Kzn Birds 50

March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 Newsletter of KZN bird clubs which are affiliated to BirdLife South Africa KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

EDITORIAL CONTENTS CHAIR’S CHIRPS t h o s e s t a y i n g o v e r a t W e s s a congregated in Steve and Roy's cottage NEARLY 60 years since she taught Roy 3 Chair’s Chirps and discussed everything and anything Cowgill at school in Grade 3, a friend of 3 BirdLife Port Natal whilst sharing supper and a chat. His mine still remembers him as “a little boy 7 BirdLife KZN Midlands knowledge was phenomenal, so a walk always bubbling with enthusiasm”. It is 8 BirdLife Trogons with him in Howick or doing a CWAC something he had never outgrown, 11 BirdLife Zululand count was always such a pleasure. which was clear from all the tributes paid Mindful of you the sodden earth in spring, Thanks to all those members who made to him by speaker after speaker at his 13 Tribute And all the flowers that in the springtime grow, his memorial on Sunday 22 January at memorial service in January. 13 Roy Cowgill: A life lived to the fullest And dusty roads, and thistles, and the slow Stainbank NR a day that he would have Amongst his many achievements as a Rising of the round moon, all throats that sing enjoyed to the full. teacher and in the birding world, Roy 17 Conservation and Projects The summer through, and each departing wing, Roy will be missed by many people, was instrumental in setting up the 17 More than 700 new bird species And all the nests that the bared branches show, and in many different ways, but here I KwaZulu-Natal Bird Forum which is held 19 Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver in KZN And all winds that in any weather blow, want to take the opportunity to write that twice a year in Howick. This provides a And all the storms that the four seasons bring. his influence and his commitment to the platform for various conservation groups 21 Bird Notes and Observations You go no more on your exultant feet club saw it through many difficult days working in the province to share 21 Use of bill detectors to find prey Up paths that only mist and morning knew, and times. His expertise and advice information, reporting on successes or 22 YBK repeats piracy feeding behaviour Or watch the wind, or listen to the beat were given without expectation of flagging areas of concern. 24 The glue that holds it together Of a bird's wings too high in air to view,-- reward. From a wider perspective, BLSA The concept of having a bird forum But you were something more has lost one of its most important has since been introduced by BirdLife 25 SABAP2 update than young and sweet stalwarts, and many birders around the South Africa in other regions in the 25 Appeal to turn it GREEN in 17TEEN And fair,--and the long year remembers you. country mourn his passing. country. - Edna St Vincent Millay Outings Bird clubs in KZN are determined to 27 Bird outing continue with these highly informative 27 BLPN outing to Eston ponds REST in peace Roy Cowgill, our Elena Russell's Saturday outings gatherings, with the first one of the year President and a good friend to many. have become the stuff of legend – scheduled to take place on 4 March. This 28 Honorary Recorder’s Report The club's condolences go out to Steve Alverstone on 1 October was no will be a fitting legacy of Roy’s passion Davis, his partner in so much, but exception – cold and damp conditions and enthusiasm for conservation. 33 Club Activities particularly for BELOW: A large number of people attended Roy Cowgill’s their combined Crystelle Wilson 33 BirdLife Port Natal memorial service at the Stainbank Nature Reserve on 22 36 BirdLife KwaZulu-Natal Midlands support for BLPN January. One of the speakers was David Allan, Curator of 38 BirdLife Trogons – quiz evenings, Birds at the Durban Natural Science Museum w o r k s h o p s , Crystelle Wilson presentations and KZN BIRDS support for other KZN Birds is the newsletter of BirdLife Port Natal, BirdLife KZN Midlands, BirdLife Zululand, BirdLife Sisonke and BirdLife Trogons, all branches of Birdlife South Africa, and is published three times a year. Any member of the public, members. I shall whether members of a branch or not, are invited to submit articles for publication. Views expressed in KZN Birds are m i s s h i m not necessarily those of the editor, the aforementioned clubs or BirdLife SA. All national rarities are subject to t r e m e n d o u s l y, 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 particularly his typed or neatly written and posted to Crystelle at Unit B18 Amber Lee, Private Bag X11, Howick 3290.. Good quality, e x p e r t i s e i n high resolution digital photographs are also welcome. Telephone: 033 239 0876 or 082 723 5158 Advertising in KZN Birds putting together Per issue the agenda for the The deadline for the next issue Front cover logo R1000 Saturday Forum, Back page colour R1500 is 1 June 2017 Full page inside b&w R 1000 his input for the Front cover: Sentinel Rock Thrush male Half page R 500 Sunday Forum, by Hugh Chittenden, Sani Top January 2017 Quarter page R 250 and the Saturday Smalls R2 per word Desktop Publishing: Crystelle Wilson evenings where March 2017 2 3 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 were of little concern. We had some made lots of toasted sandwiches, many total of 44 different birds were identified. or heard 63 different birds in and around good birding – lovely views of a pair of thanks to the “chefs” Kay and John and Sunday 13 November – KwaXimba the forest. Green-backed Camaroptera, none of their assistants, Marion, Cecily and Conservancy with Dave Rimmer. An Wednesday 7 December Stainbank the usual calls, just a soft ' tick' 'tick' Adam, and the rest of us who sat around excellent day's birding and photographic NR with Sandi du Preez. It was between the two birds as they quietly and chatted and demolished the food. excursion. Please check our website to extremely windy and the birds were not went about the gleaning of leaves. Rain was the word for the first outing see some of the superb photographs. very co-operative, but we did manage to Yellow-throated Longclaws, Fan-tailed of the new year, Saturday 7 January at On Sunday 22 January BLPN birders record 50 species (many only on call). and Red-collared Widowbirds, Tawny- Bluff NR with eight intrepid birders. It had a fantastic outing at Eston ponds. 23 The best birding was on the road from flanked Prinias, Southern Fiscals, was in fact a good choice as there is an people pitched up and 90 species were the top picnic site back to the car park. Barbets: Crested, White-eared and excellent hide and sitting there was a encountered. The day was dedicated to Here we had a spotty juvenile African B l a c k - c o l l a r e d , a n d S p e c k l e d pleasure. The channel in front of the hide Roy. Dusky Flycatcher, Terrestrial Brownbul, M o u s e b i r d s . A f e m a l e B l a c k does appear to have been cleared so Wednesday outings: On 19 October Fork-tailed and Square-tailed Drongo, Cuckooshrike was a good sighting. there is a good view down to the 'pond'. Umhlanga Lagoon NR with John Yellow-bellied Greenbul, African Harrier- Flycatchers: Southern Black, Paradise The highlight was a pair of Lesser Bremner. Twelve of us gathered for this Hawk, Southern Black Tit and Golden- and African Dusky, Olive Thrush, Purple- Swamp Warblers building a nest not outing, the weather was overcast at first tailed Woodpecker, amongst others. crested and Knysna Turaco, Sunbirds: more than a metre away from the hide. with a light fog for a short while which Wednesday 18 January, iPhithi NR Amethyst, Olive, Grey, Collared and There were lots of Southern Red soon lifted and the day turned out sunny with Lesley Frescura. It was cool and Greater Double-collared. Klaas's and Bishops and masses of Thick-billed and a little breezy. Our walk started a fresh to begin with, but we were all heat- Red-chested Cuckoos called, as well as Weavers – one pair was feeding chicks little after 08h30. The whole reserve is wilted by the time we sat down to tea. Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds. Cape in a nest very close by. A Common very well maintained with neat pathways Eight birders braved the dug-up roads to Wagtail, Weavers: African Golden, Moorhen was most attentive of her last t h r o u g h t h e d u n e f o r e s t s w i t h enjoy a great morning in the reserve. Village, Spectacled and Thick-billed. surviving juvenile, the attrition of her boardwalks across the wetland areas. African Golden Weaver, Egyptian Raptors were not so good, Yellow-billed chicks must have been brutal. Black On our way back to the car park Oscar Goose, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird were Kite and a Jackal Buzzard and much Crakes were a little luckier, as there pointed out a Black-throated Wattle-eye some of the birds we saw. As it got hotter later, White-necked Raven. The bird of appeared to be two juveniles, and a pair on a nest, right next to the path. This for and hotter they all disappeared into the the day must go to the Bush Blackcap of African Jacanas also had two chicks me was the sighting of the morning, thick, cool bush. Never mind, it was a only seen and photographed by Declan left. Bronze Mannikins came and went, there were two eggs in the nest. We saw beautiful day and we watched many – I think it must be a new one for the Spectacled and Yellow Weavers, other species from the shelter of the Alverstone list. Our total count was 64 Rufous-winged Cisticola, Little Rush BELOW: Black-throated Wattle-eye, gazebo. and with better weather it might have Warblers, an African Fish-Eagle sat in Bluff Nature Reserve, January 2017 Sandi du Preez does excellent been higher – but that's birding! the trees across the pond, an African John Bremner outings on Wednesdays. 16 November On 5 November it was the magical Darter swam by – maybe not much more was the Bluff NR and 7 December was Shongweni, with a human count of 18 but it kept us entertained for most of the one of Sandi's favourites: Stainbank NR. and a bird count of 72. 3 December was morning. Anyone going on these Wednesday a favourite – Springside NR, and the final Sunday 30 October with Rex mornings is lucky enough to benefit from Saturday outing of the year. The weather Aspeling. Starting at a respectable Sandi's expertise, not only on birds, but for once was hot and sunny and the 07h30 at the uMngeni river mouth to co- butterflies, dragonflies, trees and birding was good. Our total bird count incide with a low tide at 09h30 proved to flowers all come under her ken. was 61 and the prize of a very nice bottle be 30 minutes too late because some T h e B i r d M o n i t o r i n g a n d of wine donated by BLPN for guessing active soul took his dogs for a walk and Conservation group were at iPhithi on the correct number of birds seen was chased everything in sight. Part two of Saturday 8 October, and visited the won by Frankie. There was some debate the walk started at Browns Drift road. All Crowned Eagle Conservancy in Kloof on about the female Red-throated Wryneck the sandbanks were by now fully Saturday 12 November. Thanks to and then I was told I had left off Southern exposed and full of life. By the time we Oscar, and the George brothers, we had Black Tit, so who should have won the reached the last sandbank the rain a wonderful afternoon despite the wine is a mystery – never to be solved arrived and we all dashed back to our incredible storm that brought the dam to and never to be mentioned again! We cars, ending an enjoyable morning. A overflow. We will resume these outings March 2017 4 5 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 were of little concern. We had some made lots of toasted sandwiches, many total of 44 different birds were identified. or heard 63 different birds in and around good birding – lovely views of a pair of thanks to the “chefs” Kay and John and Sunday 13 November – KwaXimba the forest. Green-backed Camaroptera, none of their assistants, Marion, Cecily and Conservancy with Dave Rimmer. An Wednesday 7 December Stainbank the usual calls, just a soft ' tick' 'tick' Adam, and the rest of us who sat around excellent day's birding and photographic NR with Sandi du Preez. It was between the two birds as they quietly and chatted and demolished the food. excursion. Please check our website to extremely windy and the birds were not went about the gleaning of leaves. Rain was the word for the first outing see some of the superb photographs. very co-operative, but we did manage to Yellow-throated Longclaws, Fan-tailed of the new year, Saturday 7 January at On Sunday 22 January BLPN birders record 50 species (many only on call). and Red-collared Widowbirds, Tawny- Bluff NR with eight intrepid birders. It had a fantastic outing at Eston ponds. 23 The best birding was on the road from flanked Prinias, Southern Fiscals, was in fact a good choice as there is an people pitched up and 90 species were the top picnic site back to the car park. Barbets: Crested, White-eared and excellent hide and sitting there was a encountered. The day was dedicated to Here we had a spotty juvenile African B l a c k - c o l l a r e d , a n d S p e c k l e d pleasure. The channel in front of the hide Roy. Dusky Flycatcher, Terrestrial Brownbul, M o u s e b i r d s . A f e m a l e B l a c k does appear to have been cleared so Wednesday outings: On 19 October Fork-tailed and Square-tailed Drongo, Cuckooshrike was a good sighting. there is a good view down to the 'pond'. Umhlanga Lagoon NR with John Yellow-bellied Greenbul, African Harrier- Flycatchers: Southern Black, Paradise The highlight was a pair of Lesser Bremner. Twelve of us gathered for this Hawk, Southern Black Tit and Golden- and African Dusky, Olive Thrush, Purple- Swamp Warblers building a nest not outing, the weather was overcast at first tailed Woodpecker, amongst others. crested and Knysna Turaco, Sunbirds: more than a metre away from the hide. with a light fog for a short while which Wednesday 18 January, iPhithi NR Amethyst, Olive, Grey, Collared and There were lots of Southern Red soon lifted and the day turned out sunny with Lesley Frescura. It was cool and Greater Double-collared. Klaas's and Bishops and masses of Thick-billed and a little breezy. Our walk started a fresh to begin with, but we were all heat- Red-chested Cuckoos called, as well as Weavers – one pair was feeding chicks little after 08h30. The whole reserve is wilted by the time we sat down to tea. Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds. Cape in a nest very close by. A Common very well maintained with neat pathways Eight birders braved the dug-up roads to Wagtail, Weavers: African Golden, Moorhen was most attentive of her last t h r o u g h t h e d u n e f o r e s t s w i t h enjoy a great morning in the reserve. Village, Spectacled and Thick-billed. surviving juvenile, the attrition of her boardwalks across the wetland areas. African Golden Weaver, Egyptian Raptors were not so good, Yellow-billed chicks must have been brutal. Black On our way back to the car park Oscar Goose, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird were Kite and a Jackal Buzzard and much Crakes were a little luckier, as there pointed out a Black-throated Wattle-eye some of the birds we saw. As it got hotter later, White-necked Raven. The bird of appeared to be two juveniles, and a pair on a nest, right next to the path. This for and hotter they all disappeared into the the day must go to the Bush Blackcap of African Jacanas also had two chicks me was the sighting of the morning, thick, cool bush. Never mind, it was a only seen and photographed by Declan left. Bronze Mannikins came and went, there were two eggs in the nest. We saw beautiful day and we watched many – I think it must be a new one for the Spectacled and Yellow Weavers, other species from the shelter of the Alverstone list. Our total count was 64 Rufous-winged Cisticola, Little Rush BELOW: Black-throated Wattle-eye, gazebo. and with better weather it might have Warblers, an African Fish-Eagle sat in Bluff Nature Reserve, January 2017 Sandi du Preez does excellent been higher – but that's birding! the trees across the pond, an African John Bremner outings on Wednesdays. 16 November On 5 November it was the magical Darter swam by – maybe not much more was the Bluff NR and 7 December was Shongweni, with a human count of 18 but it kept us entertained for most of the one of Sandi's favourites: Stainbank NR. and a bird count of 72. 3 December was morning. Anyone going on these Wednesday a favourite – Springside NR, and the final Sunday 30 October with Rex mornings is lucky enough to benefit from Saturday outing of the year. The weather Aspeling. Starting at a respectable Sandi's expertise, not only on birds, but for once was hot and sunny and the 07h30 at the uMngeni river mouth to co- butterflies, dragonflies, trees and birding was good. Our total bird count incide with a low tide at 09h30 proved to flowers all come under her ken. was 61 and the prize of a very nice bottle be 30 minutes too late because some T h e B i r d M o n i t o r i n g a n d of wine donated by BLPN for guessing active soul took his dogs for a walk and Conservation group were at iPhithi on the correct number of birds seen was chased everything in sight. Part two of Saturday 8 October, and visited the won by Frankie. There was some debate the walk started at Browns Drift road. All Crowned Eagle Conservancy in Kloof on about the female Red-throated Wryneck the sandbanks were by now fully Saturday 12 November. Thanks to and then I was told I had left off Southern exposed and full of life. By the time we Oscar, and the George brothers, we had Black Tit, so who should have won the reached the last sandbank the rain a wonderful afternoon despite the wine is a mystery – never to be solved arrived and we all dashed back to our incredible storm that brought the dam to and never to be mentioned again! We cars, ending an enjoyable morning. A overflow. We will resume these outings March 2017 4 5 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 in March. Tuesday 13 December, Brent Coverdale a very wet outing to Zulu Falls on the Indoor meetings. I was asked to from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife gave a talk Mooi River where the Bald Ibis were very speak on local birds at the Methodist on alien birds. busy nest building. Other outings have Church in Westville on Saturday 3 Weekends away: 21-23 October to been to Benvie Gardens, Spioenkop October at a fundraising breakfast and Richards Bay with John and Cheryl Dam near Ladysmith, Bird Valley Estate found an enthusiastic audience who Bevan. These weekends are always ALTHOUGH we are already a few near Cramond, and Rockwood in the enjoyed the presentation on local birds. wonderful, with those who go praising months into the year, I would still like to Karkloof. Our end-of-year function was On Wednesday 12 October, due to the them afterwards. wish you all a happy and successful held at the Hilton College Conservancy cancellation of a talk on seabirds, Steve Education: Sadly many of our birding year. were 25 members attended. The birding Davis and Roy Cowgill gave a very volunteers have dropped away, without The year started on a very sad note there, as always, was outstanding. interesting and informative talk on the replacement, so we are unable to do as with the untimely death of Roy Cowgill. The indoor meetings continue to be Coordinated Water Bird counts both much in the education line as we would He was such a stalwart in the birding well supported, both at Woodgrove in present and past, covering the uMngeni have liked. Arnia, Flick, Virginia and community in KwaZulu-Natal and will be Pietermaritzburg and Howick. The River area and Bayhead. Wednesday 9 myself however, were able to join with sorely missed. speakers have spoken on a wide range November brought a fun-filled evening the Botanical Gardens Education team In October a very successful course of topics; “Restoration of Lake St Lucia when Roy and Steve presented their on Monday 24 October and Monday 14 entitled “Elementary my dear bird- Estuary with its implication to the bird Christmas bird quiz. Back again on 11 N o v e m b e r t o d o a m o r n i n g watcher: Getting the identification of the life”, “Tanzanian Experience – birding January, member Mark Liptrot gave one concentrating on migratory birds. The common birds of the KZN Midlands and the migration”, an update on Blue of his excellent talks on plastic pollution learners from Umlazi, accompanied by right” was presented by David Allan with Swallow monitoring, “Walking with and the various solutions to this. their teachers, were enthusiastic and 64 participants attending. The bird walk Giants” and “Ten years of monitoring On Thursday 27 October I was invited loved observing the birds through the on the Sunday was unfortunately reef fish recovery in the Pondoland by Mark Anderson to attend the Golden scope and the binoculars. marred by a light drizzle, but those who Marine Protected Area”. Bird patrons' evening at the Durban Ernst Retief from BLSA and Henk Nel braved the elements had a great two In April, the BirdLife South Africa AGM Natural Science Museum. David Allan from Birdlasser, ran a great workshop at hours birding around the Amber's lakes w i l l t a k e p l a c e o n b o a r d M S C gave an excellent address on the history the Durban NSM on Saturday morning 5 and we also used the birdhide to great Symphonia when they will sail into “the of the Museum and those luminaries November, and I'm sure those effect, seeing many waterbirds. blue” for Flock 2017. I wish all those such as Phillip Clancey who had participating have made much more use Our CWAC counts for 2017 have joining this trip a fruitful and rewarding preceded him. of this app since then. Thanks to David commenced, but unfortunately the experience – we look forward to hearing The quarterly Biodiversity Forum Allan for organising the venue. Hlatikulu count scheduled for Saturday about it. In response to an appeal from meeting on 24 November was attended On Sunday 29 January a few 21 January had to be postponed as the BLSA, our club has donated a sum of by both Arnia and Lesley. There is members met outside the bird park, and farmer phoned and sent photos of the money to assist with the travelling always an extremely informative agenda with Steve Davis leading, counted the scene on his farm after 80mm of rain and expenses of four chosen BirdLife and the presentations are top-class. birds at uMngeni River mouth and at hail on the previous evening! The Community Guides, three of whom are The networking is also very helpful, as Bayhead. It was a near-perfect day, but Summer Co-ordinated Avifaunal from our province, who will join this trip. the eThekwini Municipality hosts the Steve reminded us that the final count at Roadcount (CAR) took place on We need to support our guides as they morning and gives attendees the uMngeni of over 400 birds was small Saturday 28 January. My thanks to all not only find the “special” birds we look opportunity to raise issues with the compared to the past, when 800 or more those who give of their time to assist with for but they also ensure the habitat and various environmental departments, were numbered in the summer CWAC. both these projects which are vital to the birds are protected in the areas they take both formally and informally. This has been a sad chirp to write – I information-gathering of the Animal birders and, in many cases, interact with Krantzkloof Birds' morning talks hear Roy's voice and his laugh. May we Demographic Unit in Cape Town. their local communities on the continue to be immensely popular and honour his memory by seeing that the The outings in Pietermaritzburg and importance of preserving our fauna and their choice of guest speakers is club survives the tough times, and that Howick continue to be well supported flora.I thank all the Midlands members probably why the room is always full. we will be able to maintain a strong and, as mentioned previously, Darvill and our Committee for their support Nick Evans, well-known as the snake committee and Forum. Conservation of always produces some specials. The during the past year. and frog expert, who has lately been birds and their habitat was his ethos. Lesser Jacana is still resident and Peter Divall captured by birds as well, was guest “Choi, Roy”. Green Sandpiper and Tambourine Dove 033 239 5537 speaker on Tuesday 11 October, and on have been seen there recently. We had Lesley Frescura March 2017 6 7 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 in March. Tuesday 13 December, Brent Coverdale a very wet outing to Zulu Falls on the Indoor meetings. I was asked to from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife gave a talk Mooi River where the Bald Ibis were very speak on local birds at the Methodist on alien birds. busy nest building. Other outings have Church in Westville on Saturday 3 Weekends away: 21-23 October to been to Benvie Gardens, Spioenkop October at a fundraising breakfast and Richards Bay with John and Cheryl Dam near Ladysmith, Bird Valley Estate found an enthusiastic audience who Bevan. These weekends are always ALTHOUGH we are already a few near Cramond, and Rockwood in the enjoyed the presentation on local birds. wonderful, with those who go praising months into the year, I would still like to Karkloof. Our end-of-year function was On Wednesday 12 October, due to the them afterwards. wish you all a happy and successful held at the Hilton College Conservancy cancellation of a talk on seabirds, Steve Education: Sadly many of our birding year. were 25 members attended. The birding Davis and Roy Cowgill gave a very volunteers have dropped away, without The year started on a very sad note there, as always, was outstanding. interesting and informative talk on the replacement, so we are unable to do as with the untimely death of Roy Cowgill. The indoor meetings continue to be Coordinated Water Bird counts both much in the education line as we would He was such a stalwart in the birding well supported, both at Woodgrove in present and past, covering the uMngeni have liked. Arnia, Flick, Virginia and community in KwaZulu-Natal and will be Pietermaritzburg and Howick. The River area and Bayhead. Wednesday 9 myself however, were able to join with sorely missed. speakers have spoken on a wide range November brought a fun-filled evening the Botanical Gardens Education team In October a very successful course of topics; “Restoration of Lake St Lucia when Roy and Steve presented their on Monday 24 October and Monday 14 entitled “Elementary my dear bird- Estuary with its implication to the bird Christmas bird quiz. Back again on 11 N o v e m b e r t o d o a m o r n i n g watcher: Getting the identification of the life”, “Tanzanian Experience – birding January, member Mark Liptrot gave one concentrating on migratory birds. The common birds of the KZN Midlands and the migration”, an update on Blue of his excellent talks on plastic pollution learners from Umlazi, accompanied by right” was presented by David Allan with Swallow monitoring, “Walking with and the various solutions to this. their teachers, were enthusiastic and 64 participants attending. The bird walk Giants” and “Ten years of monitoring On Thursday 27 October I was invited loved observing the birds through the on the Sunday was unfortunately reef fish recovery in the Pondoland by Mark Anderson to attend the Golden scope and the binoculars. marred by a light drizzle, but those who Marine Protected Area”. Bird patrons' evening at the Durban Ernst Retief from BLSA and Henk Nel braved the elements had a great two In April, the BirdLife South Africa AGM Natural Science Museum. David Allan from Birdlasser, ran a great workshop at hours birding around the Amber's lakes w i l l t a k e p l a c e o n b o a r d M S C gave an excellent address on the history the Durban NSM on Saturday morning 5 and we also used the birdhide to great Symphonia when they will sail into “the of the Museum and those luminaries November, and I'm sure those effect, seeing many waterbirds. blue” for Flock 2017. I wish all those such as Phillip Clancey who had participating have made much more use Our CWAC counts for 2017 have joining this trip a fruitful and rewarding preceded him. of this app since then. Thanks to David commenced, but unfortunately the experience – we look forward to hearing The quarterly Biodiversity Forum Allan for organising the venue. Hlatikulu count scheduled for Saturday about it. In response to an appeal from meeting on 24 November was attended On Sunday 29 January a few 21 January had to be postponed as the BLSA, our club has donated a sum of by both Arnia and Lesley. There is members met outside the bird park, and farmer phoned and sent photos of the money to assist with the travelling always an extremely informative agenda with Steve Davis leading, counted the scene on his farm after 80mm of rain and expenses of four chosen BirdLife and the presentations are top-class. birds at uMngeni River mouth and at hail on the previous evening! The Community Guides, three of whom are The networking is also very helpful, as Bayhead. It was a near-perfect day, but Summer Co-ordinated Avifaunal from our province, who will join this trip. the eThekwini Municipality hosts the Steve reminded us that the final count at Roadcount (CAR) took place on We need to support our guides as they morning and gives attendees the uMngeni of over 400 birds was small Saturday 28 January. My thanks to all not only find the “special” birds we look opportunity to raise issues with the compared to the past, when 800 or more those who give of their time to assist with for but they also ensure the habitat and various environmental departments, were numbered in the summer CWAC. both these projects which are vital to the birds are protected in the areas they take both formally and informally. This has been a sad chirp to write – I information-gathering of the Animal birders and, in many cases, interact with Krantzkloof Birds' morning talks hear Roy's voice and his laugh. May we Demographic Unit in Cape Town. their local communities on the continue to be immensely popular and honour his memory by seeing that the The outings in Pietermaritzburg and importance of preserving our fauna and their choice of guest speakers is club survives the tough times, and that Howick continue to be well supported flora.I thank all the Midlands members probably why the room is always full. we will be able to maintain a strong and, as mentioned previously, Darvill and our Committee for their support Nick Evans, well-known as the snake committee and Forum. Conservation of always produces some specials. The during the past year. and frog expert, who has lately been birds and their habitat was his ethos. Lesser Jacana is still resident and Peter Divall captured by birds as well, was guest “Choi, Roy”. Green Sandpiper and Tambourine Dove 033 239 5537 speaker on Tuesday 11 October, and on have been seen there recently. We had Lesley Frescura March 2017 6 7 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

“WHAT counts in The one really wet day allowed us Plover, and African Pipit. We ended at life is not the enthusiasts to watch cricket with a clear the Mill dams with a count of 84 – just mere fact that we conscience! Many coastal forest tree reward for the 17 who braved the cold, have lived. It is species were in flower, above our cabin rain and mist. what difference a Craibia zimmermannii, a Zululand Birding Big Day on 26 November was we have made to sand forest endemic, was in luxurious celebrated by Selborne Estate with a Big the lives of others that will determine the bloom. The Mangrove Kingfisher Birding Event, inviting anyone from significance of the life we lead”. obliged by sitting around on the novices to serious twitchers to This was quoted by Adam Khan at the mangrove walk until everyone had seen participate in teams of between two and memorial to Roy on 22 January at the it. Other specials included Scaly- four people. It was a huge success and Stainbank Nature Reserve and I thought throated Honeyguide, Black-throated Andrew, who went along as an expert it so very apt. No bird outing will ever be Wattle-eye, and Palm-nut Vultures adviser, urges us to join in the fun next the same without Roy, yet he is such a catching crabs on the windswept beach. time. The cost of R150 included a light Sandy Olver part of my birding knowledge that he will Richard Johnstone from BirdLIfe lunch and a goody bag. We will forward ABOVE: The Trogons display always be there. Zululand joined us for a day and he and I the information for 2017 to club advertising the 2016 Birding Big Day Roy had an uncanny way of teaching. spotted a Striped Kingfisher on the members once it has been received. He would ask a question and when you telephone line near the golf course – Andrew Lewis, a local nature reserve patrols, gate-keeper, cleaners, all as gave the answer, say “why?” and fix you that afternoon, some went back to find it owner, wants to hold a Birding Big Day usual. He is always amused that with those steely blue eyes. While my and saw her flitting in and out of a hole in event at his reserve (River Valley) to Trogons take four hours just to get to the brain scrambled for a reply I never knew a tree, with the sound of nestlings raise funds for SCAR. All entrance fees gate from the tar road – a slight if he was thinking, “I wish the stupid bat chirping inside – they wanted to put up will go to SCAR and participants will be exaggeration, but that stretch of the would hurry up” or “come on Sandy, I a “Do not disturb” sign! Species count charged only R10 entry. We can discuss stream always yields so many species told you last time” or “I wonder what was 84. this with him at a later date. that it's a pity to hurry through! Steve and I should have for dinner On the way back some of us tried the To advertise Birding Big Day, I set up The CWAC count on Harding Dam tonight?” Then came the reply, “no you're muddy road to the Sappi Stanger Hide, a display in Scottburgh Library, using was done by Stan and Val Culley on 15 wrong/yes you're right, and I”ll tell you where the rain had played havoc. We their books and posters, with discarded January. To quote Val: why . . .” I'll remember those “why's” turned back when the lead car nearly (I hope!) weavers' nests and bird- “Harding Dam was very full and some forever, and boy, did we remember the disappeared into a water-logged donga patterned fabrics. places where we usually walk were answers for next time! and even a huge truck thought better of Local reserves: We cancelled the flooded. At first glance it looked as The latter part of 2016 became it. Fortunately someone knew the tarred outing to Empisini at Umkomaas, as the though there were hardly any birds, but notorious for rain and wind, as the back road, but even from the Mill to the Officer-in-charge advised us it was after scoping, Stan managed to find 16 drought broke on the KZN South Coast hide was treacherous. Well worth it as unsafe. It has been vandalised, the species – 99 birds in all. earlier than other areas, starting with the usual, especially with Stan Culley and chains removed, and I don't know what Grey Heron 4; Goliath Heron 1; freezing weather at the September his scope, with a count of 44. has happened to the tree house. An Black-headed Heron 4; White-breasted Forum. The Trogons’ blog reads: outing On 23 October Barry Swaddle individual on a motor bike was attacked Cormorant 6; Hadeda Ibis 1; Cape cancelled, outing cancelled, outing accompanied the club on a visit to Eston and robbed. They suggest people visit in Shoveler 2; Yellow-billed Duck 13; cancelled. Andrew had to cancel most of Sugar Mill and surrounds. This was a a big group for the foreseeable future, Red-billed Teal 1; Red-knobbed Coot his ringing sessions, a great pity as we blessing as he knows the area well and and have someone to watch the cars. 23; Common Moorhen 2; African Fish- are not sure of the future of his popular there are many small dams in the vicinity There were some land claims on Eagle 1; Blacksmith Lapwing 2; African ringing sessions. I understand that his which we would have missed. He also parts of Vernon Crookes Nature Marsh-Harrier 1; Reed Cormorant 6; swallow research will go ahead, but the knows the birdlife and what to expect. Reserve which were granted to the local Egyptian Goose 21; South African farmer has withdrawn permission to put Driving along the fence of the secret community but they chose to take the Shelduck 11.” up nets and allow public access to the Toyota testing grounds where the birds money in lieu of the land. The Officer-in- The count in August was 80 birds with Umzumbe flood plain. are undisturbed, we picked up a pair of charge, Mike Bentley again, was there 14 species, and the previous summer From 10-14 October, 14 of us enjoyed Oribi enjoying the privacy, Crowned on 22 January with his wife, engaged in also 14 species with 205 birds. our stay in the log cabins at Umlalazi, Lapwing and Rufous-naped Lark, with their frog research. He says there are no SCAR: we are so lucky to have the Mtunzini, in spite of the on and off rain. later on, Red-capped Lark, Kittlitz’s problems. Ezemvelo is in charge, with services of dedicated Michelle Pearson March 2017 8 9 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 at Second Chance Avian Rescue. She is exhaustion, unlike other birds which in Edward is 240 species in his garden and there is a big difference between a magician with birds of all sizes. At our general only need a few hours. Finding on his dam and surrounding wetland. twitching and birding and both have their AGM in February Michelle, together with and releasing a weak seabird the same Best wishes to all the birders for 2017, respective place. I personally will never t h e v e t e r i n a r y s u r g e o n , L e o n day will certainly be its death sentence. and to the bird photographers, whose be able to go to a twitch and just record Bruggemann, will be awarded the Barry We would like to ask the public to please work delights daily on Facebook and the one species onto a list and not spend Porter Memorial Trophy – a small be on the lookout for beaching and weak who seem to become more and more the extra time to add other birds for a full gesture from the club to say how much seabirds on our beaches throughout the expert. atlas protocol list for that pentad. Once we appreciate their work. The previous course of continuing bad weather you start with atlasing, it becomes Sandy Olver recipients were also combined – Doug c o n d i t i o n s a n d t o c o n t a c t u s natural to start a field sheet. Even when [email protected] Butcher for managing the Club finances immediately on 083 246 6765. we travel and we have a special sighting for nine years and Gary Holburn who Eight newly hatched Egyptian we will start a new sheet and spend at audited the club's books and dealt with Goslings sadly had to be rescued by least two hours in the pentad. We might SARS. taking them away from their mother last be a little bit atlasing crazy, but it has I enclose the November news from week as the only means of saving their helped us very much in our birding. I Michelle: lives. Egyptian Geese are finding it WHAT a bumper birding season it has think we have the record for traveling “A Narina Trogon was just one of favorable to nest in built-up areas, been so far! from Empangeni to Vryheid, which took many sick, injured or baby birds being especially where there is an attractive I think that in the past six months the us just under seven hours on our way to admitted recently. It was found in the swimming pool, and unfortunately do not most rare bird sightings have been Johannesburg! road in the Southport area, presumably a consider the dangers of these areas reported in a very long time. The main Twitching has its value, just think of all vehicle collision, and rushed through to after their chicks hatch, such as reason for this is that there are more the money spent on flight tickets, petrol us for further care. Fortunately, the bird domestic animals, as well as the ability birders in the field and the average accommodation, etc. I still don't know sustained no serious injuries and was for their youngsters to exit these knowledge of birders has increased how some people get off work so easily released in the iGwalagwala forest properties in order to look for safety, as quite a lot. Then, most important, is that with sick leave and be cured within a day recently. well as better food and water sources. more birders are reporting their after seeing the twitch. Even now as A very weak Swift Tern was found on In cases like this, these birds need to be sightings. pensioners with more than enough time Uvongo beach by lifeguards and brought caught and relocated, and trying to catch Some birds still don't get reported, but on hand we don't chase a twitch, but to us late yesterday morning. Sadly the the parents can be a daunting task. we must keep in mind those birders who then again that's just us. (We have only bird passed away shortly after arrival Sadly, after all our efforts and many would like to see birds that might be done two twitches in our time, which d u e t o s e v e r e e m a c i a t i o n a n d hours of an unsuccessful attempt to quite common for others. Also, some happened to be in our area, the Golden hypothermia. Constant strong winds and catch the female, the tough decision had birders do tend to keep secrets because Pipit and Arnot's Chat). bad weather conditions are taking a to be made to remove the youngsters. they think it might chase the bird away, Birding in KZN has been very good as huge toll on these birds, causing terrible Thanks to a team of determined or they want to protect the bird from always, plus the added bonus of having exhaustion which makes it almost inspectors from the SPCA Lower South people who have not such noble wonderful rain which has helped nature impossible to hunt for food and they Coast for all their efforts and spending intentions - like capturing the birds or to recover a bit. The drought has left its become emaciated. Once they reach the entire day attending to the situation. stealing eggs from nests. mark on many areas and more rain is this stage, they will certainly die as they And a big thank you to Tammy Nel for Please always respect landowners needed, but the situation is getting cannot recover on their own. Immediate transporting these youngsters to CROW and especially ensure that your better. intervention is needed, where they yesterday after their short 5-day stay behaviour won't spoil it for other birders It's also so nice to see how well the require a special fish formula with added here at SCAR. who would also like to see the birds in social media is working; just remember vitamins to boost their immunity, A newly hatched Water Thick-knee question. the system can only work if the reports combined with adequate heat. A weak was rushed through to us after a It is also very good that some effort is get done in time. What is encouraging is bird can no longer generate its own body domestic cat discovered it on the beach. made to keep track of how many birders the number of photographers that are heat, thus will most likely die from Fortunately, this little guy suffered no have actually gone and seen a specific starting to show an interest in birding via hypothermia before organ failure. injuries and will be cared for here at rarity. But it is disappointing that many the pictures that they are taking. It is a Seabirds in general, even with proper SCAR until he is ready for release in a birders rush out to add another tick to challenge to get nice pictures of birds, as treatment and care, can take up to few months.” their life list, sparing no expense, without they are very difficult subjects which roughly two weeks to recover from Stan Culley's latest report from Port recording any others in the area. Yes sometimes you can only hear, but don't March 2017 10 11 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 at Second Chance Avian Rescue. She is exhaustion, unlike other birds which in Edward is 240 species in his garden and there is a big difference between a magician with birds of all sizes. At our general only need a few hours. Finding on his dam and surrounding wetland. twitching and birding and both have their AGM in February Michelle, together with and releasing a weak seabird the same Best wishes to all the birders for 2017, respective place. I personally will never t h e v e t e r i n a r y s u r g e o n , L e o n day will certainly be its death sentence. and to the bird photographers, whose be able to go to a twitch and just record Bruggemann, will be awarded the Barry We would like to ask the public to please work delights daily on Facebook and the one species onto a list and not spend Porter Memorial Trophy – a small be on the lookout for beaching and weak who seem to become more and more the extra time to add other birds for a full gesture from the club to say how much seabirds on our beaches throughout the expert. atlas protocol list for that pentad. Once we appreciate their work. The previous course of continuing bad weather you start with atlasing, it becomes Sandy Olver recipients were also combined – Doug c o n d i t i o n s a n d t o c o n t a c t u s natural to start a field sheet. Even when [email protected] Butcher for managing the Club finances immediately on 083 246 6765. we travel and we have a special sighting for nine years and Gary Holburn who Eight newly hatched Egyptian we will start a new sheet and spend at audited the club's books and dealt with Goslings sadly had to be rescued by least two hours in the pentad. We might SARS. taking them away from their mother last be a little bit atlasing crazy, but it has I enclose the November news from week as the only means of saving their helped us very much in our birding. I Michelle: lives. Egyptian Geese are finding it WHAT a bumper birding season it has think we have the record for traveling “A Narina Trogon was just one of favorable to nest in built-up areas, been so far! from Empangeni to Vryheid, which took many sick, injured or baby birds being especially where there is an attractive I think that in the past six months the us just under seven hours on our way to admitted recently. It was found in the swimming pool, and unfortunately do not most rare bird sightings have been Johannesburg! road in the Southport area, presumably a consider the dangers of these areas reported in a very long time. The main Twitching has its value, just think of all vehicle collision, and rushed through to after their chicks hatch, such as reason for this is that there are more the money spent on flight tickets, petrol us for further care. Fortunately, the bird domestic animals, as well as the ability birders in the field and the average accommodation, etc. I still don't know sustained no serious injuries and was for their youngsters to exit these knowledge of birders has increased how some people get off work so easily released in the iGwalagwala forest properties in order to look for safety, as quite a lot. Then, most important, is that with sick leave and be cured within a day recently. well as better food and water sources. more birders are reporting their after seeing the twitch. Even now as A very weak Swift Tern was found on In cases like this, these birds need to be sightings. pensioners with more than enough time Uvongo beach by lifeguards and brought caught and relocated, and trying to catch Some birds still don't get reported, but on hand we don't chase a twitch, but to us late yesterday morning. Sadly the the parents can be a daunting task. we must keep in mind those birders who then again that's just us. (We have only bird passed away shortly after arrival Sadly, after all our efforts and many would like to see birds that might be done two twitches in our time, which d u e t o s e v e r e e m a c i a t i o n a n d hours of an unsuccessful attempt to quite common for others. Also, some happened to be in our area, the Golden hypothermia. Constant strong winds and catch the female, the tough decision had birders do tend to keep secrets because Pipit and Arnot's Chat). bad weather conditions are taking a to be made to remove the youngsters. they think it might chase the bird away, Birding in KZN has been very good as huge toll on these birds, causing terrible Thanks to a team of determined or they want to protect the bird from always, plus the added bonus of having exhaustion which makes it almost inspectors from the SPCA Lower South people who have not such noble wonderful rain which has helped nature impossible to hunt for food and they Coast for all their efforts and spending intentions - like capturing the birds or to recover a bit. The drought has left its become emaciated. Once they reach the entire day attending to the situation. stealing eggs from nests. mark on many areas and more rain is this stage, they will certainly die as they And a big thank you to Tammy Nel for Please always respect landowners needed, but the situation is getting cannot recover on their own. Immediate transporting these youngsters to CROW and especially ensure that your better. intervention is needed, where they yesterday after their short 5-day stay behaviour won't spoil it for other birders It's also so nice to see how well the require a special fish formula with added here at SCAR. who would also like to see the birds in social media is working; just remember vitamins to boost their immunity, A newly hatched Water Thick-knee question. the system can only work if the reports combined with adequate heat. A weak was rushed through to us after a It is also very good that some effort is get done in time. What is encouraging is bird can no longer generate its own body domestic cat discovered it on the beach. made to keep track of how many birders the number of photographers that are heat, thus will most likely die from Fortunately, this little guy suffered no have actually gone and seen a specific starting to show an interest in birding via hypothermia before organ failure. injuries and will be cared for here at rarity. But it is disappointing that many the pictures that they are taking. It is a Seabirds in general, even with proper SCAR until he is ready for release in a birders rush out to add another tick to challenge to get nice pictures of birds, as treatment and care, can take up to few months.” their life list, sparing no expense, without they are very difficult subjects which roughly two weeks to recover from Stan Culley's latest report from Port recording any others in the area. Yes sometimes you can only hear, but don't March 2017 10 11 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 seem to be able to find as they are we manage to spot them there, to which always on the other side of the bushes. replied, “well, we are birding!” TRIBUTE: ROY COWGILL 1948 - 2017 It's a whole new world for them to try and Birding can also help to sharpen your see how many species they can senses. It has helped to improve our A life lived capture. Hopefully, these photographers eyesight and hearing. Believe me, at our will one day also become birders. I have age you do need all the advantages you to the fullest been impressed by their lists, which can get. We often take our five-year-old Roy’s life was celebrated at a indicate a lot of field work and many granddaughter birding with us. She gathering held at the Stainbank Nature hours under not always such pleasant already has a very impressive list. Reserve on 22 January. This was the conditions. This is a much greater Well, sadly this will be my last chirp as tribute given by his partner, challenge than just recording a bird that chair of BLZ, as we are no longer Steve Davis was heard or seen, and with the added available to serve on the committee due challenge to get a better shot each time. to fact that we are outside of Richards HELLO everyone, What is also so very nice is that they Bay most of the time. It is not fair on the I wish to thank you all most sincerely post a lot of their bird pictures and even club and its members that we can't for gathering here today to celebrate the though they may sometimes get the ID attend the meetings and outings, but we life of a very special man, who did so incorrect, they will ask for help, which in a will still remain members of BLZ. much for so many people in so many way helps everybody to hit the books to KZN will always have a very special ways. Before I talk about Roy, I would get the correct ID. Everybody benefits place in our hearts. We have very good like to give my heartfelt thanks to all and we become better at our birding. memories and lots of fun birding. It is an those who have provided so much There is no shame in getting an ID area that can supply you with 100 plus support and love to me at this difficult incorrect as many of the top birders also birds in two hours of birding. time. To my family, my friends, to Lesley get it so very wrong from time to time. Where we are currently located, the and BirdLife Port Natal, and Tracy and Our guides in the KZN area have been birding is completely different. The the Honorary Officers for helping very active and busy finding good birds species are fewer and harder to find but immensely with the arrangements for for their clients. The feedback that I do my list for the area is growing longer as today. get from time to time is that, overall, the we go on. I have stirred a bigger I have known Roy since 1991, but Steve Davis clients have been very impressed with awareness in our local community for many of you have known him much ABOVE: Roy Cowgill passed away the standard of the guides. birds and already I am being called the longer. Each of you will have your own unexpectedly on 6 January 2017 We always try to encourage an Birdman! Yes, most of the birding I do memories of those special moments, after a short illness interest in birding in people we come here is at high altitude 1730m and sayings, actions and words of wisdom across wherever we go. You often meet between the rocks, but the scenery is that Roy created, and I'm sure many of get his hands dirty with Mother Nature. It people in nature reserves who tell you very spectacular and you can get very those will be remembered today and into was his way of dealing with the they hardly saw anything. We will then close to the birds. So if you are in the the future. pressures of life, which he did better tell them that we have seen more than 70 area of Kaapsehoop pay us a visit, we I have been overwhelmed with than most. bird species. are easy to find at the Goldrush. Hope to messages of condolence and support, Roy's philosophy was simple: expect Once, while birding in the Imfolozi see you some day. and they have all said what a wonderful and plan for the worst, and if it turns out Game Reserve, we stopped on the side To all our members of BLZ we do person he was and that he has gone far to be not that bad, then you can be of the road to count Spotted Thick- already miss you as you are such a too soon. As you know, Roy was not one happy and celebrate. It may seem a knees. That's when Alison found seven wonderful group and I will always be to sit around idly – he always had to be pessimistic outlook, but it worked for lions in the tree not 40 m away from us. A proud of BLZ. Thanks for all your loyal doing something, either creative or Roy. He had a fridge magnet that he car stopped next to us and asked what support and for all the good times and pleasurable, be it listening to music, bought on a holiday in America – it says: we were doing, to which we replied that also the not so good ones. birding in the bush, gardening, cooking, “life is a bitch, then you die” and he lived we out birding and counting the thick- GOD bless us all and don't forget to eating or chatting to people. Sometimes, with that expectation. He always put full knees. But just before they left we told go birding. after a long and busy week for both of us, effort into everything – no half them there were also lions to be seen in Johan Gouws I wanted to sit back and relax, but no, measures, and one of his favourite the tree opposite us. They asked how did 083 294 3370 Roy was keen to get into the garden and sayings when people were hesitant or March 2017 12 13 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 seem to be able to find as they are we manage to spot them there, to which always on the other side of the bushes. replied, “well, we are birding!” TRIBUTE: ROY COWGILL 1948 - 2017 It's a whole new world for them to try and Birding can also help to sharpen your see how many species they can senses. It has helped to improve our A life lived capture. Hopefully, these photographers eyesight and hearing. Believe me, at our will one day also become birders. I have age you do need all the advantages you to the fullest been impressed by their lists, which can get. We often take our five-year-old Roy’s life was celebrated at a indicate a lot of field work and many granddaughter birding with us. She gathering held at the Stainbank Nature hours under not always such pleasant already has a very impressive list. Reserve on 22 January. This was the conditions. This is a much greater Well, sadly this will be my last chirp as tribute given by his partner, challenge than just recording a bird that chair of BLZ, as we are no longer Steve Davis was heard or seen, and with the added available to serve on the committee due challenge to get a better shot each time. to fact that we are outside of Richards HELLO everyone, What is also so very nice is that they Bay most of the time. It is not fair on the I wish to thank you all most sincerely post a lot of their bird pictures and even club and its members that we can't for gathering here today to celebrate the though they may sometimes get the ID attend the meetings and outings, but we life of a very special man, who did so incorrect, they will ask for help, which in a will still remain members of BLZ. much for so many people in so many way helps everybody to hit the books to KZN will always have a very special ways. Before I talk about Roy, I would get the correct ID. Everybody benefits place in our hearts. We have very good like to give my heartfelt thanks to all and we become better at our birding. memories and lots of fun birding. It is an those who have provided so much There is no shame in getting an ID area that can supply you with 100 plus support and love to me at this difficult incorrect as many of the top birders also birds in two hours of birding. time. To my family, my friends, to Lesley get it so very wrong from time to time. Where we are currently located, the and BirdLife Port Natal, and Tracy and Our guides in the KZN area have been birding is completely different. The the Honorary Officers for helping very active and busy finding good birds species are fewer and harder to find but immensely with the arrangements for for their clients. The feedback that I do my list for the area is growing longer as today. get from time to time is that, overall, the we go on. I have stirred a bigger I have known Roy since 1991, but Steve Davis clients have been very impressed with awareness in our local community for many of you have known him much ABOVE: Roy Cowgill passed away the standard of the guides. birds and already I am being called the longer. Each of you will have your own unexpectedly on 6 January 2017 We always try to encourage an Birdman! Yes, most of the birding I do memories of those special moments, after a short illness interest in birding in people we come here is at high altitude 1730m and sayings, actions and words of wisdom across wherever we go. You often meet between the rocks, but the scenery is that Roy created, and I'm sure many of get his hands dirty with Mother Nature. It people in nature reserves who tell you very spectacular and you can get very those will be remembered today and into was his way of dealing with the they hardly saw anything. We will then close to the birds. So if you are in the the future. pressures of life, which he did better tell them that we have seen more than 70 area of Kaapsehoop pay us a visit, we I have been overwhelmed with than most. bird species. are easy to find at the Goldrush. Hope to messages of condolence and support, Roy's philosophy was simple: expect Once, while birding in the Imfolozi see you some day. and they have all said what a wonderful and plan for the worst, and if it turns out Game Reserve, we stopped on the side To all our members of BLZ we do person he was and that he has gone far to be not that bad, then you can be of the road to count Spotted Thick- already miss you as you are such a too soon. As you know, Roy was not one happy and celebrate. It may seem a knees. That's when Alison found seven wonderful group and I will always be to sit around idly – he always had to be pessimistic outlook, but it worked for lions in the tree not 40 m away from us. A proud of BLZ. Thanks for all your loyal doing something, either creative or Roy. He had a fridge magnet that he car stopped next to us and asked what support and for all the good times and pleasurable, be it listening to music, bought on a holiday in America – it says: we were doing, to which we replied that also the not so good ones. birding in the bush, gardening, cooking, “life is a bitch, then you die” and he lived we out birding and counting the thick- GOD bless us all and don't forget to eating or chatting to people. Sometimes, with that expectation. He always put full knees. But just before they left we told go birding. after a long and busy week for both of us, effort into everything – no half them there were also lions to be seen in Johan Gouws I wanted to sit back and relax, but no, measures, and one of his favourite the tree opposite us. They asked how did 083 294 3370 Roy was keen to get into the garden and sayings when people were hesitant or March 2017 12 13 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 indecisive was, excuse the language, men and allowing them to succeed in classroom if we had “just shit or get off the pot”. He was later life. The respect in which he is held met! His stentorian renowned for being a good organiser, was evident often when we were out, voice was a trademark which is an essential requirement for and a past pupil, from DHS, Ridge Park that he used to good being a good teacher, but he was equally College, or DUT, where he taught for a effect in the classroom adept at nurturing and growing people, while, would cross the road or run across or to control meetings, whether they were pupils at school, a shopping mall to say hello or give him a but not many people aspirant bird guides, beginner birders or big hug, being delighted to see him. know that he was very anyone who needed advice. His advice Those special moments gave him shy as a child, and his and suggestions were founded on years immense satisfaction – it was all the father insisted that he o f e x p e r i e n c e o f d a i l y c r i s i s reward he needed – acknowledgement go for proper speech management at school, and you were of a job well done. and drama lessons. He well-advised to consider it seriously. Roy was satisfied with simple rewards was then trained by the As you know, he had an acid wit and – a delicious meal after a day's cooking, l a t e P r o f e s s o r loved nothing more than to make an listening to a really good piece of music, Elizabeth Sneddon, outrageous or provocative comment to or just seeing a bird in a way he had not who stood at the back provoke a response, and often an seen before. One of these instances of the room and said “I interesting discussion. He could do this was when we were in Hluhluwe just can't hear you, boy!” with a dead-pan face, and you never before Christmas and we came across a and so developed what knew whether he was really joking or not. male Violet-backed (Amethyst) Starling he called his “dulcet I often struggled in his company to keep that had just bathed in the river and was tones”. a straight face when he was baiting preening itself in the full sun, showing off We loved travelling someone for fun and I knew it and didn't its glorious colour. Roy looked at the bird and there are too many want to let the cat out of the bag. Despite and said: “I don't mind if we go home highlights to recount, that, Roy was rarely unkind, and if he now – that has made my trip”. but outstanding ones was, it was usually well deserved. If you My first encounter with Roy was when include finding the Crystelle Wilson wanted an honest opinion, you would get I was a student and went on a Natal Bird Andean Cock-of-the- ABOVE: Roy and Steve at the 2013 launch of their book, it from Roy, and however brutal it may Club outing to Vernon Crookes Nature R o c k n e a r M a c h u “Field Guide to Shorebirds of South Africa” have sounded, you always knew it was Reserve. There was a big turnout and P i c c h u i n P e r u , genuine and given with the very best we were divided into three groups, each watching Waved Albatrosses take off in particularly matter to him. intentions. assigned to a leader, one of whom was front of our noses on Hood Island in the In later years with the advent of digital Many of his ex-pupils can attest to Roy, in his normal teacher organizing Galapagos, finding the weird Bornean cameras, we got more and more into being drilled into the ground at times, role and with his very loud penetrating Bristlehead in Borneo, and watching butterflies and dragonflies, and basically sometimes being reduced to tears, but voice, telling people where to go and Bowerbirds in the wet tropics of everything else natural. We used to most of them came back years later to what to do. Oh, and don't forget the Australia. He had always wanted to take come home, open a bottle of wine and look him up and thank him most trademark white wellies! I thought to me to the Seychelles, and I am glad that pore over the pictures, debating sincerely for turning them from boys to myself that I need to avoid that group as I we managed to do that last year, and endlessly, and then celebrating when we hate being bossed around and treated Roy was absolutely in raptures about found that we had identified a butterfly like a child. Little did I know at the time the most gorgeous White Terns that Violet-backed new to us. He was always humble, and that we would later spend 25 years were nesting within arm's reach on Bird Starling even when we were giving our bird together, 21 of them living in the same Island. He adamantly insisted that he courses and talks and people were just house. I also later discovered that he was not a twitcher, but instead got all his lapping up all the information that we had missed teaching me biology at satisfaction from observing bird were sharing, he said to the people that Beachwood High School by one year, behaviour or even seeing a common you must never stop learning and finding leaving in 1975 while I started in 1976. I bird in a new way. In fact, he never kept a out new things, and if you weren't, it was think that there might have been an life list and didn't know how many birds time to shuffle off the mortal coil. interesting clash of personalities in the he had seen in his life – nor did it R o y t a c k l e d e v e r y t h i n g w i t h March 2017 14 15 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 indecisive was, excuse the language, men and allowing them to succeed in classroom if we had “just shit or get off the pot”. He was later life. The respect in which he is held met! His stentorian renowned for being a good organiser, was evident often when we were out, voice was a trademark which is an essential requirement for and a past pupil, from DHS, Ridge Park that he used to good being a good teacher, but he was equally College, or DUT, where he taught for a effect in the classroom adept at nurturing and growing people, while, would cross the road or run across or to control meetings, whether they were pupils at school, a shopping mall to say hello or give him a but not many people aspirant bird guides, beginner birders or big hug, being delighted to see him. know that he was very anyone who needed advice. His advice Those special moments gave him shy as a child, and his and suggestions were founded on years immense satisfaction – it was all the father insisted that he o f e x p e r i e n c e o f d a i l y c r i s i s reward he needed – acknowledgement go for proper speech management at school, and you were of a job well done. and drama lessons. He well-advised to consider it seriously. Roy was satisfied with simple rewards was then trained by the As you know, he had an acid wit and – a delicious meal after a day's cooking, l a t e P r o f e s s o r loved nothing more than to make an listening to a really good piece of music, Elizabeth Sneddon, outrageous or provocative comment to or just seeing a bird in a way he had not who stood at the back provoke a response, and often an seen before. One of these instances of the room and said “I interesting discussion. He could do this was when we were in Hluhluwe just can't hear you, boy!” with a dead-pan face, and you never before Christmas and we came across a and so developed what knew whether he was really joking or not. male Violet-backed (Amethyst) Starling he called his “dulcet I often struggled in his company to keep that had just bathed in the river and was tones”. a straight face when he was baiting preening itself in the full sun, showing off We loved travelling someone for fun and I knew it and didn't its glorious colour. Roy looked at the bird and there are too many want to let the cat out of the bag. Despite and said: “I don't mind if we go home highlights to recount, that, Roy was rarely unkind, and if he now – that has made my trip”. but outstanding ones was, it was usually well deserved. If you My first encounter with Roy was when include finding the Crystelle Wilson wanted an honest opinion, you would get I was a student and went on a Natal Bird Andean Cock-of-the- ABOVE: Roy and Steve at the 2013 launch of their book, it from Roy, and however brutal it may Club outing to Vernon Crookes Nature R o c k n e a r M a c h u “Field Guide to Shorebirds of South Africa” have sounded, you always knew it was Reserve. There was a big turnout and P i c c h u i n P e r u , genuine and given with the very best we were divided into three groups, each watching Waved Albatrosses take off in particularly matter to him. intentions. assigned to a leader, one of whom was front of our noses on Hood Island in the In later years with the advent of digital Many of his ex-pupils can attest to Roy, in his normal teacher organizing Galapagos, finding the weird Bornean cameras, we got more and more into being drilled into the ground at times, role and with his very loud penetrating Bristlehead in Borneo, and watching butterflies and dragonflies, and basically sometimes being reduced to tears, but voice, telling people where to go and Bowerbirds in the wet tropics of everything else natural. We used to most of them came back years later to what to do. Oh, and don't forget the Australia. He had always wanted to take come home, open a bottle of wine and look him up and thank him most trademark white wellies! I thought to me to the Seychelles, and I am glad that pore over the pictures, debating sincerely for turning them from boys to myself that I need to avoid that group as I we managed to do that last year, and endlessly, and then celebrating when we hate being bossed around and treated Roy was absolutely in raptures about found that we had identified a butterfly like a child. Little did I know at the time the most gorgeous White Terns that Violet-backed new to us. He was always humble, and that we would later spend 25 years were nesting within arm's reach on Bird Starling even when we were giving our bird together, 21 of them living in the same Island. He adamantly insisted that he courses and talks and people were just house. I also later discovered that he was not a twitcher, but instead got all his lapping up all the information that we had missed teaching me biology at satisfaction from observing bird were sharing, he said to the people that Beachwood High School by one year, behaviour or even seeing a common you must never stop learning and finding leaving in 1975 while I started in 1976. I bird in a new way. In fact, he never kept a out new things, and if you weren't, it was think that there might have been an life list and didn't know how many birds time to shuffle off the mortal coil. interesting clash of personalities in the he had seen in his life – nor did it R o y t a c k l e d e v e r y t h i n g w i t h March 2017 14 15 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 enthusiasm, even when it came to his multiple roles in the bird club and CONSERVATION AND PROJECTS pet hate, technology and computers. I BirdLife South Africa, he was involved in shall never forget when he was given a all kinds of wildlife and environmental second-hand computer by the late Dr activities, and an Honorary Officer with Updated international Red Data list Hamish Campbell, a very dear friend, KZN Wildlife, all of these in his so-called reveals more than 700 new bird species because Hamish thought it would be spare time when he wasn't teaching, TALES of parrots in peril and giraffes in year's Red List (the rest having already useful for him. This was in the days of marking or preparing lessons. I often felt jeopardy dominated the headlines when been revealed in 2014). DOS and early Windows, and Roy exhausted just watching him do so much the 2016 edition of the Red List was All 742 of these species are illustrated turned the computer on for the first time, at home, and many times suggested that published in December 2016. and described in our upcoming waited for the cursor, and as Hamish had he slow down or take a break. He rarely But while the plight of world-famous publication, Illustrated Checklist of the told him to do, he typed in what he did, saying that there was just so much species inevitably catches the media's Birds of the World Volume 2. wanted to do, literally “I want to type a still to do, and sadly we all know that he eye, there are many other interesting 2. Europe's newest songbird is also letter” and was both outraged and still had so much to contribute and left us and quirky stories that end up falling its rarest mystified when some obscure error far too soon. He did tell me on occasions under the radar. This is an unavoidable The new information from the message arrived on the screen. To his that he wanted his epitaph to read: “it consequence of the Red List's wide taxonomic review allows us to focus on dying day, he never really understood wasn't for the want of trying”, and I think remit, with its researchers assessing new conservation priorities. For computers, despite hours of tutoring that sums up his life. tens of thousands of animal and plant example, we now know that the Gran from me, but I had to periodically point He will be missed hugely by anyone species every year – from monkeys to Canaria Blue Chaffinch Fringilla out to him how much he had mastered – whose life he touched, but he would not mangos and everything in-between. polatzeki is probably Europe's rarest MS Word, Excel spreadsheets, e-mails, have wanted us to put on the sackcloth Below, we round up some of the passerine. constructing complex presentations for and ashes, but to celebrate his life and important bird-related news that may It was previously lumped with the his lessons with lots of animations, and his achievements, and carry on living life have passed you by during the initial Tenerife Blue Chaffinch Fringilla teydea. more recently, even browsing for to the full. It is often said on occasions media frenzy. pictures and facts on the internet – just to such as this that it is sad that the But while the Tenerife species is remind him that he was not as stupid as achievements of the departed are only 1. We now have over 700 new bird c o m p a r a t i v e l y h e a l t h y ( N e a r he thought where computers were recognised after they have gone and species. Threatened), that on Gran Canaria has concerned. However, he never came to they never get to hear all the good things BirdLife is responsible for assessing seen its preferred pine habitats terms with cell phones, despite almost all being said about them. I do not believe the threat status of all bird species on decimated by forest fires on the island. his friends and colleagues insisting that that is true in Roy's case. The feedback behalf of the IUCN Red List. To perform Today, as few as 240 individuals remain, he needed to get one. he got from friends, colleagues and past this duty, we need to know, first and and this newly recognised species is I could go on all afternoon, but there pupils and the array of awards and foremost, exactly how many species of Endangered. With the Azores Bullfinch are others who also deserve a chance to certificates on display behind me are birds there are in the world. Pyrrhula murina showing evidence of share their fond memories. There are testament to the fact that he received the To help us better understand avian recovering, the Gran Canaria Blue many of you here and many people that recognition he deserved during his life, biodiversity, our science team recently Chaffinch likely takes over the mantle of you won't know, as Roy lived life to the no matter how often he said that he was completed a rigorous taxonomic review Europe's rarest passerine. of all the world's birds, comparing fullest, and got involved in anything that just doing his job or what he thought 3. Galapagos has had its first avian biometrics, plumage, vocalisations, he thought would be interesting, best. He often remarked to me that we extinction ecology, behaviour, geographical stimulating and rewarding. He was a should put up a memorial bench to him As part of the taxonomic review, our relationships and genetics, to determine championship ballroom dancer in his before he dies so that he can appreciate experts also looked at museum which subspecies were, in fact, fully- earlier days, an aviculturalist who won it. Sadly, we are too late for that now. The specimens of long-gone birds. This led fledged species of their own. prizes in shows for his canaries and best tribute we can pay to Roy and a life to a situation that perhaps might seem The results were eye-opening: it turns pheasants, a Lifeline counsellor for a very well lived is to carry on promoting unusual: 13 of the 742 newly-recognised out we had grossly underestimated time, a Scoutmaster in Umbogintwini his legacy and continuing with teaching, birds are already extinct. avian biodiversity. Over 1,000 'new' (his father was a highly respected training, nurturing and caring, and taking All 13 of these posthumously- species were recognised over the District Commissioner in the Boy Scout joy in the small delights of life. recognised species were island course of this two-part review, 742 of movement), he was on the Mitchell Park endemics which were probably wiped Rest in peace, my very special friend. which were announced as part of this and other trusts, you will hear of his out by invasive species. They include March 2017 16 17 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 enthusiasm, even when it came to his multiple roles in the bird club and CONSERVATION AND PROJECTS pet hate, technology and computers. I BirdLife South Africa, he was involved in shall never forget when he was given a all kinds of wildlife and environmental second-hand computer by the late Dr activities, and an Honorary Officer with Updated international Red Data list Hamish Campbell, a very dear friend, KZN Wildlife, all of these in his so-called reveals more than 700 new bird species because Hamish thought it would be spare time when he wasn't teaching, TALES of parrots in peril and giraffes in year's Red List (the rest having already useful for him. This was in the days of marking or preparing lessons. I often felt jeopardy dominated the headlines when been revealed in 2014). DOS and early Windows, and Roy exhausted just watching him do so much the 2016 edition of the Red List was All 742 of these species are illustrated turned the computer on for the first time, at home, and many times suggested that published in December 2016. and described in our upcoming waited for the cursor, and as Hamish had he slow down or take a break. He rarely But while the plight of world-famous publication, Illustrated Checklist of the told him to do, he typed in what he did, saying that there was just so much species inevitably catches the media's Birds of the World Volume 2. wanted to do, literally “I want to type a still to do, and sadly we all know that he eye, there are many other interesting 2. Europe's newest songbird is also letter” and was both outraged and still had so much to contribute and left us and quirky stories that end up falling its rarest mystified when some obscure error far too soon. He did tell me on occasions under the radar. This is an unavoidable The new information from the message arrived on the screen. To his that he wanted his epitaph to read: “it consequence of the Red List's wide taxonomic review allows us to focus on dying day, he never really understood wasn't for the want of trying”, and I think remit, with its researchers assessing new conservation priorities. For computers, despite hours of tutoring that sums up his life. tens of thousands of animal and plant example, we now know that the Gran from me, but I had to periodically point He will be missed hugely by anyone species every year – from monkeys to Canaria Blue Chaffinch Fringilla out to him how much he had mastered – whose life he touched, but he would not mangos and everything in-between. polatzeki is probably Europe's rarest MS Word, Excel spreadsheets, e-mails, have wanted us to put on the sackcloth Below, we round up some of the passerine. constructing complex presentations for and ashes, but to celebrate his life and important bird-related news that may It was previously lumped with the his lessons with lots of animations, and his achievements, and carry on living life have passed you by during the initial Tenerife Blue Chaffinch Fringilla teydea. more recently, even browsing for to the full. It is often said on occasions media frenzy. pictures and facts on the internet – just to such as this that it is sad that the But while the Tenerife species is remind him that he was not as stupid as achievements of the departed are only 1. We now have over 700 new bird c o m p a r a t i v e l y h e a l t h y ( N e a r he thought where computers were recognised after they have gone and species. Threatened), that on Gran Canaria has concerned. However, he never came to they never get to hear all the good things BirdLife is responsible for assessing seen its preferred pine habitats terms with cell phones, despite almost all being said about them. I do not believe the threat status of all bird species on decimated by forest fires on the island. his friends and colleagues insisting that that is true in Roy's case. The feedback behalf of the IUCN Red List. To perform Today, as few as 240 individuals remain, he needed to get one. he got from friends, colleagues and past this duty, we need to know, first and and this newly recognised species is I could go on all afternoon, but there pupils and the array of awards and foremost, exactly how many species of Endangered. With the Azores Bullfinch are others who also deserve a chance to certificates on display behind me are birds there are in the world. Pyrrhula murina showing evidence of share their fond memories. There are testament to the fact that he received the To help us better understand avian recovering, the Gran Canaria Blue many of you here and many people that recognition he deserved during his life, biodiversity, our science team recently Chaffinch likely takes over the mantle of you won't know, as Roy lived life to the no matter how often he said that he was completed a rigorous taxonomic review Europe's rarest passerine. of all the world's birds, comparing fullest, and got involved in anything that just doing his job or what he thought 3. Galapagos has had its first avian biometrics, plumage, vocalisations, he thought would be interesting, best. He often remarked to me that we extinction ecology, behaviour, geographical stimulating and rewarding. He was a should put up a memorial bench to him As part of the taxonomic review, our relationships and genetics, to determine championship ballroom dancer in his before he dies so that he can appreciate experts also looked at museum which subspecies were, in fact, fully- earlier days, an aviculturalist who won it. Sadly, we are too late for that now. The specimens of long-gone birds. This led fledged species of their own. prizes in shows for his canaries and best tribute we can pay to Roy and a life to a situation that perhaps might seem The results were eye-opening: it turns pheasants, a Lifeline counsellor for a very well lived is to carry on promoting unusual: 13 of the 742 newly-recognised out we had grossly underestimated time, a Scoutmaster in Umbogintwini his legacy and continuing with teaching, birds are already extinct. avian biodiversity. Over 1,000 'new' (his father was a highly respected training, nurturing and caring, and taking All 13 of these posthumously- species were recognised over the District Commissioner in the Boy Scout joy in the small delights of life. recognised species were island course of this two-part review, 742 of movement), he was on the Mitchell Park endemics which were probably wiped Rest in peace, my very special friend. which were announced as part of this and other trusts, you will hear of his out by invasive species. They include March 2017 16 17 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 the Marianne White-eye Zosterops collated from across its range suggest semiflavus of the Seychelles, which was the species has declined by more than a Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver in KwaZulu-Natal wiped out in the 19th Century before the third since the turn of the century. THE Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger occurs at a low density in a successful measures which have saved Factors implicated in its collapse include savanna corridor from Mpumulanga through the lowlands of eastern Swaziland, and a great many of the islands' other logging and drainage across its northern KwaZulu-Natal. Interestingly, this narrow north-south corridor distribution is endemic species could be implemented. breeding range and agricultural shared by Burchell's Starling, as pointed out by Vincent (1951). The buffalo-weaver Another newly-split species, the intensification and large-scale trapping is listed as a regional rarity in both KwaZulu-Natal (KZN, e.g. Ogilvie 1993) and glossy red Least Vermilion Flycatcher for food on its wintering grounds. In Swaziland (Parker 1994). Pyrocephalus dubius, has the dubious response to this alarming decline, the Stark (1900) listed Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver from Mozambique and the honour of becoming the first avian species was uplisted from Least Transvaal northwards. Omitting the southern corridor must simply be lack of extinction recorded in the Galapagos. Concern to Vulnerable in the 2016 Red Confined to the island of San Cristóbal, it List. TABLE 1. Records of Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver in Swaziland and KZN. was discovered during Charles Darwin's SARBNR = SA Rare Bird News Report (email listserver); 6. It wasn't all bad news for parrots voyage in 1835. Since 1960, invasive PHOWN = PHOtos of Weaver Nests) In Asia and Africa, demand for the plants have replaced a large part of the cagebird trade has led to many species island's native vegetation, which in turn of parrots and parakeets being trapped led to the decline of this insectivore's and traded into near-extinction in the favourite bugs. This, combined with wild. But on the Chatham Islands, an avian pox, bot fly and rats, may have archipelago located off the east coast of been the last straw – the last reliable New Zealand, a charming green sighting was recorded in 1987. parakeet is fighting back against 4. One bird has now become 12 extinction. In the most extreme outcome from our T h e C h a t h a m P a r a k e e t taxonomic review, one species, the Red- Cyanoramphus forbesi was assessed in bellied Pitta Pitta erythrogaster of South- the Red List as Endangered for nearly East Asia, has been split into twelve two decades, as it found itself distinct species. The reasons behind this threatened not only by habitat loss and split are explained by BirdLife's Nigel invasive predators, but also from the Collar in an article published on amorous attentions of a rival parrot. Motherboard/Vice. A 13th species, Sula The islands' Red-crowned Parakeets Pitta Erythropitta dohertyi, had already Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae earlier been split from P. erythogaster, threatened to hybridise the Chatham meaning we now have a baker's dozen Parakeets out of existence by of these striking red birds. interbreeding with them, but careful and continued management of these threats 5. Even widespread birds are in by local conservation groups has seen trouble the species bounce back to the point It's easy to assume that widespread where it has now been downlisted from birds aren't at risk, but this simply isn't Endangered to Vulnerable. always the case, as the concerning case of the Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Alex Dale illustrates. It breeds in damp coniferous Digital Communications Officer forests all across northern Eurasia, from at BirdLife International, 14 December 2016 Norway to Japan, and for years this large range has perhaps led conservationists into a false sense of security about the ADVERTISE IN KZN species' status. However, new data BIRDS, SEE PAGE 2 March 2017 18 19 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 the Marianne White-eye Zosterops collated from across its range suggest semiflavus of the Seychelles, which was the species has declined by more than a Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver in KwaZulu-Natal wiped out in the 19th Century before the third since the turn of the century. THE Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger occurs at a low density in a successful measures which have saved Factors implicated in its collapse include savanna corridor from Mpumulanga through the lowlands of eastern Swaziland, and a great many of the islands' other logging and drainage across its northern KwaZulu-Natal. Interestingly, this narrow north-south corridor distribution is endemic species could be implemented. breeding range and agricultural shared by Burchell's Starling, as pointed out by Vincent (1951). The buffalo-weaver Another newly-split species, the intensification and large-scale trapping is listed as a regional rarity in both KwaZulu-Natal (KZN, e.g. Ogilvie 1993) and glossy red Least Vermilion Flycatcher for food on its wintering grounds. In Swaziland (Parker 1994). Pyrocephalus dubius, has the dubious response to this alarming decline, the Stark (1900) listed Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver from Mozambique and the honour of becoming the first avian species was uplisted from Least Transvaal northwards. Omitting the southern corridor must simply be lack of extinction recorded in the Galapagos. Concern to Vulnerable in the 2016 Red Confined to the island of San Cristóbal, it List. TABLE 1. Records of Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver in Swaziland and KZN. was discovered during Charles Darwin's SARBNR = SA Rare Bird News Report (email listserver); 6. It wasn't all bad news for parrots voyage in 1835. Since 1960, invasive PHOWN = PHOtos of Weaver Nests) In Asia and Africa, demand for the plants have replaced a large part of the cagebird trade has led to many species island's native vegetation, which in turn of parrots and parakeets being trapped led to the decline of this insectivore's and traded into near-extinction in the favourite bugs. This, combined with wild. But on the Chatham Islands, an avian pox, bot fly and rats, may have archipelago located off the east coast of been the last straw – the last reliable New Zealand, a charming green sighting was recorded in 1987. parakeet is fighting back against 4. One bird has now become 12 extinction. In the most extreme outcome from our T h e C h a t h a m P a r a k e e t taxonomic review, one species, the Red- Cyanoramphus forbesi was assessed in bellied Pitta Pitta erythrogaster of South- the Red List as Endangered for nearly East Asia, has been split into twelve two decades, as it found itself distinct species. The reasons behind this threatened not only by habitat loss and split are explained by BirdLife's Nigel invasive predators, but also from the Collar in an article published on amorous attentions of a rival parrot. Motherboard/Vice. A 13th species, Sula The islands' Red-crowned Parakeets Pitta Erythropitta dohertyi, had already Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae earlier been split from P. erythogaster, threatened to hybridise the Chatham meaning we now have a baker's dozen Parakeets out of existence by of these striking red birds. interbreeding with them, but careful and continued management of these threats 5. Even widespread birds are in by local conservation groups has seen trouble the species bounce back to the point It's easy to assume that widespread where it has now been downlisted from birds aren't at risk, but this simply isn't Endangered to Vulnerable. always the case, as the concerning case of the Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica Alex Dale illustrates. It breeds in damp coniferous Digital Communications Officer forests all across northern Eurasia, from at BirdLife International, 14 December 2016 Norway to Japan, and for years this large range has perhaps led conservationists into a false sense of security about the ADVERTISE IN KZN species' status. However, new data BIRDS, SEE PAGE 2 March 2017 18 19 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 knowledge at that time. The earliest BIRD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS record of the species in this corridor appears to be specimen TM_21967, collected on 29 May 1937 at Ranches Ltd, Southern Bald Ibis makes use north-east Swaziland (Tamar Cassidy, of bill detectors to find prey Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria). The first published YEARS ago I spent some time watching how successful Southern Bald Ibis were at record of the buffalo-weaver in the locating invertebrates in their underground burrows. The photo below (Eshowe, corridor is by Vincent (1951) who saw KZN) shows how deep underground the cricket was located. Metadata shows that many nests in 1951, but not the weavers, the right-hand photo was taken 3 secs after the left frame. a short distance north of Gollel (=Golela). Based on this record, the second edition of Roberts (McLachlan & Liversidge 1957) included Swaziland as part of the range of this weaver. The first record of this species in KZN was listed by Clancey (1964), reporting nests just south of the FIGURE 1. Records of the Red-billed Pongola River in 1960 (see also Davies Buffalo-Weaver in Swaziland and 2011). KwaZulu-Natal. Grid cells = atlas Compiling all records that I could find records; Markers L = literature records, (Table 1), gives 3 specific records from markers P = PHOWN record, Swaziland and 16 from KZN. Every marker S = specimen record decade from 1950 onwards has at least 1 record, with most records from the 2000s decade. Records by month produces a scatter of records, without a clear seasonal pattern. If you know of more records, please let me know! H. Dieter Oschadleus [email protected] While at the top of Sani (Lesotho) in January 2017, I was again fascinated by the References success of these long-billed, deep probing birds. The right hand photo (below) was Clancey PA. 1964. The Birds of Natal and Zululand. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh. taken one second after the left-hand frame (excuse the onlooking sheep!). Colahan BD. 1997. Redbilled Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger. pp530-531 in: Harrison JA, Allan DG, Underhill LG, Herremans M, Pictures by Hugh Chittenden Tree AJ, Parker V, Brown CJ (eds). 1997. The atlas of southern African birds. Vol. 2: Passerines. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg. Culverwell J. 1986. It's a long way to tick a Broadbill. Bokmakierie 38: 18-19. Cyrus D, Robson NF. 1980. Bird Atlas of Natal. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg. Davies GBP. 2011. Additions, deletions and corrections to the breeding avifauna of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with comments on average clutch size trends and demographic influences. Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History 1:133-164. Davis S. 2005. KwaZulu-Natal honorary recorders report - September 2005. KZN Birds 14:20-22. Davis S. 2006. KwaZulu-Natal honorary recorders report - December 2005. KZN Birds 15:20-23. Davis S. 2008. KwaZulu-Natal honorary recorder's report. 7 May 2008. KZN Birds 23:21-22. Davis S. 2016. Honorary recorder's report. KZN Birds 47:27-33. Marinus V. 1992. Pongola-Natuurreservaat 17-20 April. Laniarius 47:19-20. McLachlan GR, Liversidge R. 1957. Roberts birds of South Africa. 2nd ed. Trustees of the South African Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. Ogilvie A. 1993. Natal rare bird panel. Albatross 316: 8-10. Outhwaite P. 2008. Chair's chirps. BirdLife Zululand. KZN Birds 23:11-13. Parker V. 1994. Swaziland bird atlas 1985-1991. Websters, Mbabane, Swaziland. Pooley AC, Dixon JEW. 1966. A check-list of the birds occurring in the Ndumu Game Reserve in northern Zululand. South African Avifauna Series 39:1-38. Roberts L. 2013. Bird ringing at White Elephant Lodge, Kwazulu-Natal. Afring News 42: 8-13. Stark AC. 1900. The fauna of South Africa. Birds. Vol. 1. RH Porter, London. Vincent J. 1951. A note on some Swaziland birds. Ostrich 22:123-125. March 2017 20 21 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 knowledge at that time. The earliest BIRD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS record of the species in this corridor appears to be specimen TM_21967, collected on 29 May 1937 at Ranches Ltd, Southern Bald Ibis makes use north-east Swaziland (Tamar Cassidy, of bill detectors to find prey Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria). The first published YEARS ago I spent some time watching how successful Southern Bald Ibis were at record of the buffalo-weaver in the locating invertebrates in their underground burrows. The photo below (Eshowe, corridor is by Vincent (1951) who saw KZN) shows how deep underground the cricket was located. Metadata shows that many nests in 1951, but not the weavers, the right-hand photo was taken 3 secs after the left frame. a short distance north of Gollel (=Golela). Based on this record, the second edition of Roberts (McLachlan & Liversidge 1957) included Swaziland as part of the range of this weaver. The first record of this species in KZN was listed by Clancey (1964), reporting nests just south of the FIGURE 1. Records of the Red-billed Pongola River in 1960 (see also Davies Buffalo-Weaver in Swaziland and 2011). KwaZulu-Natal. Grid cells = atlas Compiling all records that I could find records; Markers L = literature records, (Table 1), gives 3 specific records from markers P = PHOWN record, Swaziland and 16 from KZN. Every marker S = specimen record decade from 1950 onwards has at least 1 record, with most records from the 2000s decade. Records by month produces a scatter of records, without a clear seasonal pattern. If you know of more records, please let me know! H. Dieter Oschadleus [email protected] While at the top of Sani (Lesotho) in January 2017, I was again fascinated by the References success of these long-billed, deep probing birds. The right hand photo (below) was Clancey PA. 1964. The Birds of Natal and Zululand. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh. taken one second after the left-hand frame (excuse the onlooking sheep!). Colahan BD. 1997. Redbilled Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger. pp530-531 in: Harrison JA, Allan DG, Underhill LG, Herremans M, Pictures by Hugh Chittenden Tree AJ, Parker V, Brown CJ (eds). 1997. The atlas of southern African birds. Vol. 2: Passerines. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg. Culverwell J. 1986. It's a long way to tick a Broadbill. Bokmakierie 38: 18-19. Cyrus D, Robson NF. 1980. Bird Atlas of Natal. University of Natal Press, Pietermaritzburg. Davies GBP. 2011. Additions, deletions and corrections to the breeding avifauna of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with comments on average clutch size trends and demographic influences. Annals of the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History 1:133-164. Davis S. 2005. KwaZulu-Natal honorary recorders report - September 2005. KZN Birds 14:20-22. Davis S. 2006. KwaZulu-Natal honorary recorders report - December 2005. KZN Birds 15:20-23. Davis S. 2008. KwaZulu-Natal honorary recorder's report. 7 May 2008. KZN Birds 23:21-22. Davis S. 2016. Honorary recorder's report. KZN Birds 47:27-33. Marinus V. 1992. Pongola-Natuurreservaat 17-20 April. Laniarius 47:19-20. McLachlan GR, Liversidge R. 1957. Roberts birds of South Africa. 2nd ed. Trustees of the South African Bird Book Fund, Cape Town. Ogilvie A. 1993. Natal rare bird panel. Albatross 316: 8-10. Outhwaite P. 2008. Chair's chirps. BirdLife Zululand. KZN Birds 23:11-13. Parker V. 1994. Swaziland bird atlas 1985-1991. Websters, Mbabane, Swaziland. Pooley AC, Dixon JEW. 1966. A check-list of the birds occurring in the Ndumu Game Reserve in northern Zululand. South African Avifauna Series 39:1-38. Roberts L. 2013. Bird ringing at White Elephant Lodge, Kwazulu-Natal. Afring News 42: 8-13. Stark AC. 1900. The fauna of South Africa. Birds. Vol. 1. RH Porter, London. Vincent J. 1951. A note on some Swaziland birds. Ostrich 22:123-125. March 2017 20 21 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

ABOVE: Southern Bald Ibis feeding in Lesotho, January 2017 According to Greg Davis, former curator of birds at the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria, these ibises have vibration-sensitive mechanoreceptors within pits in the bill tip, so larvae and worms are detected by micromovements under the ground. What really fascinates me though is how they are able to open their bills slightly in order to pinch (grab) and extract the soft-bodied prey? These invertebrate burrows ABOVE AND BELOW: The Yellow-billed Kite refining its skills at robbing prey are usually very narrow, AND, often not in a straight line from the surface, so even if from African Sacred Ibises, Boston, January 2017 the soil is very soft, their ability to open their bills deep down in order to grab prey is water. A number of Sacred impressive! The previous photo on page 21 shows that more than three quarters of Ibises were pulling out the bill was down the insect burrow so the bill was probably fairly tightly compressed frogs from the mud at the by the surrounding earth! edge of the dam. While I was watching, a dark Hugh Chittenden shadow fell on an ibis and Mtunzini the kite grabbed the frog and made off with it. Frog-loving Yellow-billed Kite In about 30 minutes I saw the kite make five repeats piracy behaviour Pictures by Crystelle Wilson attempts to rob the ibises of prey, being successful IN January 2016, I watched a Yellow- its ill-gotten meal on top of a telephone three times. One of the billed Kite at a farm dam at Boston in the pole nearby. (Reported in KZN Birds 48). ibises managed to hold on KwaZulu-Natal Midlands as it swooped In January this year, I was at the same to its frog by holding it down on a Hamerkop which had just dam when I saw a Yellow-billed Kite firmly lengthways in its bill caught a frog. behaving in a similar way. Due to the until the danger had The luckless Hamerkop dropped the drought, the water level was very low passed. frog as it flew away across the water and and perhaps there was a higher the YBK scooped it up and then enjoyed concentration of frogs in the remaining Crystelle Wilson Boston March 2017 22 23 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

The glue that holds SABAP2 it all together Appeal to turn it GREEN in 17TEEN AFRICAN Palm Swifts use saliva not THE Southern African Bird Atlas Project Swaziland, we have just passed the only to stick their nests to palm 2 is the foundation of bird conservation. 6,000 level; 6,007 pentads now have leaves, but also to glue the eggs onto SABAP2 is mapping bird distributions, four or more checklists. That translates the nests. and how they are changing. Effective into 34.6% of the 17,339 pentads in this The nest is attached vertically to conservation efforts need this baseline region. We need 62 more pentads to get the underside of a fan-leafed palm data on geographic distributions in order up to four checklists to reach this leaf hanging down. They use soft to plan and prioritize interventions. This coverage level in 35% of the region. We feathers and plant-down and the puts the bird atlas in the limelight as the ought to try to be at 40% by the end of eggs rest on a protruding lip of short primary conservation project. Even 2017. That will take some determination, feathers at the base of the nest. The better, it is one to which every one of us and we will need people to lead eggs are attached to the nest with can contribute. "GreenBASHes" to yellow and orange saliva as they are laid. Contributions in the first two weeks of areas! It is a tall order. Each 1% increase These photographs were taken by 2017 have been impressive. By 15 needs another 173 pentads to reach the Hugh Chittenden in Mtunzini in January 1,603 full protocol checklists four-checklist level. December 2016. had been submitted this year so far to Please don't see four checklists as Reference: Roberts Nests and Eggs SABAP2. That is a rate of 114.5 the stopping point! It represents of Southern African Birds, Warwick Tarboton checklists per day for the first half of foundational coverage, and lots more January. That is way ahead of checklists are needed before the LEFT: An adult African Palm Swift December, which was 104.6, and the reporting rates for each species in the incubating eggs on the nest previous best was December 2015, pentad are more or less stable. BELOW: The two one-day-old which had 92.2 checklists per day. After the superhuman achievements nestlings were already quite We collected great volumes of data of December, it is fantastic to be able to capable of clinging to their vertical through the drought. Good rains have report that January was the second best (glued) nest when the adults were recently occurred over many parts of the month ever in terms of data collection. away feeding. The chicks were interior of the country. This is therefore But, from the statistician's perspective, approximately 2.5 cm long. an especially important few months to the best celebration of the month is that monitor how birds respond to the rain. 82 pentads received their fourth When we combine 100s of atlas checklist (foundational coverage) and checklists for a region we can search for turned GREEN on the coverage map. subtle changes in species composition. We are now only 37 pentads away from So one of the key contributions you can having 35% of South Africa, Lesotho and make right now and over the next few Swaziland on foundational coverage. months is to submit regular checklists for Remember that four full-protocol your favourite pentads. Full protocol checklists is not the end point of checklists, carefully and diligently made, coverage for a pentad; it is simply the with at least two hours fieldwork, and an foundation on which the coverage honest attempt to try to do “birding big skyscraper can be built. Make it GREEN day” in the pentad will be very valuable. in 17TEEN. An equally important contribution is to The best problems to have are those get pentads up to “foundational that are associated with growth. We coverage” of four carefully made full have had a lot of new atlasers protocol checklists. In the original atlas participating, and the concept of a “full- region of South Africa, Lesotho and protocol checklist” has not always been March 2017 24 25 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 explained clearly to BIRD OUTING t h e m . S o w e a r e currently making contact with these people, and A feast of birds seen at Eston Ponds explaining the details of IT WAS an early 06h00 start in crowned Night Heron flying up and down the protocol to them. In a anticipation of hot weather forecast the channel between the dams. nutshell, a full-protocol towards midday for the 22 January The first section along the western checklist consists of a Sunday BirdLife Port Natal outing. flank of the pond yielded very few birds minimum of two hours of A total of 23 eager birders assembled due to expansion of the reed beds into solid birding, with the at the entrance to the Eston Sugar Mill the previously exposed mudflats. Spirits species recorded in the and proceedings commenced with a few were soon lifted when all managed to get order in which they are words in honour of the late Roy Cowgill. good views of what was to be our bird of seen, and a diligent H i s c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o b i r d i n g , the day – Orange-breasted Waxbill. attempt made to visit as environmental matters on the eastern The section along the dam wall many different spots in seaboard and BirdLife South Africa were proved very rewarding with sufficient the pentad to try to make fondly recalled, along with the water and mudflats hosting a wide array t h e l i s t a s tremendous knowledge he has imparted of waders and water birds, and an c o m p r e h e n s i v e a s to many BLPN birders over the years, assortment of birds on the wing possible. and hence the outing was dedicated to overhead. If, after two hours, Roy. The eastern section of the pond was new species are still From here we drove in convoy down quickly inspected, but being largely coming quite easily, to the dams bordering the Eston pond. overgrown and bordered by sugar cane please do a third hour, or Thanks to local farmer Derek Bennet for fields, we opted to return along the same longer if need be. The ABOVE: The SABAP2 coverage map for allowing us to park under the trees next route back to the cars. As always, the two hours of intensive KwaZulu-Natal. The light coloured areas to his dam. return walk sees the group unravel into fieldwork don't need to need to have more cards submitted to turn it green We were treated to a feast of birds smaller groups as some head for a bite b e c o n t i n u o u s . (with four or more full protocol checklists) during the course of the morning, to eat whilst others mopped up on birds Sometimes, even quite eventually racking up a final count of 90. missed earlier, as well as practising their often, locked gates and angry dogs There are 301 amazing papers in Excellent views were had of Little Bittern ID skills on the swifts and swallows flying make it impossible to get access to all Biodiversity Observations, many of (a lifer for Rex Aspeling) and Black- overhead. corners of the pentad; just do the best them written by citizen scientists, or like V e r y l o o s e l y you can, and submit as a full protocol the papers above, about the data BELOW: White-winged Tern, Eston, January 2017 grouped, some of the checklist, provided you have done at collected by citizen scientists. If you Ryan Ramsamy birds seen (and heard) least two hours of fieldwork. have not explored this resource, go to included: As feedback to atlasers, we have http://bo.adu.org.za and you will find the Waders: Little Stint, started a new series of papers in papers, arranged in eight volumes, one Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Biodiversity Observations, based on for each year. Common Ringed and SABAP2 data, and showing range Thank you for your awesome Three-banded Plover, changes since SABAP1. The series is contributions to SABAP2. Blacksmith Lapwing, called Bird Distribution Dynamics. So far Black Crake, Common we have done nine species. In reverse Professor Les Underhill M o o r h e n , W h i t e - order, from most recent to oldest: Red- Animal Demography Unit, winged Tern, African billed Buffalo-weaver, Hadeda Ibis, Department of Biological Sciences Rail (heard), African Sociable Weaver, Cape Vulture, White- University of Cape Town Swamphen, African browed Sparrow-weaver, Glossy Ibis, 072 062 1140, 021 650 3227 Jacana, Hamerkop. African Spoonbill, Maccoa Duck and www.facebook.com/animal.demography.unit, Hamerkop. http://www.adu.org.za March 2017 26 27 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50 explained clearly to BIRD OUTING t h e m . S o w e a r e currently making contact with these people, and A feast of birds seen at Eston Ponds explaining the details of IT WAS an early 06h00 start in crowned Night Heron flying up and down the protocol to them. In a anticipation of hot weather forecast the channel between the dams. nutshell, a full-protocol towards midday for the 22 January The first section along the western checklist consists of a Sunday BirdLife Port Natal outing. flank of the pond yielded very few birds minimum of two hours of A total of 23 eager birders assembled due to expansion of the reed beds into solid birding, with the at the entrance to the Eston Sugar Mill the previously exposed mudflats. Spirits species recorded in the and proceedings commenced with a few were soon lifted when all managed to get order in which they are words in honour of the late Roy Cowgill. good views of what was to be our bird of seen, and a diligent H i s c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o b i r d i n g , the day – Orange-breasted Waxbill. attempt made to visit as environmental matters on the eastern The section along the dam wall many different spots in seaboard and BirdLife South Africa were proved very rewarding with sufficient the pentad to try to make fondly recalled, along with the water and mudflats hosting a wide array t h e l i s t a s tremendous knowledge he has imparted of waders and water birds, and an c o m p r e h e n s i v e a s to many BLPN birders over the years, assortment of birds on the wing possible. and hence the outing was dedicated to overhead. If, after two hours, Roy. The eastern section of the pond was new species are still From here we drove in convoy down quickly inspected, but being largely coming quite easily, to the dams bordering the Eston pond. overgrown and bordered by sugar cane please do a third hour, or Thanks to local farmer Derek Bennet for fields, we opted to return along the same longer if need be. The ABOVE: The SABAP2 coverage map for allowing us to park under the trees next route back to the cars. As always, the two hours of intensive KwaZulu-Natal. The light coloured areas to his dam. return walk sees the group unravel into fieldwork don't need to need to have more cards submitted to turn it green We were treated to a feast of birds smaller groups as some head for a bite b e c o n t i n u o u s . (with four or more full protocol checklists) during the course of the morning, to eat whilst others mopped up on birds Sometimes, even quite eventually racking up a final count of 90. missed earlier, as well as practising their often, locked gates and angry dogs There are 301 amazing papers in Excellent views were had of Little Bittern ID skills on the swifts and swallows flying make it impossible to get access to all Biodiversity Observations, many of (a lifer for Rex Aspeling) and Black- overhead. corners of the pentad; just do the best them written by citizen scientists, or like V e r y l o o s e l y you can, and submit as a full protocol the papers above, about the data BELOW: White-winged Tern, Eston, January 2017 grouped, some of the checklist, provided you have done at collected by citizen scientists. If you Ryan Ramsamy birds seen (and heard) least two hours of fieldwork. have not explored this resource, go to included: As feedback to atlasers, we have http://bo.adu.org.za and you will find the Waders: Little Stint, started a new series of papers in papers, arranged in eight volumes, one Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Biodiversity Observations, based on for each year. Common Ringed and SABAP2 data, and showing range Thank you for your awesome Three-banded Plover, changes since SABAP1. The series is contributions to SABAP2. Blacksmith Lapwing, called Bird Distribution Dynamics. So far Black Crake, Common we have done nine species. In reverse Professor Les Underhill M o o r h e n , W h i t e - order, from most recent to oldest: Red- Animal Demography Unit, winged Tern, African billed Buffalo-weaver, Hadeda Ibis, Department of Biological Sciences Rail (heard), African Sociable Weaver, Cape Vulture, White- University of Cape Town Swamphen, African browed Sparrow-weaver, Glossy Ibis, 072 062 1140, 021 650 3227 Jacana, Hamerkop. African Spoonbill, Maccoa Duck and www.facebook.com/animal.demography.unit, Hamerkop. http://www.adu.org.za March 2017 26 27 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

Raptors: African Marsh Harrier, Sunbird, Brown-throated Martin, Dusky SPOTTED CRAKE Porzana porzana Jackal Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, Indigobird (en route near Camperdown). KZN Rarity Common Buzzard, Yellow-billed Kite, A full protocol atlas card for the outing Up to three, Sappi Stanger, African Fish Eagle. was submitted to SABAP2, and 21 December 2016 - 18 January 2017, although no out of range forms were Wayne Jones and others. Water fowl: Hottentot and Red-billed received, the Little Bittern, Horus Swift, Teal, White-faced Whistling Duck, Little and White-winged Tern were first time STRIPED CRAKE Grebe, Cape Shoveler, Egyptian and records for the pentad. Viva atlassing! Aenigmatolimnas marginalis Spur-winged Goose, Red-knobbed National Rarity Coot, White-breasted and Reed Dave Rimmer One, Eshowe dam, Cormorant. Hillcrest 1-2 November 2016 Swifts: Horus, Little, African Palm, (SA Rare Bird News report). African Black, and White-rumped. ALLEN'S GALLINULE Swallows: White- BELOW: Little Bittern, Eston, January 2017 Ryan Ramsamy Porphyrio alleni t h r o a t e d , B a r n , KZN Rarity G r e a t e r - s t r i p e d , Steve Davis One, Sani Pass, 24 January 2017, ABOVE: Black Coucal Lesser-striped. Andre Bernon. Other notables: Richard McKibben and others. Red-necked Spurfowl, LESSER MOORHEN Grey-crowned Crane, Paragallinula angulata EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER D i e d e r i k C u c k o o , KZN Rarity Haematopus ostralegus African Firefinch, One, Sappi Stanger, National Rarity Southern Masked 29 December 2016, Jason Boyce. One, St Lucia estuary, Weaver, Streaky- 7-16 November 2016, Michael Mandy. headed Seedeater, BLACK-TAILED GODWIT One, Richards Bay, 5 January 2017, Dark-capped Yellow Limosa limosa Adrian Haagner. Warbler, Pin-tailed National Rarity Whydah, Malachite One, Sappi Stanger, LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Kingfisher, Willow 27-29 October 2016, Don Cowie and Larus fuscus Warbler, White-bellied others (National Rarity accepted). National Rarity One immature, uMngeni River estuary, HONORARY RECORDER’S REPORT GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus 30 December 2016 KZN Rarity (SA Rare Bird News report) and HELLO birders! Summer has come and OLIVE BEE-EATER One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, 9 January 2017, Steve Davis nearly gone, with the usual range of Merops superciliosus 2 October - 18 December 2016, and others. rarities, the migrants making up most of KZN Rarity Ian Gordon and others the sightings, although the numbers of One, St Lucia estuary, (KZN Rarity accepted). GULL-BILLED TERN sightings are not quite as high as we 22 January 2017 One, Mkuze Game Reserve, Gelochelidon nilotica normally see in summer. (SA Rare Bird News report). 7 October - 8 December 2016 National Rarity (SA Rare Bird News report). One, St Lucia estuary, RARITIES BLACK COUCAL Centropus grillii 18 December 2016 to 28 January 2017 GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER KZN Rarity PECTORAL SANDPIPER (SA Rare Bird News report). Halcyon leucocephala One, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Calidris melanotos KZN Rarity 18 December 2016, Roy Cowgill and National Rarity SOOTY TERN Onychoprion fuscatus One, Mtunzini, 29 January 2017 Steve Davis One, Sappi Stanger, National Rarity (SA Rare Bird News report). (KZN Rarity submitted). 18 December 2016 - 14 January 2017, One, St Lucia estuary, March 2017 28 29 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

5 November 2016 - 30 January 2017 LESSER FRIGATEBIRD BARAU'S PETREL (SA Rare Bird News report). Fregata ariel Pterodroma baraui National Rarity National Rarity WESTERN MARSH HARRIER One, Richards Bay, One, at sea off Durban, Circus aeruginosus 24 December 2016, Kevin Nel. 16 October 2016, National Rarity David Allan and One, Franklin Marsh, BLACK-BELLIED STORM PETREL Niall Perrins. 5 December 2016 Fregetta tropica Four, at sea off Durban, (SA Rare Bird News report). KZN Rarity 30 October 2016, David One, Sappi Stanger, 5 January 2017 Two or three, at sea off Durban, Allan (SA Rare Bird News report). 16 October 2016, David Allan and and Niall Perrins. Niall Perrins. Two, at sea off Durban, LESSER SPOTTED EAGLE One, at sea off Durban, 27 November 2016, Clanga pomarina 26 November 2016, David Allan David Allan KZN Rarity and Niall Perrins. and Niall Perrins. Two, near Mtubatuba, Ian Gordon 14 December 2016 EUROPEAN STORM PETREL MASCARENE MARTIN ABOVE: White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Tugela (SA Rare Bird News report). Hydrobates pelagicus Phedina borbonica Ferry, October 2016 KZN Rarity National Rarity One, Giants Castle, 22 January 2017 AYRES'S HAWK EAGLE One, at sea off Durban, One, Phinda Private Game Reserve, (SA Rare Bird News report). Hieraaetus ayresii 26 November 2016, David Allan 8 October 2016 KZN Rarity and Niall Perrins. (SA Rare Bird News report). WHITE-BROWED SPARROW-WEAVER Two, Empangeni, 28 October 2016 Plocepasser mahali (SA Rare Bird News report). NORTHERN GIANT PETREL BLACK SAWWING race orientalis KZN Rarity Macronectes halli Formerly National Rarity One, Tugela Ferry, 26 October 2016, RUFOUS-BELLIED HERON KZN Rarity (Eastern Sawwing Swallow) Colin Summersgill and Alan Manson Ardeola rufiventris One, at sea off Durban, One bird of this race, formerly regarded (KZN Rarity accepted) and KZN Rarity 27 November 2016, David Allan as a separate species, photographed 5 November 2016, Ian Gordon One, Sappi Stanger, and Niall Perrins. at Phinda Private Game Reserve, (KZN Rarity submitted). 10-24 October 2016, 8 October 2016, Daryl Dell. BELOW: Common Whitethroat, Mooi River, Wayne Johnston and January 2017 GOLDEN PIPIT others, 15 October 2016, Johannes Nel COMMON WHITETHROAT Tmetothylacus tenellus Ian Gordon (KZN Rarity Sylvia communis National Rarity accepted). KZN Rarity One, Ithala Game Reserve, One, Eshowe dam, 1 One, near Mooi River, 26 November - 1 December 2016 November - 1 December 8-11 January 2017, Johannes Nel (SA Rare Bird News report). 2016, Vanessa Meyer (KZN Rarity submitted). Photo attached and others. AFRICAN ROCK PIPIT MONOTONOUS LARK Anthus crenatus ABDIM'S STORK Ciconia Mirafra passerina KZN Rarity abdimii KZN Rarity One, Balele Mountain Farm, KZN Rarity Several, Zululand Rhino Reserve, 28 October 2016, Werner von One, near Howick, 7 16-22 December 2016, Goethem (KZN Rarity accepted). January 2017, Clayton Patrick and Dominic Rollinson. Burne. SHORT-TAILED PIPIT DUSKY LARK Pinarocorys nigricans Anthus brachyurus KZN Rarity KZN Rarity March 2017 30 31 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

KZN RARITIES ACCEPTED THE following previously reported KZN records have been accepted by the KZN Rarities Committee since the November 2016 Honorary Recorder's Report. These include records forwarded to the committee for adjudication from SABAP2 field cards.

CLUB ACTIVITIES

BIRDLIFE PORT NATAL MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: KINDLY PHONE THE CONTACT PERSON FOR ANY SPECIFIC OUTING BEFOREHAND TO ENSURE THAT THE OUTING WILL TAKE PLACE. Participation is at your own risk. BirdLife Port Natal cannot be held responsible for theft/loss of property at any venue. DIRECTIONS TO VENUES: On the website go to Steve Davis ABOVE: European Honey-Buzzard, KZN, summer http://blpn.org/activities/directions-to-bird-club-venues. If unsure, then ask the outing leader when you make contact to confirm your attendance. Directions to Two, foot of Sani Pass, 2-5 December 2016 to 5 February 2017, 36 sightings new venues will be shown below. 2016, Stuart McLean have been reported from KZN, including OUTDOOR OUTINGS: Please don't forget to bring your tea/lunch baskets and (KZN Rarity accepted). one at the BirdLife Port Natal outing to socialise afterwards. Please note that many places now charge so take entrance Umbogavango Nature Reserve on money, Wild and/or Rhino Cards with you on any outing. OUT-OF-RANGE SIGHTINGS 4 February. INDOOR MEETINGS are usually held on the second Wednesday evening of every Common Scimitarbill Sooty Falcon month (except February and December) at 19h00 at the Westville Methodist Church, One, Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve, The regular bird has been present at Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville. 11 November 2016, Crispin Hemson. Mbazwane near Sodwana Bay for most BIRD RINGING: Normally starts very early, but people are welcome to arrive later Blue-cheeked Bee-eater of summer. and see what is going on. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a At least 3, near Rosetta, Sunday each month. Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to 10 January 2017, Pamela Kleiman. Caveat: the sightings recorded here the time on the BLPN website. Cell: 084 549 1752. Lesser Jacana have been submitted directly to me or Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles. Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. One, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, have been posted on the SABirdNet or Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details. Cell 082 338 3302 or 2 October 2016 to 26 January 2017, SA Rare Bird News, and have not been [email protected] Ian Gordon and others. vetted by any rarities committee for Bird Ringing with James Rawdon. James visits many private estates on the North validation unless otherwise noted. As Coast from Umhlanga into southern Zululand. Contact James for details: 083 745 OTHER SIGHTINGS such, the information presented here 6007 or [email protected] European Honey-Buzzard should be used with due consideration. KRANTZKLOOF BIRDS: Meetings are held at 09h30 on the second Tuesday of With the increasing number of sightings Steve Davis: Honorary Recorder every second month at Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre and sometimes at the Kloof of Honey-Buzzard in KZN and its 031 2054459, Fax: 031 2731302 Methodist Church Hall. downlisting from KZN Rarity, I will no e-mail: [email protected], longer be listing all the sightings. However, from the beginning of October 59 Edmonds Road Glenwood 4001 ADVERTISE IN KZN BIRDS, SEE PAGE 2 March 2017 32 33 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

CLUB ACTIVITIES

MAY 2017 coffee/tea and eats for picnic afterwards. Bird ringing and directions to venues: see details in the introduction. Wednesday 14 June 19h00 – Indoor meeting at Westville Methodist Church, Jan Saturday 6 May 07h00 – Shongweni with Elena Russell. 031 705 2902, email Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Photographic evening for members. Bring five of your [email protected]. Bring a picnic tea. Directions: Take the N3 west, go favourite bird pictures and tell us about them and Steve Davis will crit and talk about through the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, then take the Shongweni/Assagay off-ramp. Turn the birds. left and drive for approximately 1 km before turning left again at the sign to Sunday 18 June 2017 – To be advised if we get a volunteer with a venue. Shongweni Dam. After a few hundred metres turn right at the next signpost for JULY 2017 Shongweni Dam. This road eventually leads to the entrance (about 6 km). Pay your Bird ringing and directions to venues: see details in the introduction. entrance fee by card. Cash not accepted. Wild Cards accepted. Take the left road as Saturday 1 July 2017 07h30 – New Germany Nature Reserve with Elena Russell. you enter and park in the parking at the Resource Centre. Please confirm attendance 031 705 2902, email [email protected]. Bring Wednesday 10 May 19h00 – Indoor meeting at Westville Methodist Church, Jan a picnic tea and chairs. Directions: From Old Main Road, Pinetown turn north into Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Judy Mann, “The Role of Marine Protected Areas in Otto Volek Road. Follow sign right into Mountain Ridge Road just before the M19. Conservation”. Follow signs to the reserve, OR take the N3 from Durban and then the M13 towards Wednesday 17 May 07h30 – uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve with Sandi du Pinetown. Take the Stapleton Road/New Germany turnoff (exit 16). Turn left then Preez 031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. Wetland, dune forest and beach. Good birds right onto the M5 heading towards New Germany. Continue until Mountain Ridge include Crowned Eagle, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Blue-mantled crested Road where you turn right. Continue for 700 m and then turn left into Gilbert Drive. Flycatcher, Purple-banded Sunbird, Brown-throated Weaver, White-fronted Plover. Carry on to the reserve. Meet in the car park. They don't charge an entrance, but do Crested Guineafowl has been seen there in the past. Directions: From the M4 take ask for donations! Mid-winter special is Spotted Ground Thrush! Bring tea and chair the Umhlanga Rocks Drive turn-off. Travel east then turn left into Lagoon Drive at the for later. Civic Centre. The reserve is at the end of Lagoon Drive just past Breakers Hotel. Wednesday 12 July 19h00 – Indoor meeting at Westville Methodist Church, Jan Meet in the car park. Entrance is free. Bring chair, coffee/tea and eats for picnic Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Our guest speaker to be advised. See you there. afterwards. Wednesday 19 July 08h00 – New Germany Nature Reserve with Lesley Frescura. Sunday 21 May – To be advised if we get a volunteer with a venue. Gate opens at 07h30. Directions: From Old Main Road, Pinetown turn north into Otto Friday 26 to Sunday 28 May 2017 – Mtunzini Twin Streams environmental Volek Road. Follow sign right into Mountain Ridge Road just before the M19. Follow Education centre with Cheryl and John Bevan. Weekend away, please confirm your signs to the reserve, OR take the N3 from Durban and then the M13 towards booking with Cheryl Bevan, 031 708 3731, 083 407 9785 or email Pinetown. Take the Stapleton Road/New Germany turnoff (exit 16). Turn left then [email protected]. Please book directly with TWINSTREAMS CENTRE, right onto the M5 heading towards New Germany. Continue until Mountain Ridge Twinstreams Mtunzini, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, 035 340 1641/035 340 2511. Road where you turn right. Continue for 700 m and then turn left into Gilbert Drive. Website: www.twinstreams.org.za. Carry on to the reserve. Meet in the car park. They don't charge an entrance, but do JUNE 2017 ask for donations! Mid-winter special is Spotted Ground Thrush! Bring tea things for Bird ringing and directions to venues: see details in the introduction. later. Saturday 3 June 07h30 – Palmiet Nature Reserve with Elena Russell. Meet in the Sunday 19 July – To be advised if we get a volunteer with a venue. c a r p a r k . P l e a s e c o n f i r m a t t e n d a n c e , 0 3 1 7 0 5 2 9 0 2 , e m a i l AUGUST 2017 [email protected]. Bring a picnic tea and chairs. Directions: From the N3 Bird ringing and directions to venues: see details in the introduction. take the Westville/Pavilion off-ramp. Travel along St James Avenue towards Saturday 5 August 07h15 – Stainbank with Elena Russell. Please confirm Westville. Shortly after the bridge, at the T-junction turn right into Jan Hofmeyr Road. attendance, 031 705 2902, email [email protected]. Directions: From After Westville Boys High School (on the right) turn left into Old New Germany Road Solomon Mahlangu Drive (Edwin Swales Drive), take the Wakesleigh Road turn-off. past Pick 'n Pay on your right to the Gwala-Gwala entrance. Park in the car park. Turn left into Sarnia Road, travel for 2 km then turn right at the traffic lights into Tuesday 13 June 09h30 for 10h00 – Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Tammy Caine Coedmore Quarry Road. Travel for 3 km, the entrance to the reserve is on the right. from the KZN Raptor Rescue Centre. There is an entrance fee, tea and coffee is Park in the Loerie car park. There is an entrance fee. Bring chair, coffee/tea and eats provided. for picnic afterwards. Wednesday 14 June 7h30 – Pigeon Valley with Sandi du Preez 031 701 4839 or Tuesday 8 August 09h30 for 10h00 – Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Speaker to 073 332 4431. A small, remnant patch of coastal bush which once covered the whole be advised. There is an entrance fee, tea and coffee is provided. of the Berea. Spotted Ground-thrush is a special in winter. Directions: Follow South Wednesday 9 August 19h00 – Indoor meeting. Today is women's day, lets get Ridge Road from Tollgate, towards the University. Turn left into King George V Ave. together to thank all the ladies for the huge amount of work they do for our bird club as then right into Princess Alice Ave. The entrance is on the right. Entrance is free but well as conservation in general. Details to follow. please consider a donation towards the Friends of Pigeon Valley. Bring chair, Wednesday 16 August 08h00 – Botanical Gardens with Sandi du Preez March 2017 34 35 March 2017 KZN BIRDS No 50 KZN BIRDS No 50

031 701 4839 or 073 332 4431. Directions: From Berea Road, turn into Botanic MAY 2017 Gardens Road and travel until the gardens are reached. Turn right into Sydenham Sunday 7 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. Road and follow the signs to the new entrance. After the walk, we will go to the tea Wednesday 17 - Presentation in Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Brent Coverdale garden for refreshments. on “Birds and Birds: are they equal?” Sunday 20 August 07h00 – Empisini with Elena Russell. Please confirm Sunday 21 – Morning outing to Cumberland. There is an entrance fee of R20pp. attendance, 031 705 2902, email [email protected]. Over 100 species of Roger O'Neill 033 386 3993, 083 230 6562. birds have been recorded in this area, including the elusive Magpie Mannikin and a Wednesday 31 – Morning outing to Mbona Estate in the Karkloof. Meet at Amber chance to see White-starred Robin, Spotted Ground Thrush and Green Twinspot. Ridge car park at 07h00 to arrange transport. Eve Hughes 033 330 2723, Habitat consists of prime coastal forest with perennial small streams. Directions: 082 872 4333. Travel the N2 south, take the Umkomaas/Widenham off-ramp. At the stop street turn JUNE 2017 left, then travel a few hundred metres to the first left turn signposted Sunday 4 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. SAPPI/SAICCOR. Continue down a steep hill for just over 1 km, turn left at the T- Monday 5-9 – A trip to Somkhanda Game Reserve near Mkhuze. Tented junction at the bottom of the hill and then left again through an unmarked gap in the accommodation, communal ablution area; fully equipped kitchen tent. Vehicles with fence. Follow the track for about 400 m to the parking and picnic area. There is a nice high clearance essential. The cost is R210pp per day. To book, contact Eve Hughes picnic/braai site. It takes about 40 minutes Bring chair, coffee/tea and eats for picnic 082 8724 333. afterwards. Tuesday 13 – Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Adam Riley of Rockjumper Friday 25 to Sunday 27 August 2017 – Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. Weekend Tours on “Humming Birds”. away with Cheryl and John Bevan. We will be birding in the reserve on Saturday and Sunday 18 – A day outing to Moor Park near Estcourt. David Crampton 033 845 Sunday. We will be going to the vulture hide at 09h00. Cost R50pp, please confirm 3512 or 082 771 7274. your booking with Cheryl Bevan 031 708 3731, 083 407 9785 or email address Wednesday 21 – Presentation in Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Ben Hoffman of [email protected]. Please book directly with KZN Wildlife 039 679 1644, African Birds of Prey Sanctuary entitled “Dedication to Raptor Rehabilitation”. accommodation 033 845 1000, www.kznwildlife.com. Wednesday 28 – Morning outing to the Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens. There Thanks to everyone who contributes to our outings, is an entrance fee for pensioners of R15pp. Meet at the Greendale Shopping Centre your dedication is appreciated by us all. at 07h30 to arrange transport. Sally Cumming 033 239 2362 or 072 119 4259 JULY 2017 BIRDLIFE KWA-ZULU NATAL MIDLANDS Sunday 2 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. Pietermaritzburg evening meetings are held at Woodgrove Retirement Centre on the Sunday 16 – Outing to Pigeon Valley, Durban. Ian Gordon 083 570 6782 second Tuesday of alternate months at 18h00. Howick evening meetings are held in Wednesday 19 – Presentation in Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by Drummond the Ambers Auditorium in Amber Valley, on the third Wednesday of the month at Densham entitled “Umgano Project Update”. 18h00. Entry R10 pp or by donation. Wednesday 26 – Morning outing to Hilton College Nature Reserve. There is a fee of Bird ringing: Contact Karin Nelson on 033 3303027 or 072 7724219 R30pp. Meet the coordinator Peter Divall at the entrance gates to the college at Darvill, Karkloof Conservancy, Cedara. 07h30.Contact details 033 239 5537 or 083 263 4169. Please contact the coordinator before an outing 15 July - 15 August – Water Bird Counts (CWACs). Eve Hughes 033 330 2723 or to confirm the time of meeting and other arrangements. 082 872 4333 Coordinators of outings to private property must please phone Saturday 29 – Coordinated Avifaunal Road (CAR). Peter Divall 033 239 5537 or the owner a week in advance to confirm the outing. 083 263 4169 AUGUST 2017 APRIL 2017 Sunday 6 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555 Sunday 2 – Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555. Tuesday 8 – Presentation in Woodgrove at 18h00 by Drummond Densham entitled Tuesday 11 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Tammy Caine: "All about “Umgano Project Update”. owls". Wednesday 16 – Presentation in Ambers Auditorium at 18h00 by David Allan on Sunday 16 – Easter Sunday – no club outing. “Surveying the fantastic waterbird populations of the Elephant Marsh in southern Wednesday 19 – Presentation in Ambers Auditorium at 18h00: “Birding Dilemmas Malawi”. Part 3”. Sunday 20 – Day outing to Zulu Falls near Mooi River to see the breeding Bald Ibis. Wednesday 26 – Morning outing to Bird Valley Estate near Albert Falls. Contact Colin Summersgill 033 818 9013 or 060 827 3785. Norman Freeman 033 239 0843 or 083 453 7949, to confirm time of meeting and Wednesday 30 – Morning outing to Cumberland. Meet at Greendale shopping transport arrangements. centre to arrange transport. Norman Freeman 033 239 6843 or 083 453 7949.

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BIRDLIFE TROGONS PLEASE note all outings are on the 2nd or 4th Sunday of the month unless otherwise NELSON'S SAFARIS AFRICA 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 Guided on-board overland safari to some great birding changed at short notice, please check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com for and general game viewing destinations in Southern updated information or phone Hazel van Rooyen on 072 355 8837 for further details. Africa. Safaris are inclusive Bird ringing with Andrew Pickles is usually on the first Sunday of the month. Venues of transport (in 4X4 vehicles), camping or chalet will be advised. Contact Andrew on 082 338 3302 or [email protected] for accommodation, meals and park entry fees details. Safari groups are a maximum of 6 people 5 February 06h30 – Sezela Sugar Mill, Pennington accompanied by the owner/ guides in two vehicles 12 February 06h00 – Bird Ringing, venue to be announced 26 February 06h30 – Mpenjati NR and Estuary 2017 SAFARIS 12 March 07h00 – Durban Botanical Gardens 26 March 06h30 – River Valley NR, Uvongo 3 week Kalahari, Khaudum and Caprivi – Central Kalahari, Okavango 9 April 06h30 – Ellingham Estate Panhandle, Khaudum National Park and Caprivi, June/July 2017 23 April 06h30 – Stott Farm, Umtentweni 3 week Zimbabwe – Hwange, Chizarira, Matusadona and Mana Pools, 14 May06h30 – Vernon Crookes NR, Scottburgh July or September 2017 28 May 06h30 – Oribi Gorge/Vultures 2 week Zambia Bats and Birding – Choma, Lochinvar, Forest Inn, http://birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com/ Kasanka and Mutinondo. late November 2017 BIRDLIFE ZULULAND Please contact the guides Craig and Karin Nelson for further information For information or details check out the website: Phone: 033 3303027 Mobile: 082 9000107 www.birdlifezululand.co.za [email protected] www.nelsonsafaris.co.za ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

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