 57:162-169. Umtamvuna River in 1908. The first sighting for the province was a flock seen by G. Beven near St Lucia in 1944 Amur Falcon male does it again (Beven 1945). Thereafter, the number of published sightings per decade THE Amur Falcon male, Naga (left), arrived in Yunnan in China increased rapidly, although there were Hugh Chittenden at the end of April 2016 after flying from its summer roost in ABOVE: Red-headed Quelea South Africa. Naga was fitted with a 5g transmitter in October 2013 in Nagaland and the lines on the map (below) show its BELOW: Figure 1: Number of records of the Red-headed Quelea in movements between South Africa and Mongolia since then. KwaZulu-Natal per decade, based on dated literature records, Amur Falcons are known to undertake the longest oceanic and compared to number of atlas QDS grids in which this quelea was seen crossing during migration, a distance of up to 22,000 km a year. The birds weigh a mere 150 g. Facebook: MKProject: Amur, Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Kestrel Roosts

July 2016 18 19 March 2016 KZNKZN BIRDSBIRDS NoNo 4848 KZNKZN BIRDSBIRDS NoNo 4848

dips in the 1960s (1 record) and 1990s birders not publishing sightings as the Red-headed Quelea increase in KwaZulu-Natal (Figure 1). The records up to 1985 were records are being captured in SABAP2 ONE of the most dramatic increases in comprehensively reviewed by Cyrus (and the decade has a few years to go!). numbers over the last century by a bird in (1986). Over the 20th century, however, this KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is shown by the The increase in records is mirrored by quelea has increased in KZN, and South Red-headed Quelea, even though this the atlas projects. The Bird Atlas of Natal Africa, from nearly non-existent to being species is largely restricted to the (Cyrus & Robson 1980) recorded it in 6 a regular migrant. QDS grids (1970-79), SABAP1 (1986- eastern seaboard in South Africa. In this H. Dieter Oschadleus 91) recorded it in 17 QDS grids in KZN, brief analysis, I collated published References: and SABAP2 (2007-2016) recorded it in records from KZN where the year is Beven G. 1945. An area census in Zululand. 41 QDS grids (converted from pentads). known. Ostrich 16: 1-18,240. The Red-headed Quelea is a summer The Red-headed Quelea was first Cyrus D & Robson NF. 1980. Bird Atlas of Natal. recorded in KZN as a specimen - Gordge migrant, and numbers, as well as the southern limit reached, vary annually. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg. collected one in 1876 in the Durban area Cyrus D. 1986. Seasonal and spatial distribution (Cyrus 1986). The next record was of a The drop in published records in the current decade is probably due to of Red-headed Quelea (Quelea erythrops) in few specimens collected on the South Africa. Ostrich 57:162-169. Umtamvuna River in 1908. The first sighting for the province was a flock seen by G. Beven near St Lucia in 1944 Amur Falcon male does it again (Beven 1945). Thereafter, the number of published sightings per decade THE Amur Falcon male, Naga (left), arrived in Yunnan in China increased rapidly, although there were Hugh Chittenden at the end of April 2016 after flying from its summer roost in ABOVE: Red-headed Quelea South Africa. Naga was fitted with a 5g transmitter in October 2013 in Nagaland and the lines on the map (below) show its BELOW: Figure 1: Number of records of the Red-headed Quelea in movements between South Africa and Mongolia since then. KwaZulu-Natal per decade, based on dated literature records, Amur Falcons are known to undertake the longest oceanic and compared to number of atlas QDS grids in which this quelea was seen crossing during migration, a distance of up to 22,000 km a year. The birds weigh a mere 150 g. Facebook: MKProject: Amur, Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Kestrel Roosts

July 2016 18 19 March 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Polymorphism in African Wood Owl

POLYMORPHISM in biology and zoology is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative phenotypes, in the population of a species. Polymorphism is common in nature; it is related to biodiversity, genetic variation and adaptation; it usually functions to retain variety of form in a population living in a varied environment. The following observations of polymorphism in African Wood Owls have been recorded by Hugh Chittenden of Mtunzini. Hugh is editor of Roberts Birds and chair of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. He is currently overseeing the final preparations for the publication of Roberts VIII.

LEFT: Most rufous-headed birds are females BELOW: Greyish-headed birds tend to be found in, or near coastal dune forest

Pictures by Crystelle Wilson Hamerkop loses its lunch

to Klepto-Pirate Kite Pictures by Hugh Chittenden IN January this year I noticed a Hamerkop at the edge of a farm dam in Boston in the BELOW: Pale, brown-headed birds are the most common colour form KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It had caught a big frog and was repeatedly smashing it on the ground to kill it. While it was at the water’s edge, where it occasionally dipped the frog in the water, a menacing shadow passed overhead. The Hamerkop took off with its prey, but then dropped it in the water. At the same time, a juvenile Yellow-billed Kite swooped down and scooped up the frog, flying with it to a nearby electricity pylon. The kite spent the next half-an-hour or so leisurely consuming its ill-gotten meal. Kleptoparasitism is fairly common in the animal world. Jaegers and skuas (both close relatives of gulls) are classic avian pirates that attack other birds in midair and make them relinquish their food. Piracy is commonly practised by raptors. In June I was watching a pair of African Hoopoes foraging on the lawn at my new home in Howick, when I saw two Fork-tailed Drongos sitting on the fence close by. They followed the hoopoes, changing position on the fence to keep a close watch on the drilling procedure. And it wasn’t long before a drongo flew down at a hoopoe, managing to snatch a fat caterpillar from the hapless bird. Crystelle Wilson Howick July 2016 20 21 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Polymorphism in African Wood Owl

POLYMORPHISM in biology and zoology is the occurrence of two or more clearly different morphs or forms, also referred to as alternative phenotypes, in the population of a species. Polymorphism is common in nature; it is related to biodiversity, genetic variation and adaptation; it usually functions to retain variety of form in a population living in a varied environment. The following observations of polymorphism in African Wood Owls have been recorded by Hugh Chittenden of Mtunzini. Hugh is editor of Roberts Birds and chair of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. He is currently overseeing the final preparations for the publication of Roberts VIII.

LEFT: Most rufous-headed birds are females BELOW: Greyish-headed birds tend to be found in, or near coastal dune forest

Pictures by Crystelle Wilson Hamerkop loses its lunch to Klepto-Pirate Kite Pictures by Hugh Chittenden IN January this year I noticed a Hamerkop at the edge of a farm dam in Boston in the BELOW: Pale, brown-headed birds are the most common colour form KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. It had caught a big frog and was repeatedly smashing it on the ground to kill it. While it was at the water’s edge, where it occasionally dipped the frog in the water, a menacing shadow passed overhead. The Hamerkop took off with its prey, but then dropped it in the water. At the same time, a juvenile Yellow-billed Kite swooped down and scooped up the frog, flying with it to a nearby electricity pylon. The kite spent the next half-an-hour or so leisurely consuming its ill-gotten meal. Kleptoparasitism is fairly common in the animal world. Jaegers and skuas (both close relatives of gulls) are classic avian pirates that attack other birds in midair and make them relinquish their food. Piracy is commonly practised by raptors. In June I was watching a pair of African Hoopoes foraging on the lawn at my new home in Howick, when I saw two Fork-tailed Drongos sitting on the fence close by. They followed the hoopoes, changing position on the fence to keep a close watch on the drilling procedure. And it wasn’t long before a drongo flew down at a hoopoe, managing to snatch a fat caterpillar from the hapless bird. Crystelle Wilson Howick July 2016 20 21 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

BIRD TRIPS AND OUTINGS would learn from the acrobat when the water Part 3: The final stage, Namibia level fell again. From Etosha we set On 21 April 2015 Hilary and Ted Vickers left Howick in their Condor 4x4 on a trip through Botswana, out, via Khorixas and an the Caprivi Strip and Namibia. They took 34 days and covered 8 000 kilometres overnight stop at Uis, for o u r n e x t p l a n n e d FROM the tropical Caprivi Strip, where at ever-increasing speed across a 70% of Namibia's bird species are to be d e s t i n a t i o n - t h e barren plain toward a waterhole. On abandoned Brandberg found, our next major stopover was reaching it he waded straight in, Etosha National Park with its great white West tin mine. Ted had collapsed on his side in the water and lay worked there for a year clay saline pan, shimmering grey, green there with obvious relief. We could more and white landscapes, and diverse j u s t b e f o r e i t w a s than empathise - it was a very hot day. abandoned in 1970 wildlife which, at this time of year, cluster Eventually he arose, circled the around the borehole, or artesian, when the bottom fell out waterhole, and slaked his thirst in the of the tin market. What waterholes. In winter, these are the only small reservoir feeding the waterhole. points of that all important elixir of life - an amazing two-day ABOVE: Sociable Weavers, Hilary Vickers Was the water cooler there or was it j o u r n e y. We d r o v e water. cleaner, or both? Etosha, May 2015 Etosha is a landscape and game park through some of the As far as the birds were concerned, m o s t p h e n o m e n a l like no other. It has an intrigue all of its the Lilac-breasted Rollers were by far Our minds became increasingly own. We stayed outside the park at the landscapes one will see anywhere on boggled by all the formations we were the most beautiful and noticeable, earth. At every turn and crest of a hill one interesting shebeen-themed Etosha flashing their colours like multi-coloured seeing. It was only later that we found a Safari Camp, one of the Gondwana is surprised by some different geological book that made sense of it all. Difficult opals in this largely grey-brown formation. You cannot help but wonder series of lodges. From here we spent two environment. That said, it was a group of and expensive to acquire in SA, it is best days exploring the park. Although we did how these rugged landscapes were purchased in Namibia, before you start Sociable Weavers that entertained us formed. Our guide book provided only a not experience any dramatic action, most. Stopping at a fenced picnic site we your journey. The book is called there were many amusing and heart- brief background. It whetted our desire “Namibia - Fascination of Geology”. It is discovered someone had converted a for more information, as did a few stops w a r m i n g m o m e n t s . T h e m o s t five litre plastic bottle into a water trough aimed specifically at the layman and memorable was of a black rhino trotting at points of interest. written by geologist and geological tour for the birds - mainly Most inspiring of all was the Petrified S o c i a b l e W e a v e r s . operator Nicole Grunet. It is published by BELOW: Lilac-breasted Roller, Forest, a National Monument and Klaus Hess. Several were perched on Heritage Site. Here, huge petrified tree Etosha, May 2015 the trough's edge holding As we approached Uis - also an Hilary Vickers trunks, some 30 metres long, lie abandoned tin mine, although the town on for dear life, trying to exposed in a 15 km strip. They are all a reach the water which had s t i l l k e e p s g o i n g w i t h b r i c k species of pine that grew in what today manufacturing and tourism - the dropped beyond their we know as the Congo region, which reach. Only one managed Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain were uprooted and washed south by the massif with Konigstein as its highest an acrobatic act, holding waters of melting glaciers at the end of on by one foot, to reach the peak (2579 m), grows larger and larger. the Ice Age. On coming to rest, they Uis is a good base from which to visit the w a t e r. R e f i l l i n g t h e were almost immediately covered with container brought a great famed rock painting frieze - The White sand and mud sediments, where in time Lady, but our time was short. flurry of weavers from their they petrified. Now, 270 million years large communal nest in the The following morning on the way to later, they have been laid bare by Brandberg West and off-roading to avoid t r e e a b o v e u s . W e erosion. Moving on, we came upon an departed, leaving them to some quite awful corrugations, we area dotted with woolsacks, enormous stopped so I could take a photograph of a their noisy jostling for a koppies, where the granite has been place on the rim of the nearby stretch of mountain. As I pressed spilt by extremes of heat and cold, the release button I caught a movement trough, wondering if they forming massive piles of huge boulders. July 2016 22 23 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

BIRD TRIPS AND OUTINGS would learn from the acrobat when the water Part 3: The final stage, Namibia level fell again. From Etosha we set On 21 April 2015 Hilary and Ted Vickers left Howick in their Condor 4x4 on a trip through Botswana, out, via Khorixas and an the Caprivi Strip and Namibia. They took 34 days and covered 8 000 kilometres overnight stop at Uis, for o u r n e x t p l a n n e d FROM the tropical Caprivi Strip, where at ever-increasing speed across a 70% of Namibia's bird species are to be d e s t i n a t i o n - t h e barren plain toward a waterhole. On abandoned Brandberg found, our next major stopover was reaching it he waded straight in, Etosha National Park with its great white West tin mine. Ted had collapsed on his side in the water and lay worked there for a year clay saline pan, shimmering grey, green there with obvious relief. We could more and white landscapes, and diverse j u s t b e f o r e i t w a s than empathise - it was a very hot day. abandoned in 1970 wildlife which, at this time of year, cluster Eventually he arose, circled the around the borehole, or artesian, when the bottom fell out waterhole, and slaked his thirst in the of the tin market. What waterholes. In winter, these are the only small reservoir feeding the waterhole. points of that all important elixir of life - an amazing two-day ABOVE: Sociable Weavers, Hilary Vickers Was the water cooler there or was it j o u r n e y. We d r o v e water. cleaner, or both? Etosha, May 2015 Etosha is a landscape and game park through some of the As far as the birds were concerned, m o s t p h e n o m e n a l like no other. It has an intrigue all of its the Lilac-breasted Rollers were by far Our minds became increasingly own. We stayed outside the park at the landscapes one will see anywhere on boggled by all the formations we were the most beautiful and noticeable, earth. At every turn and crest of a hill one interesting shebeen-themed Etosha flashing their colours like multi-coloured seeing. It was only later that we found a Safari Camp, one of the Gondwana is surprised by some different geological book that made sense of it all. Difficult opals in this largely grey-brown formation. You cannot help but wonder series of lodges. From here we spent two environment. That said, it was a group of and expensive to acquire in SA, it is best days exploring the park. Although we did how these rugged landscapes were purchased in Namibia, before you start Sociable Weavers that entertained us formed. Our guide book provided only a not experience any dramatic action, most. Stopping at a fenced picnic site we your journey. The book is called there were many amusing and heart- brief background. It whetted our desire “Namibia - Fascination of Geology”. It is discovered someone had converted a for more information, as did a few stops w a r m i n g m o m e n t s . T h e m o s t five litre plastic bottle into a water trough aimed specifically at the layman and memorable was of a black rhino trotting at points of interest. written by geologist and geological tour for the birds - mainly Most inspiring of all was the Petrified S o c i a b l e W e a v e r s . operator Nicole Grunet. It is published by BELOW: Lilac-breasted Roller, Forest, a National Monument and Klaus Hess. Several were perched on Heritage Site. Here, huge petrified tree Etosha, May 2015 the trough's edge holding As we approached Uis - also an Hilary Vickers trunks, some 30 metres long, lie abandoned tin mine, although the town on for dear life, trying to exposed in a 15 km strip. They are all a reach the water which had s t i l l k e e p s g o i n g w i t h b r i c k species of pine that grew in what today manufacturing and tourism - the dropped beyond their we know as the Congo region, which reach. Only one managed Brandberg, Namibia's highest mountain were uprooted and washed south by the massif with Konigstein as its highest an acrobatic act, holding waters of melting glaciers at the end of on by one foot, to reach the peak (2579 m), grows larger and larger. the Ice Age. On coming to rest, they Uis is a good base from which to visit the w a t e r. R e f i l l i n g t h e were almost immediately covered with container brought a great famed rock painting frieze - The White sand and mud sediments, where in time Lady, but our time was short. flurry of weavers from their they petrified. Now, 270 million years large communal nest in the The following morning on the way to later, they have been laid bare by Brandberg West and off-roading to avoid t r e e a b o v e u s . W e erosion. Moving on, we came upon an departed, leaving them to some quite awful corrugations, we area dotted with woolsacks, enormous stopped so I could take a photograph of a their noisy jostling for a koppies, where the granite has been place on the rim of the nearby stretch of mountain. As I pressed spilt by extremes of heat and cold, the release button I caught a movement trough, wondering if they forming massive piles of huge boulders. July 2016 22 23 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

hills, red plains covered with passports. After the ancient Welwitchia plant a severe ticking and finally through dunes to off, we left like the coolness of the coast. naughty children We had arrived at Mile 108 driving out of the on the Skeleton Coast. border post as The next five days were fast as we could. taken up with stopovers at However, that the seaside - at Henties Bay, was the least of Swakopmund, with its o u r w o e s , a s w o n d e r f u l G e r m a n almost exactly a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d halfway across cosmopolitan atmosphere, the country and and Walvis Bay with its s h o r t l y a f t e r harbour front, salt mine and e n j o y i n g t h e sight of seeing Hilary Vickers pans and the bay. Even Hilary Vickers ABOVE: Rüppell's Korhaan, w i t h o u t t h e s u m m e r field upon field of ABOVE: Great White Pelican, Brandberg West, May 2015 migrants, a great array of C r o w n e d a n d Walvis Bay, May 2015 sea birds from photogenic Blue Cranes, the on my camera's screen. Looking flocks of both Greater and Lesser Condor broke down and we limped into Britstown where we were to spend a week carefully in the scrub in front of us, I saw Flamingoes and large Great White before spare parts could be obtained and the car fixed. Sadly, Britstown is one of a small bird. It looked somewhat like an Pelicans, and gangs of Kelp and several crumbling Karoo towns. It has a poverty rate of 98%. We were saved by the ostrich chick, except it was far more Hartlaub's Gulls, to the dainty Chestnut- Transkaroo Country Lodge in the main street with its good food and piles of old delicate with long slender legs and a banded Plover, are to be found. National Geographic, Time and Home and Garden magazines and a good pub with lighter body. Closer there were two more Our journey home began on 13 May friendly locals down the road. We eventually arrived home back in Howick on 26 May. birds sitting on the ground. Perfectly with a day's journey from Walvis Bay, camouflaged, their almost oval bodies Hilary Vickers into the Naukluft Park, through the Howick were shaped like the pebbles that Kuiseb Canyon and down to Solitaire scattered the ground while their long with its bakery, Rosy-faced Lovebirds HONORARY RECORDER’S REPORT fawn necks, with a black streak down the and where the sun turns the nearby centre, mimicked the stems of dried mountains from red, to pink, to blue and HELLO birders! The rarities have been a RARITIES grass. The only thing that stood out were then mauve before they disappear into little thin with the dry conditions and SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER their large, bright brown eyes. Charmed the darkness. We missed the nearby many migrants leaving our shores. The Merops hirundineus by these delicate creatures in this harsh famous, must see, red dunes of ponds at Sappi Stanger have continued KZN Rarity environment we consulted our battered Sossusvlei, but we had been on the to be the highlight with the Spotted One, Umhlanga Lagoon Nature bird bible - they were Rüppell's Korhaan. road long enough, and besides you Crake still on show, as well as Lesser Reserve, 24 - 26 May 2016, Pieter and We felt lucky to have seen them. always have to leave something for next Moorhen, Rufous-bellied Heron and Janelle Verster, and many others Some way on we found ourselves time. Western Marsh Harrier, while Stan LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO entering the dry, but green-treed Ugab In fact we nearly never left Namibia. Culley's farm at Port Edward also had a Clamator levaillantii River Canyon. A short way down a track At the Ariamsvlei border post we were good share of rarities. The most unusual KZN Rarity to the right led us up into the hills and to told we had overstayed our welcome by sightings on our shores were the single One, Weenen Game Reserve, the ruins of the Brandberg West mine. 16 days and could be thrown in gaol for Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at Umhlanga 21 March 2016, Tobias von Seydlitz How anyone could have worked there in the weekend as the court only opened and a White-tailed Tropicbird in BLACK COUCAL Centropus grillii summer, I do not know; however Ted on Monday. It was a misunderstanding Empangeni. KZN Rarity survived it. After a quick look around the made, we realized, when entering the One, Ongoye Forest Reserve, ruins, we headed due west over an country and our error was in not ADVERTISE IN KZN BIRDS and one, Eshowe district, undulating gravel road through stony checking the exit date stamped in our SEE PAGE 2 15 February 2016, Pieter La Grange July 2016 24 25 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48 hills, red plains covered with passports. After the ancient Welwitchia plant a severe ticking and finally through dunes to off, we left like the coolness of the coast. naughty children We had arrived at Mile 108 driving out of the on the Skeleton Coast. border post as The next five days were fast as we could. taken up with stopovers at However, that the seaside - at Henties Bay, was the least of Swakopmund, with its o u r w o e s , a s w o n d e r f u l G e r m a n almost exactly a r c h i t e c t u r e a n d halfway across cosmopolitan atmosphere, the country and and Walvis Bay with its s h o r t l y a f t e r harbour front, salt mine and e n j o y i n g t h e sight of seeing Hilary Vickers pans and the bay. Even Hilary Vickers ABOVE: Rüppell's Korhaan, w i t h o u t t h e s u m m e r field upon field of ABOVE: Great White Pelican, Brandberg West, May 2015 migrants, a great array of C r o w n e d a n d Walvis Bay, May 2015 sea birds from photogenic Blue Cranes, the on my camera's screen. Looking flocks of both Greater and Lesser Condor broke down and we limped into Britstown where we were to spend a week carefully in the scrub in front of us, I saw Flamingoes and large Great White before spare parts could be obtained and the car fixed. Sadly, Britstown is one of a small bird. It looked somewhat like an Pelicans, and gangs of Kelp and several crumbling Karoo towns. It has a poverty rate of 98%. We were saved by the ostrich chick, except it was far more Hartlaub's Gulls, to the dainty Chestnut- Transkaroo Country Lodge in the main street with its good food and piles of old delicate with long slender legs and a banded Plover, are to be found. National Geographic, Time and Home and Garden magazines and a good pub with lighter body. Closer there were two more Our journey home began on 13 May friendly locals down the road. We eventually arrived home back in Howick on 26 May. birds sitting on the ground. Perfectly with a day's journey from Walvis Bay, camouflaged, their almost oval bodies Hilary Vickers into the Naukluft Park, through the Howick were shaped like the pebbles that Kuiseb Canyon and down to Solitaire scattered the ground while their long with its bakery, Rosy-faced Lovebirds HONORARY RECORDER’S REPORT fawn necks, with a black streak down the and where the sun turns the nearby centre, mimicked the stems of dried mountains from red, to pink, to blue and HELLO birders! The rarities have been a RARITIES grass. The only thing that stood out were then mauve before they disappear into little thin with the dry conditions and SWALLOW-TAILED BEE-EATER their large, bright brown eyes. Charmed the darkness. We missed the nearby many migrants leaving our shores. The Merops hirundineus by these delicate creatures in this harsh famous, must see, red dunes of ponds at Sappi Stanger have continued KZN Rarity environment we consulted our battered Sossusvlei, but we had been on the to be the highlight with the Spotted One, Umhlanga Lagoon Nature bird bible - they were Rüppell's Korhaan. road long enough, and besides you Crake still on show, as well as Lesser Reserve, 24 - 26 May 2016, Pieter and We felt lucky to have seen them. always have to leave something for next Moorhen, Rufous-bellied Heron and Janelle Verster, and many others Some way on we found ourselves time. Western Marsh Harrier, while Stan LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO entering the dry, but green-treed Ugab In fact we nearly never left Namibia. Culley's farm at Port Edward also had a Clamator levaillantii River Canyon. A short way down a track At the Ariamsvlei border post we were good share of rarities. The most unusual KZN Rarity to the right led us up into the hills and to told we had overstayed our welcome by sightings on our shores were the single One, Weenen Game Reserve, the ruins of the Brandberg West mine. 16 days and could be thrown in gaol for Swallow-tailed Bee-eater at Umhlanga 21 March 2016, Tobias von Seydlitz How anyone could have worked there in the weekend as the court only opened and a White-tailed Tropicbird in BLACK COUCAL Centropus grillii summer, I do not know; however Ted on Monday. It was a misunderstanding Empangeni. KZN Rarity survived it. After a quick look around the made, we realized, when entering the One, Ongoye Forest Reserve, ruins, we headed due west over an country and our error was in not ADVERTISE IN KZN BIRDS and one, Eshowe district, undulating gravel road through stony checking the exit date stamped in our SEE PAGE 2 15 February 2016, Pieter La Grange July 2016 24 25 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL KZN Rarity (SA Rare Bird News) Bubo lacteus One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, MONTAGU'S HARRIER KZN Rarity 26 June 2015, Ian Gordon Circus pygargus One, Hayfields Conservancy, (KZN Rarity accepted) KZN Rarity 19 February 2016, Roger O'Neill One, Port Edward, 20 January 2016, A pair, Midmar Game STRIPED FLUFFTAIL Stan Culley (KZN Rarity accepted) Park, 21-26 February Sarothrura affinis One, Sappi Stanger, 8-11 February, 2016, Drummond and KZN Rarity Paul Bartho and Richard McKibben. Gloria Densham (KZN One seen, Trewirgie Farm, One, Muzi pan, Maputaland, Rarity accepted) Baynesfield, 20 April 2016, 15 February 2016 DARK CHANTING Nick Theron (KZN Rarity submitted) (SA Rare Bird News) GOSHAWK Melierax SPOTTED CRAKE Porzana porzana Two, Weenen Game Reserve, metabates KZN Rarity 13 February 2016, Martin Potgieter Digby Cyrus KZN Rarity Up to three were still present at Sappi One, near Weenen Game Reserve, ABOVE: White-tailed Tropicbird One, near Magudu, 27 Stanger from 8 February to 27 March 20 February 2016 which was found dead at Empangeni in March 2016 February 2016, Athol 2016, Pieter la Grange, Paul Bartho, (SA Rare Bird News) Marchant and Brent Richard McKibben and many others. GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus National Rarity Coverdale. One, Port Edward, KZN Rarity One, at sea off Durban, 7 May 2016, One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, 7-14 February 2016, Andrew Pickles One, Heatonville area, Niall Perrins 28 February 2016 ALLEN'S GALLINULE Porphyrio 12 December 2015, Richard Johnstone FRANKLIN'S GULL (SA Rare Bird News) alleni (KZN Rarity accepted) Leucophaeus pipixcan AYRES'S HAWK EAGLE KZN Rarity RED PHALAROPE National Rarity Hieraaetus ayresii One, Port Edward, 7 February 2016, Phalaropus fulicarius One, Durban Bayhead, 24 March 2016, KZN Rarity Andrew Pickles KZN Rarity David Allan, 26 March 2016, One, Ithala Game Reserve, LESSER MOORHEN One, near Himeville, 27 February to 5 Thomas Jackson. Present until at least 1 January 2016, Alan Manson Gallinula angulata March 2016, Stuart McLean and 1 March 2016 (SA Rare Bird News) (KZN Rarity submitted) Trish Strachan, 28 One, uMngeni River estuary, One, near Manguzi, Zululand, 18 April 2016, Bart Fokkens BELOW: Franklin’s Gull, Durban Bay, March 2016 February 2016, 21-28 March 2016, Clayton Burne Paul Bartho Nick Theron (KZN One, Wilson's Wharf, Durban bay, (KZN Rarity accepted) Rarity accepted), 24-29 May 2016, Mick Jackson Two, Teza, Kwambonambi, 28 February 2016, SOOTY TERN Onychoprion fuscatus 26 March 2016, Tony Roberts Ian Gordon National Rarity One, Empangeni, 13 May 2016, (KZN Rarity One exhausted bird, Prince's Grant Peter Ronald accepted) Golf Estate, Stanger, 5 March 2016, One, Richards Bay, 27 May 2016, BURCHELL'S Chris MacDonald. Nada Crafford COURSER One, St Lucia estuary, 3 May 2016 WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD Cursorius rufus (SA Rare Bird News) Phaethon lepturus KZN Rarity HOODED VULTURE National Rarity One, near Eston, Necrosyrtes monachus One found dead, Empangeni, 10 February 2016, KZN Rarity 24 March 2016, Digby Cyrus Barry Swaddle One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON (KZN Rarity 28 February 2016 Ardeola rufiventris accepted) (SA Rare Bird News) KZN Rarity LONG-TAILED WESTERN MARSH HARRIER One, Umhlatuze Valley Farm, JAEGER Circus aeruginosus Empangeni, 20 February 2016, Stercorarius National Rarity Tony Roberts (KZN Rarity accepted) longicaudus One, Sappi Stanger, 7 February 2016 One, near Amakhosi Lodge, Mkhuze,

July 2016 26 27 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL KZN Rarity (SA Rare Bird News) Bubo lacteus One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, MONTAGU'S HARRIER KZN Rarity 26 June 2015, Ian Gordon Circus pygargus One, Hayfields Conservancy, (KZN Rarity accepted) KZN Rarity 19 February 2016, Roger O'Neill One, Port Edward, 20 January 2016, A pair, Midmar Game STRIPED FLUFFTAIL Stan Culley (KZN Rarity accepted) Park, 21-26 February Sarothrura affinis One, Sappi Stanger, 8-11 February, 2016, Drummond and KZN Rarity Paul Bartho and Richard McKibben. Gloria Densham (KZN One seen, Trewirgie Farm, One, Muzi pan, Maputaland, Rarity accepted) Baynesfield, 20 April 2016, 15 February 2016 DARK CHANTING Nick Theron (KZN Rarity submitted) (SA Rare Bird News) GOSHAWK Melierax SPOTTED CRAKE Porzana porzana Two, Weenen Game Reserve, metabates KZN Rarity 13 February 2016, Martin Potgieter Digby Cyrus KZN Rarity Up to three were still present at Sappi One, near Weenen Game Reserve, ABOVE: White-tailed Tropicbird One, near Magudu, 27 Stanger from 8 February to 27 March 20 February 2016 which was found dead at Empangeni in March 2016 February 2016, Athol 2016, Pieter la Grange, Paul Bartho, (SA Rare Bird News) Marchant and Brent Richard McKibben and many others. GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus National Rarity Coverdale. One, Port Edward, KZN Rarity One, at sea off Durban, 7 May 2016, One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, 7-14 February 2016, Andrew Pickles One, Heatonville area, Niall Perrins 28 February 2016 ALLEN'S GALLINULE Porphyrio 12 December 2015, Richard Johnstone FRANKLIN'S GULL (SA Rare Bird News) alleni (KZN Rarity accepted) Leucophaeus pipixcan AYRES'S HAWK EAGLE KZN Rarity RED PHALAROPE National Rarity Hieraaetus ayresii One, Port Edward, 7 February 2016, Phalaropus fulicarius One, Durban Bayhead, 24 March 2016, KZN Rarity Andrew Pickles KZN Rarity David Allan, 26 March 2016, One, Ithala Game Reserve, LESSER MOORHEN One, near Himeville, 27 February to 5 Thomas Jackson. Present until at least 1 January 2016, Alan Manson Gallinula angulata March 2016, Stuart McLean and 1 March 2016 (SA Rare Bird News) (KZN Rarity submitted) Trish Strachan, 28 One, uMngeni River estuary, One, near Manguzi, Zululand, 18 April 2016, Bart Fokkens BELOW: Franklin’s Gull, Durban Bay, March 2016 February 2016, 21-28 March 2016, Clayton Burne Paul Bartho Nick Theron (KZN One, Wilson's Wharf, Durban bay, (KZN Rarity accepted) Rarity accepted), 24-29 May 2016, Mick Jackson Two, Teza, Kwambonambi, 28 February 2016, SOOTY TERN Onychoprion fuscatus 26 March 2016, Tony Roberts Ian Gordon National Rarity One, Empangeni, 13 May 2016, (KZN Rarity One exhausted bird, Prince's Grant Peter Ronald accepted) Golf Estate, Stanger, 5 March 2016, One, Richards Bay, 27 May 2016, BURCHELL'S Chris MacDonald. Nada Crafford COURSER One, St Lucia estuary, 3 May 2016 WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD Cursorius rufus (SA Rare Bird News) Phaethon lepturus KZN Rarity HOODED VULTURE National Rarity One, near Eston, Necrosyrtes monachus One found dead, Empangeni, 10 February 2016, KZN Rarity 24 March 2016, Digby Cyrus Barry Swaddle One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON (KZN Rarity 28 February 2016 Ardeola rufiventris accepted) (SA Rare Bird News) KZN Rarity LONG-TAILED WESTERN MARSH HARRIER One, Umhlatuze Valley Farm, JAEGER Circus aeruginosus Empangeni, 20 February 2016, Stercorarius National Rarity Tony Roberts (KZN Rarity accepted) longicaudus One, Sappi Stanger, 7 February 2016 One, near Amakhosi Lodge, Mkhuze,

July 2016 26 27 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

TROPICAL Ten, Umbilo, Durban, 5 February 2016 Scottburgh 17 January, SHEARWATER (SA Rare Bird News) Cumberland Nature Reserve Puffinus bailloni Thirty, Amanzimtoti Bird Sanctuary, 31 January, National Rarity 13 February 2016, Peter Small Kloof 6 February, One, offshore Durban, Five, Albert Falls Dam, Amatikulu 2 and 28 February, 21 February 2016, 14 February 2016 Isimangaliso Western Shores Niall Perrins (SA Rare Bird News) 6 and 7 March, One found exhausted Thirty, Umdoni Bird Park, Lidgetton, Midlands, end March, on North Beach, 21 February 2016, Corinne Winson Isimagaliso 4 April, Durban, 30 March One, Amazimtoti River lagoon, Warner Beach 5 April, Inanda Dam 2016 27 March 2016, Barry Swaddle 10 April and Kloof 29 March. (SA Rare Bird News) Bush Blackcap Peregrine Falcon DUSKY LARK One, Amanzimtoti, 19 April 2016, One, Doonside, 5 April 2016, Pinarocorys nigricans (SA Rare Bird News) Rudi Strydom. KZN Rarity Caveat: the sightings recorded here Paul Bartho One, Imfolozi Game OTHER SIGHTINGS have been submitted directly to me or Reserve, African Pygmy Goose ABOVE: Rufous-bellied Heron, have been posted on the SABirdNet or 24 April 2016, John One pair, Cotswold Downs, Port Edward May 2016 SA Rare Bird News, and have not been Travis 22 April 2016, Derek and Glen vetted by any rarities committee for Spencer and Roy Orsmond validation unless otherwise noted. As 11 April 2016, Ruben van Greunen. AFRICAN ROCK PIPIT White-eared Barbet such, the information presented here Two, Port Edward, 1-29 May 2016, Anthus crenatus One, World's View, Pietermaritzburg, should be used with due consideration. Stan Culley (KZN Rarity accepted) KZN Rarity 27 March 2016, Luiz Mateus WHITE-BACKED NIGHT HERON One, near Zaaihoek Dam, European Honey Buzzard Steve Davis: Honorary Recorder Gorsachius leconotus Wakkerstroom district, 11 April 2016, The following sightings of this species 031 205 4459, Fax: 031 273 1302 KZN Rarity Henk Nel (KZN Rarity submitted) which has been delisted as a KZN e-mail: [email protected], Two, Shongweni Resources Reserve, SHORT-TAILED PIPIT Rarity were reported in 2016: 59 Edmonds Road Glenwood 4001 28 February 2016, Clayton Burne and Anthus brachyurus KZN Rarities accepted for Ian Gordon KZN Rarity (4 March 2016), Shannon Reardon Two, Sani Pass, 21 January 2016, KZN RARITIES ACCEPTED (5 March 2016), Garth Aiston Nick Theron (KZN Rarity accepted) (5 March 2016) THE following previously reported KZN records have been accepted by the KZN Rarities Committee since the October 2015 Honorary Recorder's Report. These WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL OUT-OF-RANGE SIGHTINGS Pelagodroma marina include records forwarded to the committee for adjudication from SABAP2 field Collared Pratincole cards. National Rarity One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, One at sea off Durban, 4 June 2016, 29 May 2016 (SA Rare Bird News) Niall Perrins and Rich Everett Bateleur SOOTY ALBATROSS One, Weenen Game Reserve, 23-27 Phoebetria fusca May 2016, Frik Lemmer National Rarity Sooty Falcon One at sea off Durban, 4 June 2016, One, Ongoye Forest Reserve, Niall Perrins and Rich Everett 20 February 2016, Marc Freeman CORY'S SHEARWATER One, Gingindlovu, 21 February 2016 Calonectris borealis (SA Rare Bird News) KZN Rarity One, Glenwood, Durban, 5 June 2016, Fifteen, at sea off Durban, 7 May 2016, Roy Cowgill and Steve Davis Niall Perrins African Openbill July 2016 28 29 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

TROPICAL Ten, Umbilo, Durban, 5 February 2016 Scottburgh 17 January, SHEARWATER (SA Rare Bird News) Cumberland Nature Reserve Puffinus bailloni Thirty, Amanzimtoti Bird Sanctuary, 31 January, National Rarity 13 February 2016, Peter Small Kloof 6 February, One, offshore Durban, Five, Albert Falls Dam, Amatikulu 2 and 28 February, 21 February 2016, 14 February 2016 Isimangaliso Western Shores Niall Perrins (SA Rare Bird News) 6 and 7 March, One found exhausted Thirty, Umdoni Bird Park, Lidgetton, Midlands, end March, on North Beach, 21 February 2016, Corinne Winson Isimagaliso 4 April, Durban, 30 March One, Amazimtoti River lagoon, Warner Beach 5 April, Inanda Dam 2016 27 March 2016, Barry Swaddle 10 April and Kloof 29 March. (SA Rare Bird News) Bush Blackcap Peregrine Falcon DUSKY LARK One, Amanzimtoti, 19 April 2016, One, Doonside, 5 April 2016, Pinarocorys nigricans (SA Rare Bird News) Rudi Strydom. KZN Rarity Caveat: the sightings recorded here Paul Bartho One, Imfolozi Game OTHER SIGHTINGS have been submitted directly to me or Reserve, African Pygmy Goose ABOVE: Rufous-bellied Heron, have been posted on the SABirdNet or 24 April 2016, John One pair, Cotswold Downs, Port Edward May 2016 SA Rare Bird News, and have not been Travis 22 April 2016, Derek and Glen vetted by any rarities committee for Spencer and Roy Orsmond validation unless otherwise noted. As 11 April 2016, Ruben van Greunen. AFRICAN ROCK PIPIT White-eared Barbet such, the information presented here Two, Port Edward, 1-29 May 2016, Anthus crenatus One, World's View, Pietermaritzburg, should be used with due consideration. Stan Culley (KZN Rarity accepted) KZN Rarity 27 March 2016, Luiz Mateus WHITE-BACKED NIGHT HERON One, near Zaaihoek Dam, European Honey Buzzard Steve Davis: Honorary Recorder Gorsachius leconotus Wakkerstroom district, 11 April 2016, The following sightings of this species 031 205 4459, Fax: 031 273 1302 KZN Rarity Henk Nel (KZN Rarity submitted) which has been delisted as a KZN e-mail: [email protected], Two, Shongweni Resources Reserve, SHORT-TAILED PIPIT Rarity were reported in 2016: 59 Edmonds Road Glenwood 4001 28 February 2016, Clayton Burne and Anthus brachyurus KZN Rarities accepted for Ian Gordon KZN Rarity (4 March 2016), Shannon Reardon Two, Sani Pass, 21 January 2016, KZN RARITIES ACCEPTED (5 March 2016), Garth Aiston Nick Theron (KZN Rarity accepted) (5 March 2016) THE following previously reported KZN records have been accepted by the KZN Rarities Committee since the October 2015 Honorary Recorder's Report. These WHITE-FACED STORM-PETREL OUT-OF-RANGE SIGHTINGS Pelagodroma marina include records forwarded to the committee for adjudication from SABAP2 field Collared Pratincole cards. National Rarity One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, One at sea off Durban, 4 June 2016, 29 May 2016 (SA Rare Bird News) Niall Perrins and Rich Everett Bateleur SOOTY ALBATROSS One, Weenen Game Reserve, 23-27 Phoebetria fusca May 2016, Frik Lemmer National Rarity Sooty Falcon One at sea off Durban, 4 June 2016, One, Ongoye Forest Reserve, Niall Perrins and Rich Everett 20 February 2016, Marc Freeman CORY'S SHEARWATER One, Gingindlovu, 21 February 2016 Calonectris borealis (SA Rare Bird News) KZN Rarity One, Glenwood, Durban, 5 June 2016, Fifteen, at sea off Durban, 7 May 2016, Roy Cowgill and Steve Davis Niall Perrins African Openbill July 2016 28 29 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

CLUB ACTIVITIES SEPTEMBER 2016 Saturday 3 September 06h30 -Tanglewood with Elena Russell. Please confirm BIRDLIFE PORT NATAL attendance, meeting time and place: 031 705 2902 or [email protected]. MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: KINDLY PHONE THE CONTACT PERSON FOR No entrance fee, but will do a silver collection for the conservancy. The picnic tea will ANY SPECIFIC OUTING BEFOREHAND TO ENSURE THAT THE OUTING be at the boathouse. WILL TAKE PLACE. Participation is at your own risk. BirdLife Port Natal cannot Wednesday 14 September 19h00 - Indoor meeting. David Allan – “Surveying the be held responsible for theft/loss of property at any venue. fantastic waterbird populations of the 'Elephant Marsh' in southern Malawi”. DIRECTIONS TO VENUES: On the website go to Wednesday 21 September 07h30 - Msinsi NR with Sandi du Preez. Please confirm http://blpn.org/activities/directions-to-bird-club-venues. If unsure, then ask the 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. Directions: Enter Francois Road via Umbilo Road or outing leader when you make contact to confirm your attendance. Directions to Manning Road and then proceed right over the top of the hill. Further down, enter new venues will be shown below. Msinsi Reserve through the entrance gate to the university sports fields (Gate No. OUTDOOR OUTINGS: Please don't forget to bring your tea/lunch baskets and 10). Meet at the cricket oval area. Special birds to be seen include Black socialise afterwards. Please note that many places now charge so take entrance Sparrowhawk, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Crested Barbet, Natal Spurfowl, money, Wild and/or Rhino Cards with you on any outing. Tambourine Dove, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, White-eared Barbet, Grey Sunbird. INDOOR MEETINGS are usually held on the second Wednesday evening of every Bring tea/coffee and eats for picnic afterwards. month (except February and December) at 19h00 at the Westville Methodist Church, Sunday 25 September - Bird Valley Estate, Cramond with Paul and Sally Bartho. Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Contact Paul to obtain meeting time and place as well as directions. Email Paul at BIRD RINGING: Normally starts very early, but people are welcome to arrive later [email protected]. Bird Valley Estate is on private land on Satellite Dam just north and see what is going on. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a of Albert Falls. When the dam is full it is possible to go up through the channels in the Sunday each month. Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to wetland area by flat bottomed boat for almost 7 km. Because of the drought it is likely the time on the BLPN website and KZN Birds@yahoo. Cell: 084 549 1752. we will only be able to go by boat from the campsite to the hide. En route we can Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles. Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. expect to see African Pygmy Geese and White-backed Ducks among the water Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details. Cell 082 338 3302 or birds. If the wetlands are dry we can walk along the channels (gumboots advised). [email protected] Apart from the wetlands the habitat is mainly grassland and plantations. A number of Bird Ringing with James Rawdon. James visits many private estates on the North people may be allowed to camp so if you would like to go up a day or two earlier then Coast from Umhlanga into southern Zululand. Contact James for details: 083 745 contact Paul. 6007 or [email protected] OCTOBER 2016 KRANTZKLOOF BIRDS: Meetings are held at 09h30 on the second Tuesday of Saturday 1 October 06h00 - Alverstone with Elena Russell. Please confirm every second month at Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre and sometimes at the Kloof attendance, meeting time and place 031 705 2902 or [email protected]. Methodist Church Hall. The entrance fee is R20 and there is a very nice boma to have our picnic tea. AUGUST 2016 Tuesday 11 October 09h30 for 10h00 - Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Nick Evans Saturday 6 August 06h30 - Vumbuka with Elena Russell (same directions as for will be talking snakes and birds. Umbogavango). Meet at the entrance/security gate. We will be restricted to 20 cars. Wednesday 12 October - Save Our Seabirds Festival. Program to follow. Please confirm attendance, meeting time and place, 031 705 2902 or email Wednesday 19 October 08h30 - uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve with Lesley [email protected]. Frescura. Wetland, dune forest ecosystems yield some interesting birds, not to Tuesday 9 August 09h30 for 10h00 - Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Adam Riley mention the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean. Always a good birding venue. will talk on a subject to be advised. Directions: From the M4 take the Umhlanga Rocks Drive turn-off. Travel east then Wednesday 10 August 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Nicolette Forbes - The Restoration turn left into Lagoon Drive at the Civic Centre. Travel to the end of Lagoon Drive and of the Lake St Lucia Estuary and Implications for Waterbirds. the entrance to the reserve is just past Breakers Hotel. Meet in the car park. We will Wednesday 17 August 08h00 - Botanic Gardens with Sandi du Preez. Please follow the trail and if there is anyone who knows this trail well who would like to lead confirm 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. After the walk we will go to the tea garden this, please let me know. End with tea at about 10h30. Please confirm with Lesley for refreshments. 083 231 3408, or [email protected]. A donation of R20 for the upkeep of the Sunday 21 August 07h00 - Ellingham Estate with Rex Aspeling, 082 3018177 or reserve would be appreciated. [email protected] to confirm meeting time. Ellingham is a cane farm, with Weekend Away 28-30 October - Richards Bay with Cheryl Bevan. Please confirm extensive riverine forest, great climax trees, bush and dams, plus some well-left dead your booking: 031 708 3731, 083 407 9785 or email:[email protected]. Details eucalypts which often yield raptors. Meet at the horse paddocks at 07h00. Please on accommodation will follow. There is a possibility that the new boardwalks may not bring your chairs and picnic gear. There will be a R20 pp conservation contribution. be ready in which case an alternative venue will be chosen. July 2016 30 31 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

CLUB ACTIVITIES SEPTEMBER 2016 Saturday 3 September 06h30 -Tanglewood with Elena Russell. Please confirm BIRDLIFE PORT NATAL attendance, meeting time and place: 031 705 2902 or [email protected]. MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: KINDLY PHONE THE CONTACT PERSON FOR No entrance fee, but will do a silver collection for the conservancy. The picnic tea will ANY SPECIFIC OUTING BEFOREHAND TO ENSURE THAT THE OUTING be at the boathouse. WILL TAKE PLACE. Participation is at your own risk. BirdLife Port Natal cannot Wednesday 14 September 19h00 - Indoor meeting. David Allan – “Surveying the be held responsible for theft/loss of property at any venue. fantastic waterbird populations of the 'Elephant Marsh' in southern Malawi”. DIRECTIONS TO VENUES: On the website go to Wednesday 21 September 07h30 - Msinsi NR with Sandi du Preez. Please confirm http://blpn.org/activities/directions-to-bird-club-venues. If unsure, then ask the 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. Directions: Enter Francois Road via Umbilo Road or outing leader when you make contact to confirm your attendance. Directions to Manning Road and then proceed right over the top of the hill. Further down, enter new venues will be shown below. Msinsi Reserve through the entrance gate to the university sports fields (Gate No. OUTDOOR OUTINGS: Please don't forget to bring your tea/lunch baskets and 10). Meet at the cricket oval area. Special birds to be seen include Black socialise afterwards. Please note that many places now charge so take entrance Sparrowhawk, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Crested Barbet, Natal Spurfowl, money, Wild and/or Rhino Cards with you on any outing. Tambourine Dove, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, White-eared Barbet, Grey Sunbird. INDOOR MEETINGS are usually held on the second Wednesday evening of every Bring tea/coffee and eats for picnic afterwards. month (except February and December) at 19h00 at the Westville Methodist Church, Sunday 25 September - Bird Valley Estate, Cramond with Paul and Sally Bartho. Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Contact Paul to obtain meeting time and place as well as directions. Email Paul at BIRD RINGING: Normally starts very early, but people are welcome to arrive later [email protected]. Bird Valley Estate is on private land on Satellite Dam just north and see what is going on. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a of Albert Falls. When the dam is full it is possible to go up through the channels in the Sunday each month. Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to wetland area by flat bottomed boat for almost 7 km. Because of the drought it is likely the time on the BLPN website and KZN Birds@yahoo. Cell: 084 549 1752. we will only be able to go by boat from the campsite to the hide. En route we can Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles. Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. expect to see African Pygmy Geese and White-backed Ducks among the water Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details. Cell 082 338 3302 or birds. If the wetlands are dry we can walk along the channels (gumboots advised). [email protected] Apart from the wetlands the habitat is mainly grassland and plantations. A number of Bird Ringing with James Rawdon. James visits many private estates on the North people may be allowed to camp so if you would like to go up a day or two earlier then Coast from Umhlanga into southern Zululand. Contact James for details: 083 745 contact Paul. 6007 or [email protected] OCTOBER 2016 KRANTZKLOOF BIRDS: Meetings are held at 09h30 on the second Tuesday of Saturday 1 October 06h00 - Alverstone with Elena Russell. Please confirm every second month at Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre and sometimes at the Kloof attendance, meeting time and place 031 705 2902 or [email protected]. Methodist Church Hall. The entrance fee is R20 and there is a very nice boma to have our picnic tea. AUGUST 2016 Tuesday 11 October 09h30 for 10h00 - Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Nick Evans Saturday 6 August 06h30 - Vumbuka with Elena Russell (same directions as for will be talking snakes and birds. Umbogavango). Meet at the entrance/security gate. We will be restricted to 20 cars. Wednesday 12 October - Save Our Seabirds Festival. Program to follow. Please confirm attendance, meeting time and place, 031 705 2902 or email Wednesday 19 October 08h30 - uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve with Lesley [email protected]. Frescura. Wetland, dune forest ecosystems yield some interesting birds, not to Tuesday 9 August 09h30 for 10h00 - Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Adam Riley mention the sandy shores of the Indian Ocean. Always a good birding venue. will talk on a subject to be advised. Directions: From the M4 take the Umhlanga Rocks Drive turn-off. Travel east then Wednesday 10 August 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Nicolette Forbes - The Restoration turn left into Lagoon Drive at the Civic Centre. Travel to the end of Lagoon Drive and of the Lake St Lucia Estuary and Implications for Waterbirds. the entrance to the reserve is just past Breakers Hotel. Meet in the car park. We will Wednesday 17 August 08h00 - Botanic Gardens with Sandi du Preez. Please follow the trail and if there is anyone who knows this trail well who would like to lead confirm 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. After the walk we will go to the tea garden this, please let me know. End with tea at about 10h30. Please confirm with Lesley for refreshments. 083 231 3408, or [email protected]. A donation of R20 for the upkeep of the Sunday 21 August 07h00 - Ellingham Estate with Rex Aspeling, 082 3018177 or reserve would be appreciated. [email protected] to confirm meeting time. Ellingham is a cane farm, with Weekend Away 28-30 October - Richards Bay with Cheryl Bevan. Please confirm extensive riverine forest, great climax trees, bush and dams, plus some well-left dead your booking: 031 708 3731, 083 407 9785 or email:[email protected]. Details eucalypts which often yield raptors. Meet at the horse paddocks at 07h00. Please on accommodation will follow. There is a possibility that the new boardwalks may not bring your chairs and picnic gear. There will be a R20 pp conservation contribution. be ready in which case an alternative venue will be chosen. July 2016 30 31 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Sunday 30 October 07h30 - uMngeni River Mouth with Rex Aspeling. Meet at 07h30 AUGUST at the uMngeni mouth parking area. Please confirm meeting time and place with Rex: Sunday 7 - Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. 082 301 8177 or [email protected]. Low tide is at 10h34. We will start by Tuesday 9 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Nicolette Forbes, managing walking across uMngeni Bridge and back. Then drive to uMngeni Bird Park and walk director of Marine Estuary Research on “Restoration of Lake St Lucia Estuary with its along the path towards the mouth and return. Then move to parking area opposite application to the bird life”. bird park for coffee and snacks. Remember to bring chairs. Lots of the migrants Wednesday 17 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Rina Theron: should have returned. “Update on Blue Swallow Monitoring and Conservation in KwaZulu-Natal”. Sunday 21 - Outing to Zulu Falls near Mooi River, where the Southern Bald Ibis NOVEMBER 2016 breed. There will be an entrance fee of R25. Colin Summersgill 033 818 9013 or 083 Saturday 5 November 06h00 - Shongweni with Elena Russell. Please confirm 782 5113. attendance, meeting time and place, 031 705 2902 or [email protected]. Wednesday 31 - Morning outing to Bisley NR in Pietermaritzburg. Meet at There is an entrance fee or Wild Card. Picnic down by the dam. Greendale Shopping Centre at 07h00 to arrange transport. Sally Cumming 033 239 Wednesday 9 November 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Christmas bird quiz with Roy 2362. Cowgill and Steve Davis. Sunday 13 November 06h00 - Kwa-Ximba Conservancy with Dave Rimmer. SEPTEMBER Please confirm meeting time and place with Dave, 082 453 7255 or Sunday 4 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. [email protected]. The outing to Kwa-Ximba will involve a walk along the Saturday 17 - BL KZN Forum at uMngeni Valley southern banks of the uMngeni and Mgceweni Rivers. The plan is for everyone to Sunday 18 - Morning outing to Bird Valley Estate, Cramond. Ian Gordon meet at iSithumba Cultural Village on the uMngeni. Directions: to isiThumba Cultural 033 386 2314 or 083 570 6782 Village (all on good tarred roads): From Durban take the N3 heading to Wednesday 21 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Nicolette Pietermaritzburg. From Kloof/Hillcrest take the M13 heading to PMB and then the Forbes on “Restoration of Lake St Lucia Estuary with its application to the bird life”. N3. Go off the N3 at the Hammersdale / Inchanga Exit. At the end of the off-ramp turn Wednesday 28 - Morning outing to Benvie in the Karkloof. There is an entrance fee right over the N3 and follow the road past Inchanga Station. Just after the station turn of R50 pp. Meet at Amber Ridge car park at 07h00 to arrange transport. Eve Hughes right into Inchanga Drive – stay on this road (it bears left) until you come to a T- 033 330 2723 or 082 872 4333. junction with the R103 (Old Main Road). Turn right onto the R103 and then 1st left OCTOBER (about 200m) onto the D1004. Stay on this road for 9 km as it meanders steeply down Sunday 2 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. into the uMngeni Valley until you come to iSithumba Cultural Village on your right. Tuesday 11 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by David Johnson “Gorilla Wednesday 16 November 07h30 - Bluff NR with Sandi du Preez. Please confirm: Expedition to Uganda with some local bird specials”. 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. Directions: Take Bluff turnoff into Solomon Mahlangu Sunday 16 - Morning outing to Benvie, Karkloof. There is an entrance fee of R50 pp. (Edwin Swales Drive) and head towards the Bluff. Turn left into Bluff Road and the Coordinator Ian Gordon 033 386 2314 or 083 570 6782. right into Old Mission Road. Go right at the circle (still Old Mission Road) and then left Wednesday 19 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Bruce Mann, into Gray's Inn Road. Turn right into Tara Road. The entrance is about 1 km along Senior Scientist with the SA Association for Marine Biological Research on “Marine Tara Road. Entrance fee payable but free with Wild Card or Golden Rhino Card. Bring Protected Areas in South Africa”. chair coffee/tea and eats for a picnic afterwards. Wednesday 26 - Day outing to Spioenkop Dam near Ladysmith. Meet at Greendale Shopping Centre to arrange transport at 06h30. There is an entrance fee of R40pp if BIRDLIFE KWA-ZULU NATAL MIDLANDS you don't have a Rhino or Wild Card. Drummond Densham 033 330 4039 or 083 321 7959 Pietermaritzburg evening meetings are held at Woodgrove Retirement Centre on the second Tuesday of alternate months at 18h00. Howick evening meetings are held in NOVEMBER the Ambers Auditorium in Amber Valley, on the third Wednesday of the month at Sunday 6 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h00. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. 18h00. Entry R10 pp or by donation. Wednesday 16 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Peter Divall on Bird ringing: Contact Karin Nelson on 033 330 3027 or 072 772 4219 “Tanzanian experience - birding and migration”. Darvill, Karkloof Conservancy, Cedara. Sunday 20 - Outing to Gwahumbe Private Nature Reserve, Mid-Illovo. There is an entrance fee of R55 pp. Ian Gordon 033 386 2314 or 083 570 6782. Please contact the coordinator before an outing Wednesday 30 - Morning outing to Rockwood in the Karkloof. Meet at the Amber to confirm the time of meeting and other arrangements. Ridge car park at 06h30 to arrange transport. Peter Divall 033 239 5537 or Coordinators of outings to private property must please phone 083263 4169 the owner a week in advance to confirm the outing.

July 2016 32 33 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

Sunday 30 October 07h30 - uMngeni River Mouth with Rex Aspeling. Meet at 07h30 AUGUST at the uMngeni mouth parking area. Please confirm meeting time and place with Rex: Sunday 7 - Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. 082 301 8177 or [email protected]. Low tide is at 10h34. We will start by Tuesday 9 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Nicolette Forbes, managing walking across uMngeni Bridge and back. Then drive to uMngeni Bird Park and walk director of Marine Estuary Research on “Restoration of Lake St Lucia Estuary with its along the path towards the mouth and return. Then move to parking area opposite application to the bird life”. bird park for coffee and snacks. Remember to bring chairs. Lots of the migrants Wednesday 17 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Rina Theron: should have returned. “Update on Blue Swallow Monitoring and Conservation in KwaZulu-Natal”. Sunday 21 - Outing to Zulu Falls near Mooi River, where the Southern Bald Ibis NOVEMBER 2016 breed. There will be an entrance fee of R25. Colin Summersgill 033 818 9013 or 083 Saturday 5 November 06h00 - Shongweni with Elena Russell. Please confirm 782 5113. attendance, meeting time and place, 031 705 2902 or [email protected]. Wednesday 31 - Morning outing to Bisley NR in Pietermaritzburg. Meet at There is an entrance fee or Wild Card. Picnic down by the dam. Greendale Shopping Centre at 07h00 to arrange transport. Sally Cumming 033 239 Wednesday 9 November 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Christmas bird quiz with Roy 2362. Cowgill and Steve Davis. Sunday 13 November 06h00 - Kwa-Ximba Conservancy with Dave Rimmer. SEPTEMBER Please confirm meeting time and place with Dave, 082 453 7255 or Sunday 4 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. [email protected]. The outing to Kwa-Ximba will involve a walk along the Saturday 17 - BL KZN Forum at uMngeni Valley southern banks of the uMngeni and Mgceweni Rivers. The plan is for everyone to Sunday 18 - Morning outing to Bird Valley Estate, Cramond. Ian Gordon meet at iSithumba Cultural Village on the uMngeni. Directions: to isiThumba Cultural 033 386 2314 or 083 570 6782 Village (all on good tarred roads): From Durban take the N3 heading to Wednesday 21 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Nicolette Pietermaritzburg. From Kloof/Hillcrest take the M13 heading to PMB and then the Forbes on “Restoration of Lake St Lucia Estuary with its application to the bird life”. N3. Go off the N3 at the Hammersdale / Inchanga Exit. At the end of the off-ramp turn Wednesday 28 - Morning outing to Benvie in the Karkloof. There is an entrance fee right over the N3 and follow the road past Inchanga Station. Just after the station turn of R50 pp. Meet at Amber Ridge car park at 07h00 to arrange transport. Eve Hughes right into Inchanga Drive – stay on this road (it bears left) until you come to a T- 033 330 2723 or 082 872 4333. junction with the R103 (Old Main Road). Turn right onto the R103 and then 1st left OCTOBER (about 200m) onto the D1004. Stay on this road for 9 km as it meanders steeply down Sunday 2 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. into the uMngeni Valley until you come to iSithumba Cultural Village on your right. Tuesday 11 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by David Johnson “Gorilla Wednesday 16 November 07h30 - Bluff NR with Sandi du Preez. Please confirm: Expedition to Uganda with some local bird specials”. 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. Directions: Take Bluff turnoff into Solomon Mahlangu Sunday 16 - Morning outing to Benvie, Karkloof. There is an entrance fee of R50 pp. (Edwin Swales Drive) and head towards the Bluff. Turn left into Bluff Road and the Coordinator Ian Gordon 033 386 2314 or 083 570 6782. right into Old Mission Road. Go right at the circle (still Old Mission Road) and then left Wednesday 19 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Bruce Mann, into Gray's Inn Road. Turn right into Tara Road. The entrance is about 1 km along Senior Scientist with the SA Association for Marine Biological Research on “Marine Tara Road. Entrance fee payable but free with Wild Card or Golden Rhino Card. Bring Protected Areas in South Africa”. chair coffee/tea and eats for a picnic afterwards. Wednesday 26 - Day outing to Spioenkop Dam near Ladysmith. Meet at Greendale Shopping Centre to arrange transport at 06h30. There is an entrance fee of R40pp if BIRDLIFE KWA-ZULU NATAL MIDLANDS you don't have a Rhino or Wild Card. Drummond Densham 033 330 4039 or 083 321 7959 Pietermaritzburg evening meetings are held at Woodgrove Retirement Centre on the second Tuesday of alternate months at 18h00. Howick evening meetings are held in NOVEMBER the Ambers Auditorium in Amber Valley, on the third Wednesday of the month at Sunday 6 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h00. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. 18h00. Entry R10 pp or by donation. Wednesday 16 - Presentation in the Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Peter Divall on Bird ringing: Contact Karin Nelson on 033 330 3027 or 072 772 4219 “Tanzanian experience - birding and migration”. Darvill, Karkloof Conservancy, Cedara. Sunday 20 - Outing to Gwahumbe Private Nature Reserve, Mid-Illovo. There is an entrance fee of R55 pp. Ian Gordon 033 386 2314 or 083 570 6782. Please contact the coordinator before an outing Wednesday 30 - Morning outing to Rockwood in the Karkloof. Meet at the Amber to confirm the time of meeting and other arrangements. Ridge car park at 06h30 to arrange transport. Peter Divall 033 239 5537 or Coordinators of outings to private property must please phone 083263 4169 the owner a week in advance to confirm the outing.

July 2016 32 33 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

BIRDLIFE TROGONS PLEASE note all outings are on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month unless otherwise stated. They are advertised in the South Coast Herald, South Coast Fever and The Rising Sun a few days prior to each event. The venues and dates of outings may be changed at short notice, please check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com for updated information or phone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 for further details. Bird ringing with Andrew Pickles is usually on the first Sunday of the month. Venues will be advised. Contact Andrew on 082 338 3302 or [email protected] for Mazeppa Bay Hotel has joined forces details. with birding enthusiast and guide 10 July 07h00: Mpenjati Nature Reserve Karin Nelson 24 July 07h00: Umbogavango from Nelson's Safaris to offer 14 August 07h00: Ellingham Estate fellow birders an exciting week of bird watching and related activities 28 August 07h00: Durban Botanical Garden 11 September 07h00: Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, Beacon Hill Join us from 20 - 27 November 2016 25 September 07h00: Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve R4 900 for 7 nights 09 October 06h30: Selborne Country Club or R3 500 for 5 nights 23 October, time to be announced: Eston Sugar Mill Price is inclusive of accommodation, http://birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com/ meals and birding activities

BIRDLIFE ZULULAND Call us on 047 498 0033 For information or details check out the website: www.birdlifezululand.co.za or e-mail us at [email protected]

BIRD CALENDAR 2017 Ideal gift which lasts all year long! BirdLife Port Natal’s calendars are hugely popular, combining beautiful pictures with interesting information. The calendar includes a year planner and 13 months Superb photographs by Hugh Chittenden, editor of Roberts' Bird Guide Funds raised from sales are used for urgently needed bird conservation projects

Size: 295 mm wide, 245 mm deep Cost: R100 each and a discount of R10 per calendar for orders of three or more Postage R15 extra per calendar Payment: Cash, cheque or electronic transfer To order and send proof of payment: Paul Bartho [email protected], 072 157 2678 Frankie Berghorst: [email protected], 082 375 2741

July 2016 34 35 July 2016 KZN BIRDS No 48 KZN BIRDS No 48

BIRDLIFE TROGONS PLEASE note all outings are on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month unless otherwise stated. They are advertised in the South Coast Herald, South Coast Fever and The Rising Sun a few days prior to each event. The venues and dates of outings may be changed at short notice, please check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com for updated information or phone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 for further details. Bird ringing with Andrew Pickles is usually on the first Sunday of the month. Venues will be advised. Contact Andrew on 082 338 3302 or [email protected] for Mazeppa Bay Hotel has joined forces details. with birding enthusiast and guide 10 July 07h00: Mpenjati Nature Reserve Karin Nelson 24 July 07h00: Umbogavango from Nelson's Safaris to offer 14 August 07h00: Ellingham Estate fellow birders an exciting week of bird watching and related activities 28 August 07h00: Durban Botanical Garden 11 September 07h00: Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, Beacon Hill Join us from 20 - 27 November 2016 25 September 07h00: Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve R4 900 for 7 nights 09 October 06h30: Selborne Country Club or R3 500 for 5 nights 23 October, time to be announced: Eston Sugar Mill Price is inclusive of accommodation, http://birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com/ meals and birding activities

BIRDLIFE ZULULAND Call us on 047 498 0033 For information or details check out the website: www.birdlifezululand.co.za or e-mail us at [email protected]

BIRD CALENDAR 2017 Ideal gift which lasts all year long! BirdLife Port Natal’s calendars are hugely popular, combining beautiful pictures with interesting information. The calendar includes a year planner and 13 months Superb photographs by Hugh Chittenden, editor of Roberts' Bird Guide Funds raised from sales are used for urgently needed bird conservation projects

Size: 295 mm wide, 245 mm deep Cost: R100 each and a discount of R10 per calendar for orders of three or more Postage R15 extra per calendar Payment: Cash, cheque or electronic transfer To order and send proof of payment: Paul Bartho [email protected], 072 157 2678 Frankie Berghorst: [email protected], 082 375 2741

July 2016 34 35 July 2016