Kzn Birds 42

July 2014 No 42 KZN BIRDS Newsletter of the KZN Branches of BirdLife South Africa KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

EDITORIAL CONTENTS CHAIR’S CHIRPS Congratulations to you both on the birth of your healthy little boy. Rina, Aldo THANK you to everyone who cast a vote in 3 Chair’s Chirps Berutti, Graham Kletz, Sue Stephenson our survey whether readers would prefer a 3 BirdLife Sisonke and Musawenkosi Mntungwa are our hard copy or electronic version of this 4 BirdLife Midlands other committee members. As with all newsletter. The results were 65% in favour 5 BirdLife Zululand committees new people bring new ideas of the printed copy and 35% who would like 7 BirdLife Trogons and I look forward to the coming season to receive a digital copy. The way forward 10 BirdLife Port Natal I ENDED my last chirp with these words, for our club. will be debated further at the KZN Bird “Seasons come and seasons go, for me Birding in the Sisonke area has been Forum which will be held in September. 12 Conservation and Projects 12 Wader survey KZN coastline the winter period (hibernation and lack quiet for the past two months. With the A big thank you too to all contributors who of new growth) of BirdLife Sisonke will Sani2c cycle race passing through our help to pack these issues with interesting 14 KZN Bird Forum hopefully come to an end, spring will area I had little time to pick up my bins, and entertaining information. An example is 14 Forum informs and educates follow winter, here's hoping that our club other than to count the Denham's the cover photograph of a trio of longclaws 15 In search of Blue Swallow nests will spring into action during the next few Bustards as they fed in the valley across by Hugh Chittenden. KwaZulu-Natal is the 15 CWAC results for Durban estuaries months. I wonder what 2014 has in store from my kitchen. Some days 15 of these only province where all three species occur. for BirdLife Sisonke?” 12 Bird Notes and observations majestic birds wonder through the maize Please continue to send in your At our AGM in March Nicholas Theron 16 Pelican numbers look good fields. An interesting visitor during the observations, trip reports and photographs! was voted in as our new chair! So yes, past month has been one Knob-billed 18 Marsh Owl behaviour after storms seasons have changed. I handed the Duck amongst a huge flock of Spur- Crystelle Wilson 18 Greater Honeyguide parasitism chair’s baton over to Nick and wish to winged Geese. 19 Raptors regurgitating congratulate him on his election. I look Faithway, Ixopo Primary and Goxhill 20 Woofpecker rules the roost forward to new and interesting ideas that schools all benefited financially from 21 Pollination of Leonotis flowers he will bring to our club. helping BirdLife Sisonke at the 22 How do birds know? Nick is not the only new person to join refreshment tables for the cycle races. 22 Buzzard plumage correction the committee. David Theron (Nick and The funds will be used in the schools for 23 Bird Trips Rina's son) is our latest member. conservation education purposes. 22 iSimangaliso park worthwhile In June I escaped from 23 Voluminous vultures BELOW: The Ixopo Primary school assisted BirdLife my office for a week to visit 23 East Africa in 100 days: part 2 Sisonke at refreshment tables during the Sani2c cycle exciting areas in Zululand. race. The team is seen here with club members (from As always, the grass is BIRDLIFE PORT NATAL CALENDAR 2015 27 Honorary Recorder’s Report Order your copies now left to right at the back) Sue Stephenson, Aldo and also greener on the other [email protected] 31 Club Activities Sharron Berutti, Trish Strachan and Bheki Nkabane side when it comes to Photo supplied b i r d i n g . F o l k f r o m Zululand enjoy Blue KZN BIRDS Swallow and Cape Parrot 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, sightings in our area, whether members of a branch or not, are invited to submit articles for publication. Views expressed in KZN Birds are while for me a trip north not necessarily those of the editor, the aforementioned clubs or BirdLife SA. All national rarities are subject to acceptance by the National Rarities Committee. means warmer weather in Submissions are used at the discretion of the editor and may be held back for future editions. Contributions can winter and new birds for be sent to the Editor, Crystelle Wilson, at [email protected] or typed or neatly written and posted to Crystelle at 2 Lanville, 149 North Ridge Road, Durban my year list. 4001. Good quality, high resolution digital photographs are We started off with also welcome. Telephone: 031 2080577 or 082 7235158 Advertising in KZN Birds Per issue three days at Mtunzini. The deadline for the next issue Front cover logo R1000 Mangrove Kingfisher, Back page colour R1500 Palm-nut Vulture, Red- is 1 October 2014 Full Page inside b&w R 1000 Front cover: Yellow-throated, Cape and Rosy-throated Half Page R 500 F a c e d a n d R u f o u s - Longclaws by Hugh Chittenden Quarter Page R 250 Winged Cisticolas were Desktop Publishing: Crystelle Wilson Smalls R2 per word amongst my best birds.

July 2014 2 3 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

Frank and Lorna Rautenbach kindly took us to Ngoye Forest. This pristine We are planning two bird courses in area yielded many forest birds and the latter part of the year for our butterflies. A Spotted Ground Thrush members and the wider public. The and a few very vocal Green Barbets educational material that BirdLife SA were my favourite sightings. THE Club has been very active in the provided on the bird of the year, Tristan Walking through the dune forests in late summer months with outings and Albatross, has been copied to a number Amatikulu watching Grey Waxbill, Green indoor meetings. Autumn is well on its of CDs and given to a number of schools Twinspot and Green Malkoha was very way to winter as I write this short report. in the Howick and Pietermaritzburg relaxing. Sadly I forgot to take my Many of our birds are already in their areas. butterfly book, so had to just watch in non-breeding plumage. The club produces an e-mail awe at the diversity in the forest. The regular Sunday morning outings newsletter which is gaining in popularity. Drummond Densham Sand Forest Lodge near Hluhluwe to popular sites in Pietermaritzburg are Rosemary Forrester does a great job as ABOVE: Club members relax after a was very productive for forest birds. I supported by a small group of keen editor. We are looking for a catchy title morning’s birding in the Milestone enjoyed sitting quietly in the garden birders. They have a great time for the Newsletter. watching different honeyguides, Forest near Wartburg wandering around their favourite birding Drummond Densham sunbirds, canaries and robins having spots. Roger O'Neill had this to report in Nature Reserves gave us a wide variety Howick afternoon baths. Eastern Nicator, which May: “The Darvill outing had some of places to visit with varying habitats 033 3304039 is usually very secretive, had a great interesting observations including a low and bird species to see. Those who time sunning itself out on a dead branch. fly past of a Black Sparrowhawk as we went on them enjoyed the outings. The crazy acrobatics of the African gathered in the parking area. There The activities list details the outings Broadbill kept us entertained for a long were a few swallows around including until the end of the year. There are some time. Barn, White-throated and Wire-tailed exciting places to visit such as Kilgobbin Drifting around False Bay searching which were drawn to the railings and Forest in the Dargle, Zulu Falls Lodge for Pel’s Fishing Owl and Neergaard's lines on the dredger in the lower canal. near Mooi River, and a full day outing up WELL winter as we know it has arrived in Sunbird, wading through wetlands on There were two African Fish Eagles Sani Pass to mention a few. Our end of KwaZulu-Natal. Yes, we do have a the Nibela Peninsula to find Rosy- stooging on a dead tree and some the year bring and braai at the beginning winter. How do we know that? All our Throated Longclaw and an afternoon at Black-winged Stilts had returned after of December will be held at the Hilton migrants have gone and we miss them! Muzi Pan all made for a relaxing time last month's absence. Despite the College Nature Reserve. However, KZN remains an excellent away from my very hectic admin life. environment changing each month, the The indoor meetings in Howick and birding venue. My birding week ended on a rather bird population is quick to find the new Pietermaritzburg were well attended. We had a major scare in Richards sick note. I went on a pelagic trip with juicy spots that are created”. The talks presented in Howick have Bay recently with an oil spill in the Niall Perrins. Eish, the sea was rough, all There has been concern expressed been very informative and interesting harbour. Very disturbing was the length the pills in the world could not keep my over the state of the Darvill Waste Water with the members engaging in of time it took for the authorities to do breakfast down as we churned about in Works paths and ponds, particularly discussions after the presentations. something about it and the length of time the ocean like a cork in a washing during the last summer months. Viv The highlights were Martin Taylor's talk it took to clear up the spill effects. This machine! Great birds were seen, but for O’Neill attended a public meeting to on the regional red data list of birds of was despite the fact that a disaster plan me looking at LBJ's on terra firma is still which uMngeni Water had invited the South Africa, conserving vultures by for just this type of accident was put in the best. club about the current work and future David Allan and a very informative and place following the stranding of the MV As I write the Chair's Chirp for the last plans of the sewerage works. Once the enjoyable talk on territory and behaviour Smart off the Alkantstrand beach in time I would like to thank BirdLife major upgrades have been completed by Roy Cowgill and Steve Davies. We 2013. Area cordoning off effectively Sisonke members for their support and and the ponds dredged they will be have excellent talks planned until closed the only access to the harbour for encouragement during my time as chair. maintaining the paths around the ponds. December. Sally Johnson will be several weeks for fishermen and Happy birding. We look forward to this. speaking on the “Baddies of the Bird families who enjoy this area. The outings to Milestone Forest, Trish Strachan World” and Tanya Smith on “Wattled T h i s a r e a i s a p p r o v e d f o r Fountain Hill Estate near Wartburg, the Ixopo Cranes: Symbols of Water, Wetlands development with resultant permanent uMngeni Valley and Hilton College 082 4112708 and Life”. loss of flora and fauna. We need to July 2014 4 5 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 utilize fully the limited opportunities still attended and it is good to witness T H E B a r r y and off-site camping is available. For available. Richard Johnstone is sorely friendships being established. BirdLife P o r t e r more details please contact Val Culley. affected as he has atlased this area, his Zululand’s Facebook network has over M e m o r i a l May was a very busy month for the home pentad, more than 100 times. We 400 members. This is an excellent Vulture Viewing club, apart from the usual outings and are heart sore for him. medium on which to brag and also help Hide close to ringing sessions. John and Kim Cox have filed more with difficult IDs. We are thinking of the Oribi Gorge Herbie Osborne, Eric Kok, Stanley than 1000 atlas field sheets and are posting a book on how to ID birds from Nature Reserve was officially launched Gengan, Asothie Gengan and myself doing an excellent job filling in pentad the back. on 8 February with great success and participated in the annual Cape Parrot gaps. Alison and I have submitted more Our raffle of a print of a Lilac- much fanfare thanks to UGU South Count at Ingeli on 17 and 18 May. than 800 field sheets. While not wishing breasted Roller by Joe Marais went well Coast Tourism. The event was well Stanley and Asothie stayed at Ingeli our lives away, we are looking forward to and was won by Janene Macintosh. We attended by our members and received Forest Lodge, but sadly didn't see any birding seriously in our retirement when plan to do this yearly. plenty of media coverage. Barry's son, parrots, while Herbie, Eric and myself we can join those who get to the game We intend to keep in contact with Warren Porter, performed the ribbon ventured up to Mpur. We, however, had reserves and further afield during the members who moved to Knysna and cutting ceremony, which was an more luck, recording five birds and week! George to remind them of what they are emotional moment for his family and for watching two pairs for well over an hour. We have set pentad targets for 2014 missing. us. An added bonus was seeing six which are spurring us on. We intend to There is a lot of discussion and Since the launch we have had over 90 Southern Ground-Hornbill trotting along complete 100 field sheets in one of our rumour about the future fate of the visitors to see the vultures. Each one is the road verge as we left. nearby pentads, and will try to add 12 Hhluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserve. leaving a “vulture convert”, which means Once again we appeal to members to new pentads this year. For people who One can only hope that the land scarring our aim for this project is being fulfilled. take part in this important count. We will wish to improve their birding, atlasing is by the appointed mine will not totally You can see some stunning photos be looking for more volunteers for next the way to go. If you can't travel, just destroy the beauty of this special place taken during visits on the hide’s year, so please reserve the first keep a list of the birds seen and heard on which until now has produced an F a c e b o o k g r o u p p a g e : weekend in May. your property. The list will grow excellent species list. www.facebook.com/groups/oribivulture As soon as we were we back from surprisingly quickly. Some birders have The recent opening of the Western hide/ Ingeli we were setting up the Trogons’ more than a hundred on their home lists. Shores at St Lucia has also produced Our away trip to Highover Hela Hela stand at the Lions' Outdoor and Leisure It is also a useful seasonal record of good birds. from 24-28 March was another Expo at Port Shepstone Country Club. which birds are coming and going and The club outing to Dlinza Forest memorable experience. when. was well attended. The shy Lemon Dove What an absolute gem of BELOW: Warren Porter (right) cuts the ribbon at the It is really important to be involved and Spotted Ground Thrush were seen a place. The setting was launch of the vulture hide named after his late father, with a bird club and do active birding. by some for the first time. idyllic and the birding Barry Porter. With him is Andy Ruffle who took over Make time to go birding. It's fun, relaxing Alan and Judy Van Zyl were the only very good, with a trip list as chair of the Trogons from Barry and out there in nature. It is probably also people fortunate to briefly see the Great of 94 species recorded. Hazel van Rooyen safer for singles and a relaxed Frigatebird in Richards Bay. Unfortunately, there opportunity to get to know a new area We thank all our members and w e r e q u i t e a f e w and make new friends. It is also a great friends for being true bird ambassadors, members who were opportunity to share others' knowledge sharing their caring with others. Birding unable to make the trip and improves your own. is awesome! this time, so we will Alan Van Zyl is doing an excellent We invite you to visit our area for a definitely return in the job of managing the club membership g r e a t b i r d i n g e x p e r i e n c e . near future. which is growing slowly and steadily. We See you soon. The next away trip will welcome visitors and non-members and be to Richards Bay from Johan Gouws will happily accommodate them under 19-23 September. We 0832943370 our wings wherever possible. Other hope to take in some off Empangeni clubs are welcome to interact should the beaten track venues they visit the area. ADVERTISE IN KZN BIRDS w h i l s t t h e r e . S e l f - Our meetings and outings are well SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS catering accommodation July 2014 6 7 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 utilize fully the limited opportunities still attended and it is good to witness T H E B a r r y and off-site camping is available. For available. Richard Johnstone is sorely friendships being established. BirdLife P o r t e r more details please contact Val Culley. affected as he has atlased this area, his Zululand’s Facebook network has over M e m o r i a l May was a very busy month for the home pentad, more than 100 times. We 400 members. This is an excellent Vulture Viewing club, apart from the usual outings and are heart sore for him. medium on which to brag and also help Hide close to ringing sessions. John and Kim Cox have filed more with difficult IDs. We are thinking of the Oribi Gorge Herbie Osborne, Eric Kok, Stanley than 1000 atlas field sheets and are posting a book on how to ID birds from Nature Reserve was officially launched Gengan, Asothie Gengan and myself doing an excellent job filling in pentad the back. on 8 February with great success and participated in the annual Cape Parrot gaps. Alison and I have submitted more Our raffle of a print of a Lilac- much fanfare thanks to UGU South Count at Ingeli on 17 and 18 May. than 800 field sheets. While not wishing breasted Roller by Joe Marais went well Coast Tourism. The event was well Stanley and Asothie stayed at Ingeli our lives away, we are looking forward to and was won by Janene Macintosh. We attended by our members and received Forest Lodge, but sadly didn't see any birding seriously in our retirement when plan to do this yearly. plenty of media coverage. Barry's son, parrots, while Herbie, Eric and myself we can join those who get to the game We intend to keep in contact with Warren Porter, performed the ribbon ventured up to Mpur. We, however, had reserves and further afield during the members who moved to Knysna and cutting ceremony, which was an more luck, recording five birds and week! George to remind them of what they are emotional moment for his family and for watching two pairs for well over an hour. We have set pentad targets for 2014 missing. us. An added bonus was seeing six which are spurring us on. We intend to There is a lot of discussion and Since the launch we have had over 90 Southern Ground-Hornbill trotting along complete 100 field sheets in one of our rumour about the future fate of the visitors to see the vultures. Each one is the road verge as we left. nearby pentads, and will try to add 12 Hhluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserve. leaving a “vulture convert”, which means Once again we appeal to members to new pentads this year. For people who One can only hope that the land scarring our aim for this project is being fulfilled. take part in this important count. We will wish to improve their birding, atlasing is by the appointed mine will not totally You can see some stunning photos be looking for more volunteers for next the way to go. If you can't travel, just destroy the beauty of this special place taken during visits on the hide’s year, so please reserve the first keep a list of the birds seen and heard on which until now has produced an F a c e b o o k g r o u p p a g e : weekend in May. your property. The list will grow excellent species list. www.facebook.com/groups/oribivulture As soon as we were we back from surprisingly quickly. Some birders have The recent opening of the Western hide/ Ingeli we were setting up the Trogons’ more than a hundred on their home lists. Shores at St Lucia has also produced Our away trip to Highover Hela Hela stand at the Lions' Outdoor and Leisure It is also a useful seasonal record of good birds. from 24-28 March was another Expo at Port Shepstone Country Club. which birds are coming and going and The club outing to Dlinza Forest memorable experience. when. was well attended. The shy Lemon Dove What an absolute gem of BELOW: Warren Porter (right) cuts the ribbon at the It is really important to be involved and Spotted Ground Thrush were seen a place. The setting was launch of the vulture hide named after his late father, with a bird club and do active birding. by some for the first time. idyllic and the birding Barry Porter. With him is Andy Ruffle who took over Make time to go birding. It's fun, relaxing Alan and Judy Van Zyl were the only very good, with a trip list as chair of the Trogons from Barry and out there in nature. It is probably also people fortunate to briefly see the Great of 94 species recorded. Hazel van Rooyen safer for singles and a relaxed Frigatebird in Richards Bay. Unfortunately, there opportunity to get to know a new area We thank all our members and w e r e q u i t e a f e w and make new friends. It is also a great friends for being true bird ambassadors, members who were opportunity to share others' knowledge sharing their caring with others. Birding unable to make the trip and improves your own. is awesome! this time, so we will Alan Van Zyl is doing an excellent We invite you to visit our area for a definitely return in the job of managing the club membership g r e a t b i r d i n g e x p e r i e n c e . near future. which is growing slowly and steadily. We See you soon. The next away trip will welcome visitors and non-members and be to Richards Bay from Johan Gouws will happily accommodate them under 19-23 September. We 0832943370 our wings wherever possible. Other hope to take in some off Empangeni clubs are welcome to interact should the beaten track venues they visit the area. ADVERTISE IN KZN BIRDS w h i l s t t h e r e . S e l f - Our meetings and outings are well SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS catering accommodation July 2014 6 7 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 41 KZN BIRDS No 41

This year the event ran from 23-25 May The winter CWAC count will be the standard, of particular interest being the professionals is both informative and and was fortunately blessed with next “get involved” outing on 20 July. one on Durban's flagship reforestation very interesting. The Sunday meeting of excellent weather. On the cards for the rest of the year, project at the Buffelsdraai landfill site. BLSA chairs and the support committee The theme for our stand was broadly w i l l b e s o m e m o r e b i r d a n d Sandmining once again came to the fore always gives me an insight into what based on the BLSA Bird of the Year, the whalewatching boat trips from Shelly in discussion and the iniquitous each of the six clubs is doing as well as Tristan Albatross. Our message ''Please Beach. We are also in the process of practices by certain individuals who the Rarities Committee, the editor of the keep our rivers, seas and beaches clean organising the end of year function, so carry on regardless of regulations. magazine and the SABAP2 coordinator. - rubbish kills''. The show again proved watch those emails for more details. Marion Spence told us of her and John's Many changes have been mooted by very beneficial to the club, with more Don't forget, you can keep up to date heroic ventures into Jubilee Park in BLSA both to the organisation's make- “friends” being signed up and we won with all that's happening in the club on Westville, and how their efforts have up and in the membership area, but it will third prize for our stand. Well done o u r b l o g s i t e turned this area into a green haven for take time to bring them to fruit, and Herbie for his excellent job creating the http://birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com/ or birds, plants, trees and other wildlife, meanwhile the status quo remains. stand. Many thanks must also go to o u r n e w F a c e b o o k g r o u p despite the sometime depredations by Then it was off to the BLSA Flock in Doug and Angie Butcher, Margaret https://www.facebook.com/groups/ the municipality's roads division. the Berg. Sandi, Virginia and I travelled Jones, Eric Kok, Vaughan Meyrick, Vic birdlifetrogons We packed the latest edition of KZN together and met up with Roy, Steve, and Kay Neilson, Irma Smook, Bob and Happy birding and keep us informed Birds shortly after and I appeal to Crystelle, Jenny and Elena. Roger and Hazel van Rooyen and Willie and Wilna of any unusual visitors to our coastline members once again to assist in this Noreen Broomhall and Mike and Christa van Zyl for their assistance. this winter. activity. The more the merrier and the White also attended. Tim Wood came for Please do help us out next year. We quicker we finish. Thank you to those the final two days. The Learn About Andy Ruffle can't do it without you guys. members who have responded to Birds two-day workshop was considered Port Shepstone 072 8933794 Crystelle's questionnaire on the future of to be a great success with so much the magazine - the consensus seems to information packed in the time. The be that we keep it hard copy, but all weather was wonderfully kind which Goshawk, both on the wing and settled options are being studied and she will allowed us to make forays in the early in a dead tree, as well as African Fish present the results to September's KZN mornings with guided walks, or ringing Eagles, Crowned Eagles, African Bird Forum meeting for a final decision. around the hotel, and to later make our Harrier-Hawks and plenty of sunbirds I love to see, when leaves depart, March proved to be a very busy own way around the area in search of who congregate on the new flowers in The clear anatomy arrive, month with the KZN Forum in Howick the unusual or just to soak up the the Erythrina lysistemon and Apodytes Winter, the paragon of art, starting us off over the first weekend. wonderful views of the amphitheatre. It dimidiata, the latter being in full fruit at Once again Roy had drawn up an was a pleasure to meet up with Mark That kills all forms of life and feeling the moment. Save what is pure and will survive. excellent programme for the Saturday Brown once again, as he conducted This year, instead of having a stand at with a focus on conservation issues in some of the walks and the ringing for Already now the clanging chains the Kloof Conservancy's Indigenous the province. Arnia spoke on important p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d s h a r e d h i s Of geese are harnessed to the moon: Gardens, Crystelle, Arnia and myself local issues, Nick Theron gave an considerable knowledge and expertise Stripped are the great sun-clouding planes: prepared a brochure on attracting birds overview of his conservation work in the so easily with those present. The AGM And the dark pines, their own revealing, to one's garden, and what to plant to do province, Prof Colleen Downs was there itself was very well attended, and what a Let in the needles of the noon. so, and these were available at all the to report on the Cape Parrots, and pleasure to see John Ledger receive the gardens. If any member would like one, From “Autumn” by Roy Campbell update us on the work undertaken by inaugural Austin Roberts Memorial please let me know. Shane McPherson and Morgan Pfeiffer, Medal Award and Professor Adrian ETHEKWINI has experienced a very dry Early March saw Rob, Arnia and and Dr Jessica da Silva introduced Craig receive the Gill Memorial Medal summer this year, and the many leaves myself at the Biodiversity Forum chameleons and their conservation to Award. Congratulations to our CEO blown hither and yon by the wind attest to organised by the eThekwini Municipality the forum. I really wish that more Mark Anderson, and all the professional that. The threat of fire is ever-present, which was held at the Palmiet NR. We members attended these Saturdays - and support staff at BLSA, they are both at the coast and inland, and this is of said goodbye to Rashieda Davids, who they are excellent ways of finding out doing wonderful work. Next year's Flock great concern for the wildlife in the area, has so ably organised the forums for the what is happening to birds in this will be in Johannesburg. particularly ground-nesting birds. past couple of years, and wished her province. The work that is being done Our outings continue to be well On the other hand I have had well as she relocates to Bloemfontein. a n d t h e i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h t h e supported, particularly the first Saturday particularly good views of the African The presentations were of the usual high July 2014 8 9 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 morning of the month dates. Elena has to plan our outreach days there in May the biodiversity status in the area. Then visited Pigeon Valley, Umbogavango, and June. Other excellent news is that in May, Roy and Steve gave us a quiz and the Bluff in the past three months, through Crystelle's chatting to evening full of laughter and fun but with a and Sandi has covered iPhithi. The Christopher Jones at Peter Ryan's talk serious learning edge behind it. Paradise Valley outing in April was at our AGM in February, and learning Krantzkloof Birds hosted Luis Segura cancelled due to bad weather. At the end that he has some time to spare before from Rockjumper in April where those of March Rex Aspeling led a SAPPI hide setting off for Gough Island in August, attending learned more about the birds outing which 21 birders attended. The we have obtained his services for of Argentina. We look forward to Luis' birdlist for the day amounted to 52. The archiving our material at the Durban presentation in September when he long weekend in Bushwillow Park in Natural Science Museum. Thanks to visits the club in Westville. I am Karkloof from 25-28 April was thoroughly David Allan for making space and a preparing next year's speakers' list, so if enjoyable - thanks to Mike and Jane for working area available for Christopher. any members have ideas, please let me their usual excellent organisation. This will mean that no matter who is know. We would also dearly love to have Empisini on 18 May was a real winner Crystelle Wilson serving on the committee, all they have a meeting in Durban North once again, with a bird count of 54 including Narina ABOVE: BirdLife Port Natal club to do is take their files to the archives so any ideas there would also be Trogon, Green Malkoha, Blue-mantled records and documents will in future be when they leave, and members and welcome. C r e s t e d F l y c a t c h e r , G r e a t e r stored at the Durban Natural Science researchers will easily be able to access Our educational outreach in the Honeyguide and Lemon Dove. Museum’s library. From left are David our records. Botanical Gardens took place on 20-21 T h e B i r d M o n i t o r i n g a n d Allan, curator of birds at the museum, Our indoor meetings continue to bring May, as well as 5 June, and we focused Conservation group (BMCG) has been student Christopher Jones who is in members and friends, despite some on biodiversity, migration and the busy since the beginning of the year archiving the material, and club chair last-minute changes which could not be interaction with learners from different ensuring that the list provided by Steve is Lesley Frescura avoided. March saw Sean and Arnia schools and of different ages. The provided to the champions and give an excellent talk on a recent trip to weather was kind to us, the birds conservancies in the eThekwini area. Carol Schwegman from Coastwatch Ghana that they had taken. In April preening, catching fish, wading, arguing Meetings have been held in Pigeon has been supplying BLPN with her EIA Jeanne Tarrant from the EWT gave (in this case of course it was an Egyptian Valley and Palmiet NR, and these are reports since last September, when we members a cracking presentation on Goose), and some nice sightings as well continuing. It is a slow walk forward - I entered into an agreement with them. amphibians, and just how important the including a Purple Heron. We work with sometimes liken the group to Tree On 9 April Arnia and I, together with health of the local frogs is in monitoring the Bot Gardens guides and it is always Creepers as we bring on board friends, Carol and others from Coastwatch and a pleasure to learn from them. Our very conservancies, birders and municipal Crispin Hemson from WESSA, met with BELOW: Virginia Cameron explains sincere thanks firstly to Arnia van Vuuren staff, but hopefully we will get there and the Transnet team dealing with the the technical side of birding to learners who does the planning and the purchase have a report on the conservation proposed new Tug Jetty in the Durban during an educational outreach of the snacks provided by BLPN, and problems and limits in our local parks harbour. The meeting was held at their at the Durban Botanical Gardens then to Virginia Cameron, Janet Levy, prepared and ready within the next few invitation and since we adhere to the Crystelle Wilson Peter Farrington, Jenny Rix and months. motto that interaction and conversation Nomusa Mkhungo who gave of their On the conservation side, Arnia, is always a good way to begin, we felt time to work with the learners in a few Crystelle and myself attended a meeting that something had been achieved. spots around the lake. We would organised by the Green Hub in April, and Apart from anything else we learnt more appreciate more members giving of their we hope to take our interaction with them of the plans for other work planned for time to do this kind of outreach – it would further, particularly in the area of the harbour and the new dig-out port. be a great pity if we had to stop what little conservation. Crystelle and Arnia spent April contained many holidays this we do because of lack of people. a very fruitful day with Bart Fokkens and year, which though ideal for birding Dave Bishop ran one of his very others exploring birding destinations getaways, is not particularly conducive successful courses at Paradise Valley along the uMngeni Green Corridor. They to concluding plans and running on Saturday 17 May. This time the focus were rewarded with sightings of African meetings. However, we did manage to was on woodland and grassland birds, Finfoot. We are planning an outing in the meet with the Botanical Gardens and was once again followed up by a new year. education team in the last week of April visit to Shongweni the next day. It is so July 2014 10 11 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 morning of the month dates. Elena has to plan our outreach days there in May the biodiversity status in the area. Then visited Pigeon Valley, Umbogavango, and June. Other excellent news is that in May, Roy and Steve gave us a quiz and the Bluff in the past three months, through Crystelle's chatting to evening full of laughter and fun but with a and Sandi has covered iPhithi. The Christopher Jones at Peter Ryan's talk serious learning edge behind it. Paradise Valley outing in April was at our AGM in February, and learning Krantzkloof Birds hosted Luis Segura cancelled due to bad weather. At the end that he has some time to spare before from Rockjumper in April where those of March Rex Aspeling led a SAPPI hide setting off for Gough Island in August, attending learned more about the birds outing which 21 birders attended. The we have obtained his services for of Argentina. We look forward to Luis' birdlist for the day amounted to 52. The archiving our material at the Durban presentation in September when he long weekend in Bushwillow Park in Natural Science Museum. Thanks to visits the club in Westville. I am Karkloof from 25-28 April was thoroughly David Allan for making space and a preparing next year's speakers' list, so if enjoyable - thanks to Mike and Jane for working area available for Christopher. any members have ideas, please let me their usual excellent organisation. This will mean that no matter who is know. We would also dearly love to have Empisini on 18 May was a real winner Crystelle Wilson serving on the committee, all they have a meeting in Durban North once again, with a bird count of 54 including Narina ABOVE: BirdLife Port Natal club to do is take their files to the archives so any ideas there would also be Trogon, Green Malkoha, Blue-mantled records and documents will in future be when they leave, and members and welcome. C r e s t e d F l y c a t c h e r , G r e a t e r stored at the Durban Natural Science researchers will easily be able to access Our educational outreach in the Honeyguide and Lemon Dove. Museum’s library. From left are David our records. Botanical Gardens took place on 20-21 T h e B i r d M o n i t o r i n g a n d Allan, curator of birds at the museum, Our indoor meetings continue to bring May, as well as 5 June, and we focused Conservation group (BMCG) has been student Christopher Jones who is in members and friends, despite some on biodiversity, migration and the busy since the beginning of the year archiving the material, and club chair last-minute changes which could not be interaction with learners from different ensuring that the list provided by Steve is Lesley Frescura avoided. March saw Sean and Arnia schools and of different ages. The provided to the champions and give an excellent talk on a recent trip to weather was kind to us, the birds conservancies in the eThekwini area. Carol Schwegman from Coastwatch Ghana that they had taken. In April preening, catching fish, wading, arguing Meetings have been held in Pigeon has been supplying BLPN with her EIA Jeanne Tarrant from the EWT gave (in this case of course it was an Egyptian Valley and Palmiet NR, and these are reports since last September, when we members a cracking presentation on Goose), and some nice sightings as well continuing. It is a slow walk forward - I entered into an agreement with them. amphibians, and just how important the including a Purple Heron. We work with sometimes liken the group to Tree On 9 April Arnia and I, together with health of the local frogs is in monitoring the Bot Gardens guides and it is always Creepers as we bring on board friends, Carol and others from Coastwatch and a pleasure to learn from them. Our very conservancies, birders and municipal Crispin Hemson from WESSA, met with BELOW: Virginia Cameron explains sincere thanks firstly to Arnia van Vuuren staff, but hopefully we will get there and the Transnet team dealing with the the technical side of birding to learners who does the planning and the purchase have a report on the conservation proposed new Tug Jetty in the Durban during an educational outreach of the snacks provided by BLPN, and problems and limits in our local parks harbour. The meeting was held at their at the Durban Botanical Gardens then to Virginia Cameron, Janet Levy, prepared and ready within the next few invitation and since we adhere to the Crystelle Wilson Peter Farrington, Jenny Rix and months. motto that interaction and conversation Nomusa Mkhungo who gave of their On the conservation side, Arnia, is always a good way to begin, we felt time to work with the learners in a few Crystelle and myself attended a meeting that something had been achieved. spots around the lake. We would organised by the Green Hub in April, and Apart from anything else we learnt more appreciate more members giving of their we hope to take our interaction with them of the plans for other work planned for time to do this kind of outreach – it would further, particularly in the area of the harbour and the new dig-out port. be a great pity if we had to stop what little conservation. Crystelle and Arnia spent April contained many holidays this we do because of lack of people. a very fruitful day with Bart Fokkens and year, which though ideal for birding Dave Bishop ran one of his very others exploring birding destinations getaways, is not particularly conducive successful courses at Paradise Valley along the uMngeni Green Corridor. They to concluding plans and running on Saturday 17 May. This time the focus were rewarded with sightings of African meetings. However, we did manage to was on woodland and grassland birds, Finfoot. We are planning an outing in the meet with the Botanical Gardens and was once again followed up by a new year. education team in the last week of April visit to Shongweni the next day. It is so July 2014 10 11 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 worthwhile to attend these courses, salutations to them for their hard work, decreases in the wader population that just passes criteria to list it as a regional either as a refresher or to improve one's and a million thanks to Crystelle who has are most worrying. Resident waders, IBA. knowledge of the habitat of the particular had to work on the new designs with the such as White-fronted Plover decreased Based on these worrying trends we birds. Thanks, Dave. sponsors. by 37% which is most likely a result of wanted to add another piece of the Roger and Noreen Broomhall and World Migratory Bird Day is held each increased disturbance along beaches. puzzle and in January and February of Paul Bartho have been very busy since year in May, and we spent a lot of time Migrant waders fared even less well with 2014 we set out to repeat as much of the the AGM, setting up meetings with talking to learners about migration and an overall decrease of 50% with some 1980 surveys along the KZN coastline corporates and individuals in an attempt the importance of maintaining the birds' common species such as Sanderling and adjacent wetlands as possible. We to obtain sponsorship for the printing of rest and refreshment spots in good order and Curlew Sandpiper decreasing by as did this by relying on the huge network of each page of the calendar. In return as they travel. Africa is a very important much as 90%. The study highlighted that citizen scientists affiliated to bird clubs there will be a small ad on the specific continent for migrating birds, as is the there is little difference between and other organisations along the coast. month sponsored in acknowledgement USA. Their Environment for the protected and non-protected areas The response was fantastic and over the as well as providing them with a few free Americas' contribution was to put which points to the conclusion that course of 3 weeks, 310 km or 55% of the copies for their clients. Despite together a handout on 20 Ways to factors away from our shores are playing KZN coastline was surveyed including beginning their approaches rather late, Conserve Birds, which I have available. a major role in these declines. We also 22 wetlands. Much of this was done on they have had spectacular success and have reason to be worried in KZN. The foot but a large stretch from Richards Lesley Frescura have saved the club most of the printing Umvoti Estuary for instance is to be de- Bay to Sodwana Bay was completed Durban 083 2313408 cost for the calendars. Thanks and registered as an Important Bird and using vehicle and staff support from Biodiversity Area (IBA) due to the EKZN Wildlife. All in all 60 volunteers CONSERVATION AND PROJECTS abandonment of the tern roost. In from 12 organisations took part. Along addition, the loss of estuarine the coastline a total of 519 resident functioning has led to wader numbers waders, 1 190 Palaearctic waders and Citizen scientists assist with survey of waders plummeting and CWAC counts over 394 non-waders were counted, a total of and waterbirds along the KZN coastline recent years usually turn up less than 2 103 birds. 200 birds. Similarly, surveys of the We hope to repeat the survey next IN THE early 1980s a survey of the Austral Ecology in 2012. The total Umhlatuze Estuary (also an IBA) by season, possibly including coastlines in waders and waterbirds along almost the number of individuals along the Western Martin Taylor and David Allan show that the Western and Northern Cape. This entire South African coastline and its Cape coastline remained similar and the estuary, one of the most important in data will then be analysed and published adjacent wetlands was undertaken. This species richness has increased but this South Africa, may no longer qualify as a a n d u s e d t o c o n t r i b u t e t o o u r was an immense effort and the results of is due to colonisation by Egyptian Geese global IBA because it fails to reach the understanding of the status of waders the KwaZulu-Natal stretch were and Hadeda, Sacred and Glossy Ibises. 20 000 waterbird threshold and now only and waterbirds along the South African published in Ostrich in 1986 and the Good news is that African Oystercatcher coastline. A special thank Western Cape stretch in Bontebok in numbers have doubled but it is BELOW: Beach development along you goes to all the 1988. But almost 35 years later volunteers who helped what is the current situation BELOW: White-fronted Plover the KZN South Coast D. Butcher Nick Theron with this massive and along our coastline? How are i m p o r t a n t e f f o r t , migrants and waders faring with h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e the pressures of widespread contributions citizen d e v e l o p m e n t , i n c r e a s e d scientists are making to p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s , understanding the status disturbance and of course the of birds in South Africa. myriad of threats facing them along their migratory routes and Nicholas Theron in their breeding areas? BirdLife South Africa Regional In 2010 Peter Ryan repeated Conservation Manager the Western Cape stretch KwaZulu-Natal producing some interesting [email protected] results which were reported in July 2014 12 13 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 worthwhile to attend these courses, salutations to them for their hard work, decreases in the wader population that just passes criteria to list it as a regional either as a refresher or to improve one's and a million thanks to Crystelle who has are most worrying. Resident waders, IBA. knowledge of the habitat of the particular had to work on the new designs with the such as White-fronted Plover decreased Based on these worrying trends we birds. Thanks, Dave. sponsors. by 37% which is most likely a result of wanted to add another piece of the Roger and Noreen Broomhall and World Migratory Bird Day is held each increased disturbance along beaches. puzzle and in January and February of Paul Bartho have been very busy since year in May, and we spent a lot of time Migrant waders fared even less well with 2014 we set out to repeat as much of the the AGM, setting up meetings with talking to learners about migration and an overall decrease of 50% with some 1980 surveys along the KZN coastline corporates and individuals in an attempt the importance of maintaining the birds' common species such as Sanderling and adjacent wetlands as possible. We to obtain sponsorship for the printing of rest and refreshment spots in good order and Curlew Sandpiper decreasing by as did this by relying on the huge network of each page of the calendar. In return as they travel. Africa is a very important much as 90%. The study highlighted that citizen scientists affiliated to bird clubs there will be a small ad on the specific continent for migrating birds, as is the there is little difference between and other organisations along the coast. month sponsored in acknowledgement USA. Their Environment for the protected and non-protected areas The response was fantastic and over the as well as providing them with a few free Americas' contribution was to put which points to the conclusion that course of 3 weeks, 310 km or 55% of the copies for their clients. Despite together a handout on 20 Ways to factors away from our shores are playing KZN coastline was surveyed including beginning their approaches rather late, Conserve Birds, which I have available. a major role in these declines. We also 22 wetlands. Much of this was done on they have had spectacular success and have reason to be worried in KZN. The foot but a large stretch from Richards Lesley Frescura have saved the club most of the printing Umvoti Estuary for instance is to be de- Bay to Sodwana Bay was completed Durban 083 2313408 cost for the calendars. Thanks and registered as an Important Bird and using vehicle and staff support from Biodiversity Area (IBA) due to the EKZN Wildlife. All in all 60 volunteers CONSERVATION AND PROJECTS abandonment of the tern roost. In from 12 organisations took part. Along addition, the loss of estuarine the coastline a total of 519 resident functioning has led to wader numbers waders, 1 190 Palaearctic waders and Citizen scientists assist with survey of waders plummeting and CWAC counts over 394 non-waders were counted, a total of and waterbirds along the KZN coastline recent years usually turn up less than 2 103 birds. 200 birds. Similarly, surveys of the We hope to repeat the survey next IN THE early 1980s a survey of the Austral Ecology in 2012. The total Umhlatuze Estuary (also an IBA) by season, possibly including coastlines in waders and waterbirds along almost the number of individuals along the Western Martin Taylor and David Allan show that the Western and Northern Cape. This entire South African coastline and its Cape coastline remained similar and the estuary, one of the most important in data will then be analysed and published adjacent wetlands was undertaken. This species richness has increased but this South Africa, may no longer qualify as a a n d u s e d t o c o n t r i b u t e t o o u r was an immense effort and the results of is due to colonisation by Egyptian Geese global IBA because it fails to reach the understanding of the status of waders the KwaZulu-Natal stretch were and Hadeda, Sacred and Glossy Ibises. 20 000 waterbird threshold and now only and waterbirds along the South African published in Ostrich in 1986 and the Good news is that African Oystercatcher coastline. A special thank Western Cape stretch in Bontebok in numbers have doubled but it is BELOW: Beach development along you goes to all the 1988. But almost 35 years later volunteers who helped what is the current situation BELOW: White-fronted Plover the KZN South Coast D. Butcher Nick Theron with this massive and along our coastline? How are i m p o r t a n t e f f o r t , migrants and waders faring with h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e the pressures of widespread contributions citizen d e v e l o p m e n t , i n c r e a s e d scientists are making to p o p u l a t i o n d e n s i t i e s , understanding the status disturbance and of course the of birds in South Africa. myriad of threats facing them along their migratory routes and Nicholas Theron in their breeding areas? BirdLife South Africa Regional In 2010 Peter Ryan repeated Conservation Manager the Western Cape stretch KwaZulu-Natal producing some interesting [email protected] results which were reported in July 2014 12 13 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

BLKZN BIRD FORUM Presentations covered Red Data Species including those threatened In search of Blue How are birds doing primarily by habitat destruction such as Swallow nesting sites in Durban’s estuaries? Come and be informed the proposed new dig-out port within the ALL the BirdLife Clubs in KwaZulu-Natal boundary of eThekwini and the BLUE Swallows Hirundo atrocaerulea THE results of Coordinated Waterbird meet biannually at the uMngeni Valley mysteries that surround the migration are globally Vulnerable based on the Counts (CWACs) over the last 13 years Nature Reserve for the BLKZN Forum. and breeding of the iconic Blue Swallow. IUCN red-list. In South Africa they are for the uMngeni River estuary and This event brings together a number The results of waterbird surveys were Critically Endangered and are in need of Durban Bayhead Natural Heritage Site of birders and scientists whose work is presented from all the data collected by ongoing conservation action including over the last 15 years were summarised directly involved in the conservation of participants of CWAC and other field identifying all potential breeding areas. in this presentation. bird species. Everyone is welcome to surveys. This presentation covered the There had been a noticeable decline attend the Saturday meeting. It provides Forum also extended to topics of a monitoring of known breeding sites and in both the total counts and numbers of an excellent opportunity to listen to field wider biodiversity interest to include the process towards identifying potential species at both sites, particularly for the e x p e r t s s h a r i n g t h e e x c i t i n g animals other than birds. This met with currently unknown sites. This is being summer counts. This decline was conservation work with birds conducted much appreciation as conservation is done using Ecological Niche Modelling particularly noticeable for Palaearctic within the province. not only about birds but also the greater followed up by aerial surveys over migrants such as Common Tern, Curlew The meeting also provides a platform environment in which they live. Recent remote areas. Finally the sites deemed Sandpiper and Little Stint, the last from which other local projects can be research revealed the workings of the potentially suitable will be checked in having been virtually absent from l a u n c h e d t o a s s i s t t h e s e evolution of dwarf chameleons and how order to confirm or refute the presence of uMngeni Estuary for six years. Even the conservationists. The full day keeps species and subspecies come into being breeding Blue Swallows. With fewer resident gull species showed a birders in contact with other club On Sunday all the club and project than 30 known breeding pairs in the considerable decline in numbers at both members and regional activities. All six chairs meet to discuss the essential country any new breeding sites found sites. clubs, satellite and affiliated groups functioning and interaction of the clubs will contribute significantly to the existing The large increase in the areas within the province are invited to attend including the battles won and lost and population. covered by mangroves, particularly at and represent their clubs. how clubs can best provide for their The talk also focussed on efforts by the uMngeni estuary, was mentioned as This year the first meeting was held members. Information and decisions the Endangered Wildlife Trust outside of a possible cause of the reduction in over the weekend of 1 March. made at forum are then distributed to all South Africa, outlining the results of the feeding area of mudflats, which could members, keeping 2012 International Blue Swallow Action reduce the numbers of visiting birds, as t h e m i n f o r m e d o n BELOW: Some of the speakers at the March forum were plan review workshop which was hosted well as the impact of disturbance and provincial activities. (from left to right) Nick Theron, Jessica da Silva, Ian by the EWT and funded by the Percy p o l l u t i o n . T h e i n c r e a s i n g BirdLife South Africa is Little, Steve Davis, Arnia van Vuuren and Colleen Downs FitzPatrick Institute. The results of this industrialisation of the Durban bay could also represented at Crystelle Wilson gathering of representatives from all of also be responsible for the decline in bird forum. t h e r a n g e s t a t e s ( e x c l u d i n g numbers there, with several species, Should you wish to Mozambique) directed the survey efforts both resident and migrant birds, learn and know more in Swaziland, Mozambique and Malawi. becoming locally extinct within the last about birds and other A team led by the EWT has surveyed the 20 years. The critical need to maintain conservation aspects, breeding populations in these countries regular monitoring of such sites was you are again invited to in order to assist the local authorities with emphasised, and the audience was the next BLKZN Forum their current understanding of population encouraged to participate in the several to be held at the same sizes and provide management advice monitoring projects coordinated by the venue on Saturday 6 w h e r e n e c e s s a r y f o r r e g i o n a l Animal Demography Unit. a n d S u n d a y 7 c o n s e r v a t i o n m a n a g e r s a n d September 2014. researchers. Steve Davis Durban Roy Cowgill Dr Ian Little [email protected] BLKZN Forum Chair [email protected] [email protected] ADVERTISE IN KZN BIRDS, SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS July 2014 14 15 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

BIRD NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS years and it is much easier to locate the Pelicans and Yellow-billed Storks. It is new sites from the air. The present site is interesting that the birds have chosen also very difficult to access from the two new sites that are both within ground, and so an aerial count is really conservation areas. Is this by chance? the only feasible way of estimating the So what can we conclude about the colony size. Red Data Book population estimate of It is interesting that in some years the 240-300 birds? We now know that the Pink-backed Pelicans are joined by estimates made then, partly as a result Crystelle Wilson other colonially nesting birds of all sizes of the original SABAP1, are no longer ABOVE: Pink-backed Pelicans at the uMngeni Estuary, Durban and shapes. Various species of accurate. Nsumo Pan has a breeding cormorants, egrets, ibises, herons, and population of up to 600 birds and Pink-backed Pelican numbers look good weavers have joined the colony at Nyamithi Pan has possibly up to 200 IN THE Eskom Red Data Book of Birds nest-building and egg-laying by the end different times, as have darters and birds. Add to these the number of of South Africa published in 2000 a of that month. Others will arrive later and spoonbills. Some of you might have juvenile birds that have not reached population estimate of 240-300 was so the breeding season is extended seen the colony that established near breeding age or the old-timers who are suggested for the Pink-backed Pelican, because the start is staggered. So this is the picnic site at the Nsumo Pan that had no longer intent on further parenthood and this species was listed as a good time to start the estimates. Both a wide variety of species, all nesting and this puts the number up to the 1000 Vulnerable. Has anything changed since birds stay at the colony site initially while communally. It was a wonderful sight to mark. Add the recruitment from these then? courting - it seems that courtship and see. For several years the colony has colonies and the number grows. If the For a start it is worth noting where nest-building are more important than also been host to Yellow-billed Storks, colonies are still growing in size, then the these birds occur in South Africa and feeding! Once the chicks hatch one of and this is the only known regular recruitment of this fairly long-lived bird is whether we can actually make an the parent birds is usually away from the breeding site for this species in South possibly greater than the number of accurate estimation. Zululand is their colony collecting food for the hungry Africa. So the Nsumo Pan site takes on deaths. So the news looks good for this primary stronghold and this area also offspring, and then counts become less even more significance as a site to species. My assumption is that the boasts their only breeding sites in South accurate. It is difficult to count the conserve at all cost. original estimates were conservative Africa. This area is close to Mozambique number of nests and then to multiply by What have we gained from these and that they were made on a more and so it is very likely that these birds two to estimate adult numbers as the counts? Probably the most important casual basis and possibly not at the venture into suitable foraging areas over nests can overlap if the branch or site is from a conservation perspective is that breeding sites. I do not believe that their the border. So which country can lay suitable and then platforms are created. this colony breeds regularly and numbers have increased to this degree. claim to these border-hoppers? Since 2003 I have been doing aerial successfully at this site, and that the size We also need to remember that some of Fortunately they are big white birds surveys of the colony at the Nsumo Pan of the colony is fairly constant. In terms t h e s e b i r d s m i g h t m o v e f r o m that are always associated with water- in the uMkhuze Game Reserve with of numbers, we now estimate that this Mozambique to these safe breeding bodies and can be seen more easily than Greg Nanni, the EKZN Wildlife pilot. We site is the breeding colony for 250 – 300 colonies, make use of our facilities and small brown birds that skulk in the reeds. photograph the colony and then counts pairs, and that their breeding efforts here fish stocks, and then return to the pans So we can be reasonably confident of are done from the pictures taken during are relatively incident free and along the Mozambique coastal plain. being fairly accurate with our estimates, these flights. It is interesting that at no successful. This colony is thought to Does this mean that all is well in the particularly if we count them when they stage did any flight over the breeding have replaced the one that was situated world of the Pink-backed Pelican? congregate to breed. In the non- site cause the birds to leave their nests at the mouth of the Hluhluwe River, Nothing in the conservation world can be breeding season these birds feed or even look up to see this potential where the river enters False Bay of Lake that optimistic! There always has to be a individually and can easily be missed on predator! It is very difficult to count these St Lucia. This move happened in about downside or threat. Of course there are large water-bodies like Lake St Lucia or nests and breeding adults from the 1985, and it seems now that Nsumo has potential hazards in the years ahead for in areas where there are a lot of reeds, ground as they are all on the canopies of become their favoured spot. And the this species, and the most obvious is the but in the breeding season they all tall fever trees (Acacia xanthophloea), good news is that another colony has future of the wetlands and catchments in congregate to form large colonial nesting and so we think that we have produced started up in the Ndumo Game Reserve the Zululand and Mozambique areas. sites. far more accurate counts than have on the Nyamithi Pan, and that this Both nesting sites and food supply must The mature adults start congregating been done in the past. The birds also colony now also seems to be a regular be protected for this species to survive. in December and have usually started have the habit of moving sites every few breeding site of both Pink-backed This is in the hands of our conservation July 2014 16 17 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 authorities. As a citizen scientist I can owl stretched its wings and soared away of a Banded Martin which flew around Although circumstantial, it seems the only help in monitoring numbers so that to the south until lost to view. me twittering in alarm and swooping martin was the foster parent to the trends can be seen over the years. It is I was very impressed with the altitude fairly close to my head. honeyguide. When I reviewed the these trends that make conservation that the owl obtained and the way it When it first got up, the honeyguide breeding data of KZN birds in 2011 decisions more robust in the future. sailed away on outstretched wings as if it had been sitting about 2-3 m away from (Annals of the Ditsong National Museum And until then I will hopefully be was a miniature vulture! I never thought I a deep burrow (possibly an aardvark of Natural History 1: 131-164), there was privileged enough to continue doing would see a soaring Marsh Owl but this hole), which was possibly where the evidence for nine host species in KZN these counts. It is a wonderful was what this owl was doing. martin had its nest hole, although I could (mostly starlings, bee-eaters, barbets), experience to be involved with the aerial Obviously, many wetland species not see any hole from the outside. but no record for the martin, although it is monitoring of all the colonial nesting need to disperse to other wetlands, after The honeyguide had left a dropping a known host in other parts of the water-birds in Zululand, and the two rain, during droughts or after fledging, containing beetle elytra in the path, honeyguide's range. pelican species in particular. but we seldom get to see them in the act including fragments of two click beetles GBP Davies of dispersing. (family Elateridae). Beetles also form an Meyrick Bowker Ditsong National Museum Presumably in the action of this Marsh important part of the martin's diet Howick of National History, Pretoria Owl we have a clue as to how otherwise (personal observations by Hugh [email protected] [email protected] sedentary waterbirds may do it. Chittenden, KZN Birds 41). Plausibly, this owl could have easily Marsh Owl covered tens of kilometres within half- Getting rid of them bones an-hour or so of soaring and it would behaviour after also have had a superb panoramic view severe thunderstorm from its high vantage point to spot any recently inundated areas. ON THE late afternoon of 24 January 2014 a network of fierce thunderstorms GBP Davies with heavy rain and powerful winds hit Ditsong National Museum the Kokstad area, in the process ripping of National History, Pretoria large trees out of the pavement in the [email protected] town and causing localised flooding. At the time I was camped at the Penny Greater Honeyguide Park wetland, approximately 2.5 km NE of Kokstad. Once the storms had parasitism of passed, I was walking along the edge of Banded Martin? THE digestive systems of raptors are not exactly geared to cope with all the material the wetland when I heard the croaks of a that goes down the gullet after swallowing rodents or reptiles. These photographs Marsh Owl. Looking up, I saw three WHILE walking in the grassland on the captured birds in the process of regurgitating. Above a Lanner Falcon expels a pellet Marsh Owls circling about 30 m over the slopes of Mt Currie, just outside Kokstad, (seen in the last picture) and below right a Forest Buzzard does the same, both bulrushes. They were all gaining altitude on the afternoon of 31 January 2014, pictured at Boston in the Midlands by Crystelle by climbing higher in a helical fashion. and far from any trees or bushes, I Wilson. Hugh Chittenden of Mtunzini caught the I followed one Marsh Owl with my noticed a small bird flapping along in the Long-crested Eagle (below) in the act. - CW binoculars. It flapped and flapped and path ahead of me. rose higher and higher until my neck Walking up to it, I saw it was a juvenile began straining and the owl itself was Greater Honeyguide (with lemon yellow becoming a black speck against the underparts and olive upperparts). The clouds above me. Ultimately, the owl honeyguide was trying to fly but could was scarcely visible to the naked eye only rise a short distance before and was at a tremendous height - similar dropping down again - it was clearly too to when large raptors and storks are young to be flying yet. On picking the soaring at great height. Having climbed honeyguide up, it began to give hoarse to the top of the helix, so to speak, the alarm calls. This attracted the attention July 2014 18 19 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 authorities. As a citizen scientist I can owl stretched its wings and soared away of a Banded Martin which flew around Although circumstantial, it seems the only help in monitoring numbers so that to the south until lost to view. me twittering in alarm and swooping martin was the foster parent to the trends can be seen over the years. It is I was very impressed with the altitude fairly close to my head. honeyguide. When I reviewed the these trends that make conservation that the owl obtained and the way it When it first got up, the honeyguide breeding data of KZN birds in 2011 decisions more robust in the future. sailed away on outstretched wings as if it had been sitting about 2-3 m away from (Annals of the Ditsong National Museum And until then I will hopefully be was a miniature vulture! I never thought I a deep burrow (possibly an aardvark of Natural History 1: 131-164), there was privileged enough to continue doing would see a soaring Marsh Owl but this hole), which was possibly where the evidence for nine host species in KZN these counts. It is a wonderful was what this owl was doing. martin had its nest hole, although I could (mostly starlings, bee-eaters, barbets), experience to be involved with the aerial Obviously, many wetland species not see any hole from the outside. but no record for the martin, although it is monitoring of all the colonial nesting need to disperse to other wetlands, after The honeyguide had left a dropping a known host in other parts of the water-birds in Zululand, and the two rain, during droughts or after fledging, containing beetle elytra in the path, honeyguide's range. pelican species in particular. but we seldom get to see them in the act including fragments of two click beetles GBP Davies of dispersing. (family Elateridae). Beetles also form an Meyrick Bowker Ditsong National Museum Presumably in the action of this Marsh important part of the martin's diet Howick of National History, Pretoria Owl we have a clue as to how otherwise (personal observations by Hugh [email protected] [email protected] sedentary waterbirds may do it. Chittenden, KZN Birds 41). Plausibly, this owl could have easily Marsh Owl covered tens of kilometres within half- Getting rid of them bones an-hour or so of soaring and it would behaviour after also have had a superb panoramic view severe thunderstorm from its high vantage point to spot any recently inundated areas. ON THE late afternoon of 24 January 2014 a network of fierce thunderstorms GBP Davies with heavy rain and powerful winds hit Ditsong National Museum the Kokstad area, in the process ripping of National History, Pretoria large trees out of the pavement in the [email protected] town and causing localised flooding. At the time I was camped at the Penny Greater Honeyguide Park wetland, approximately 2.5 km NE of Kokstad. Once the storms had parasitism of passed, I was walking along the edge of Banded Martin? THE digestive systems of raptors are not exactly geared to cope with all the material the wetland when I heard the croaks of a that goes down the gullet after swallowing rodents or reptiles. These photographs Marsh Owl. Looking up, I saw three WHILE walking in the grassland on the captured birds in the process of regurgitating. Above a Lanner Falcon expels a pellet Marsh Owls circling about 30 m over the slopes of Mt Currie, just outside Kokstad, (seen in the last picture) and below right a Forest Buzzard does the same, both bulrushes. They were all gaining altitude on the afternoon of 31 January 2014, pictured at Boston in the Midlands by Crystelle by climbing higher in a helical fashion. and far from any trees or bushes, I Wilson. Hugh Chittenden of Mtunzini caught the I followed one Marsh Owl with my noticed a small bird flapping along in the Long-crested Eagle (below) in the act. - CW binoculars. It flapped and flapped and path ahead of me. rose higher and higher until my neck Walking up to it, I saw it was a juvenile began straining and the owl itself was Greater Honeyguide (with lemon yellow becoming a black speck against the underparts and olive upperparts). The clouds above me. Ultimately, the owl honeyguide was trying to fly but could was scarcely visible to the naked eye only rise a short distance before and was at a tremendous height - similar dropping down again - it was clearly too to when large raptors and storks are young to be flying yet. On picking the soaring at great height. Having climbed honeyguide up, it began to give hoarse to the top of the helix, so to speak, the alarm calls. This attracted the attention July 2014 18 19 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

Woofpecker rules the roost Pollination of Leonotis flowers IS IT a bird or is it a dog? A juvenile on the ground behind me (I have to step Cardinal Woodpecker with an identity soooo carefully) or goes for a ride on the crisis was raised this year by Bluff windy-drier. If one of us goes out, it veterinarian Sean Swarts and his wife, follows us to the gate and as soon as we Arnia van Vuuren. return it appears very soon out of People often drop off injured or nowhere. If we're not around and rescued birds at Sean's practice and in Vlakkie is outside, it follows her. If she mid-November last year the recently- runs to the gate to bark at whoever is fledged woodpecker was brought in. passing, the bird follows her and sits on Sean took it home with the idea that it top of the gate and screeches.” would need only about two or three Sometimes Arnia would find the dog weeks of feeding before it could be set and the bird both sitting next to each free to look after itself. other outside the kitchen door, waiting to But the bird obviously had other ideas. be let in. Later on, whenever she or Sean Arnia said it was noisy and demanding were working in the kitchen, Effie would right from the beginning. The bird's red be at the windows, drilling away at the beret inspired them to call it Effie (after wooden frames. the Economic Freedom Front party). By January Arnia was at her wits' end. She clearly relished company and began “We have never treated it differently from following them around, not only in the the other birds we successfully raised garden but also inside the house. She and set free and we do nothing to had worked out that she only needed to encourage human contact with us, but it follow their dog, Vlakkie, if she couldn't makes no difference. We have now find them. She would fly after Vlakkie in twice at least had adult Cardinal the garden, or inside the house and up Woodpeckers moving through the the stairs to Arnia's study where she garden and they ignored this one and would make herself at home much to the this one ignored them.” dog's disgust. But eventually it appeared as if nature “When I hang out the washing it hops might have taken its course. A potential woodpecker suitor Pictures X Hugh Chittenden BELOW: Effie trying to get up close ABOVE: Clockwise from top right: 1 A set of leonotis petals, photographed from and personal to Sean’s foot was seen in the garden a few Arnia van Vuuren times, drawing Sean's strict below, 2 a female Amethyst Sunbird taking nectar from the base of the flower scrutiny. By mid-June Effie tube, 3 a female White-bellied Sunbird sipping nectar, and 4 an immature Grey was no longer putting in any Sunbird inserts its bill down the flower tube appearance. It could also be LEONOTIS plants flower in late summer and autumn and are ideal garden subjects if that the resident pair of you are keen to attract sunbirds to your patch. Leonotis intermedia is probably the woodpeckers was no longer better species for gardens as it doesn't get as tall as leonurus. Leonotis flower heads prepared to tolerate an intruder produce large amounts of small blackish seeds that germinate well and are easy to in their territory. grow. This set of photographs illustrate the process of pollination. Each time a All that remained to do now sunbird inserts, or removes its bill from the flower tube, pollen is brushed onto its was for the shredded kitchen crown and this same process allows the rear-mounted stigma to pick up pollen. window frames to be repaired. Hugh Chittenden Crystelle Wilson Mtunzini Durban [email protected] [email protected] July 2014 20 21 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

How do birds know? BIRD TRIPS Voluminous vultures FRIDAY, April 18, was just an ordinary day ON A recent trip to Kruger, my friends weatherwise, until about lunch time when Worthwhile and I decided to stop over in Swaziland Bill and I saw great swarms of tiny insects discovery for a night and booked in at Hlane Royal swirling around the garden, to the delight of National Park. What a good decision! many of the birds usually in our garden. JUST a note to commend the It’s a lovely place to stay with the option Suddenly from nowhere arrived an recently opened-up Western Shores of two camps - Ndlovu Camp right near unusual bird - for us - an African Dusky of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. It the main gate and Bhubesi Bush Camp Flycatcher. It made itself comfortable on a is accessed by way of the new approximately 12 km into the park. bare branch of the flowering peach tree in Dukuduku Gate, only three km from While driving to our accommodation at the town of St Lucia on the R618 Merle Mackenzie the middle of the lawn. For at least four or Bhubesi, we came across dozens of ABOVE: White-backed Vultures five hours it kept itself filled with the tiny which connects with Mtubatuba. vultures sitting in the trees and gathered Some 30 km of new roads, nesting White-backed Vultures in Africa. insects, foraging around, catching them and alongside the road. I have never seen so It also has an abundant and diverse bird returning to its perch. When the insects had spanking new toilets, a splendid many together in one place, we stopped hide, basic picnic site, and the piece life and is home to lion, elephant and eventually dispersed, it too flew away, not to trying to count at 100. They were mainly white rhino. be seen again - poof - gone! de resistance, an aerial boardwalk in White-backed Vultures, but also a few Where it came from and where it went to I an uThoma (Cape ash) tree, all make Cape Vultures. I learnt subsequently Merle Mackenzie will never know, nor do I know how it found for an interesting and pleasant day of that Hlane boasts the highest density of Durban out about the swarm of insects in our viewing and twitching. particular garden in Howick. Interesting isn't We were not fortunate to see the East Africa in 100 days - part 2 it; can anyone help? herd of elephants, which has taken up residence and is regularly seen in Craig and Karin Nelson travelled 17 000 km What helped was an East African birding Pam Nicol the late afternoon along the uMphate through eight countries and saw app I had on an I-Pad where I could do Howick, [email protected] L o o p i n t h e v i c i n i t y o f t h e over 700 birds, including 300 lifers some searches guessing words that Kwelamadoda Pan. But a Martial TANZANIA might throw up a possibility of what the Matter of fact Eagle perched alongside its nest THE birding in the area in and around bird could be. IN THE article on juvenile buzzards in the made up for that. Ruaha was incredible. It would take us It was in Ruaha that we were stopped KZN Birds 41 issue a glitch crept in between We then about six hours to drive 20 km to the by a group of fly-in tourists from Hilton in the bars and streaks. This paragraph was enjoyed the camp on the banks of the Ruaha River. KwaZulu-Natal who recognised our incorrect: “So, barring can be used to l a t e On the drives in and around Ruaha Howick number plates. This was not the confirm an adult Steppe, but the absence of a f t e r n o o n we ticked off another 20 lifers with some only time it happened and our number barring does not differentiate between sun on the of our favourites being Bare-faced Go- plates were recognised by South Steppe and Forest. Juvenile Steppes lily-covered away Bird, D'Arnaud's Barbet, Yellow- Africans on fancy safaris in other places almost invariably show some barring on the p a n , collared Lovebird and Von der Decken's such as the Serengeti and the Masai underparts, especially on the thighs, but w a t c h i n g Hornbill. Our first sighting of a Superb Mara. Everyone was intrigued of course ABOVE: African with some juveniles, little or no barring may White-faced Starling was also magical although that we had driven so far and were Jacana with chick be evident in the field.” Ducks, and eventually it would become a 'trash' bird planning to go all the way to Uganda. The correct version, as pointed out by an adult and - they are incredibly common up in East Ruaha also lived up to its reputation David Allan, was: “So, barring can be used juvenile African Jacana. Africa. The White-headed Buffalo- as a great safari destination with good to confirm an adult Steppe but the absence Given its “newness”, and very little Weaver caused some consternation as sightings of elephant and lions. In fact of barring does not differentiate between traffic, there is a real sense of when we saw it flying away from us with there were lions feeding on both hippo Steppe and Forest. It's not that ‘Some exploration and discovery, as a bright red rump we had no idea what it and elephant. The camping is wild with immature CB's (Common Buzzards) don't grasslands, forests and lake vistas was. All we can say is that this sighting lions and hippos calling all around at show any barring anywhere on underparts’ - open up. was similar to many others where we night and the odd elephant wandering All juvenile Steppe Buzzards do not show Rob Haswell would have no idea what we were through your camp - you’ve got to love Africa! This is exciting for us seasoned barring anywhere on the underparts.” - Editor Pietermaritzburg [email protected] looking at and would spend ages paging through the field guides we had with us. travellers but it is always amusing to see July 2014 22 23 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 how overseas tourists handle the head out of the clouds. Lake Chala and one morning. It started with about 20 bull situation. One night we had a group of surrounds were really pretty. We even elephants that appeared from nowhere them who thought lighting many fires had elephant around the camp that had and interrupted our breakfast when they around their camp would keep them wondered across from Tsavo in Kenya. stopped to browse about 30 m from our “safe”. They had a huge bonfire in front of Birding was great again with the African tent. All of a sudden out of nowhere, their tents and two fires at the sides of Orange-bellied Parrot and White-bellied although later we were told they came their camp all of which they kept going all Go-away Bird being the highlights from Manyara, thousands of wildebeest night. I still wonder if they even managed among seven new ticks. and zebra accompanied by a few giraffe to sleep that night. We packed up camp and started to and warthogs came thundering past. We left Ruaha after picking up a set of drive towards Arusha. En route we found The dust and noise was incredible and it rear shock absorbers in Iringa. They Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike and Tiny was quite a sight to behold. Twelve lifers were replacements for my supposedly Craig Nelson Cisticola, amongst others. We spent a added to the Tarangire experience with unbreakable Australian ones, which ABOVE: Von der Decken's Hornbill couple of nights in Usa River with Red-and-yellow Barbet, Yellow-necked broke on the badly corrugated Ruaha relatives of friends from KZN. Nice to Spurfowl, Rufous-tailed Weaver, roads. After stocking up on some birding was still fantastic and in amongst have a solid roof over our heads for a Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and provisions we headed west towards the many White-starred Robins and Brown- couple of nights. We had a few relaxing Silverbirds being the highlights. Udzungwa Mountains. breasted Barbets, we were also lucky walks around the housing estate, a On our drive out the park we ticked off Even using a GPS this was the first enough to find seven more lifers rehabilitated sisal farm, and spotted Beautiful Sunbird; yes it was beautiful! day we got a little lost and went to the including Baglafecht Weaver, Stripe- Purple Grenadier, Cardinal Quelea, and our first Rűppell's Vulture. wrong entrance to the Udzungwas. It faced Greenbul, Cinnamon-chested Pangani Longclaw and Grey-headed In Lake Manyara other than finding turned into an interesting trip on a small Bee-eater, Green-backed Honeybird Silverbill. the Usambiro Barbet the highlight was track through some villages. We and an African Tailorbird. We shopped at Shoprite in Arusha finding two of the famous tree-climbing managed to see our first Blue-naped Having had enough of rainy mountain before heading off for the wallet draining lions lying in a small acacia tree right Mousebird which is similar to the Red- weather, we headed off the mountain northern national parks of Tarangire, over the road - an incredible thing to see. faced Mousebird but has a bright blue and to a run-down camp site on the M a n y a r a , N g o r o n g o r o a n d t h e From here it was off to Ngorongoro nape. We had to backtrack a bit so spent Pangani River. We almost left the camp Serengeti. Crater. It certainly lived up to its the night camped on the banks of the but decided to brave it and stay - there Our first stop at Tarangire was a nice expectation and although incredibly Ruaha River. was hot water and a flush loo after all. surprise. It is often referred to as a mini expensive it is certainly worth the money We eventually made it to the Lucky we did stay, because once again Serengeti which is an apt description. to drive around in the bottom of the Udzungwa Mountains the next day. We the birding provided much excitement The game viewing was spectacular with crater. We saw black rhino, lion and camped in the foothills and the highlight with some beautiful birds. There were great sightings of lion and leopard but elephant down there amongst the of the birding was seeing a Pied magnificent Black-bellied Sunbirds the highlight of our stay was a 'mini- flamingos and crowned cranes. A Mannikin - long overdue for us. A forest amongst many Taveta Weavers and migration' which passed our camp early magical place that deserves its walk the next day turned up some Spotted Palm-Thrush all over the camp. incredible reputation, other than the incredible primates with great sightings Crimson-rumped Waxbills and Nubian BELOW: White-headed lousy campsites and lack of facilities in Buffalo-Weaver of blue monkey, red colobus and black- Woodpeckers were seen in the shrubs Craig Nelson relation to the cost. The Schalow's and-white colobus monkeys. The latter outside camp. Rufous Chatterers and Wheatear, mating Hildebrandt's looked like caped super-heros with long Northern Brownbuls hopped through the Spurfowl and Rosy-breasted Longclaw white fur flowing behind them as they undergrowth. A great little stop and on were highlights among 11 lifers in and leapt from tree to tree. the way back we stopped there again around the crater. We continued the journey the next day and managed to add a Scaly Chatterer We left the crater and drove the worst and after an overnight stop in Morogoro to the list. road that we would encounter on this we drove on and up to the Usambara Onwards the next day towards Mt safari to the Serengeti. After having to Mountains and set up camp at Mullers Kilimanjaro and Northern Tanzania. We repair leaking radiator pipes on the Mountain Lodge. Unfortunately here the ended up camped at Lake Chala, a Landy caused by the corrugations on weather did not play along and we had circular crater lake in the foothills of this road we arrived in the Serengeti. miserable wet weather for the three days Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately, we never got The couple of stops we made to repair we were on the plateau. Despite this the to see the mountain, as it never stuck its the pipes yielded great birds such as July 2014 24 25 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 how overseas tourists handle the head out of the clouds. Lake Chala and one morning. It started with about 20 bull situation. One night we had a group of surrounds were really pretty. We even elephants that appeared from nowhere them who thought lighting many fires had elephant around the camp that had and interrupted our breakfast when they around their camp would keep them wondered across from Tsavo in Kenya. stopped to browse about 30 m from our “safe”. They had a huge bonfire in front of Birding was great again with the African tent. All of a sudden out of nowhere, their tents and two fires at the sides of Orange-bellied Parrot and White-bellied although later we were told they came their camp all of which they kept going all Go-away Bird being the highlights from Manyara, thousands of wildebeest night. I still wonder if they even managed among seven new ticks. and zebra accompanied by a few giraffe to sleep that night. We packed up camp and started to and warthogs came thundering past. We left Ruaha after picking up a set of drive towards Arusha. En route we found The dust and noise was incredible and it rear shock absorbers in Iringa. They Rosy-patched Bush-Shrike and Tiny was quite a sight to behold. Twelve lifers were replacements for my supposedly Craig Nelson Cisticola, amongst others. We spent a added to the Tarangire experience with unbreakable Australian ones, which ABOVE: Von der Decken's Hornbill couple of nights in Usa River with Red-and-yellow Barbet, Yellow-necked broke on the badly corrugated Ruaha relatives of friends from KZN. Nice to Spurfowl, Rufous-tailed Weaver, roads. After stocking up on some birding was still fantastic and in amongst have a solid roof over our heads for a Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse and provisions we headed west towards the many White-starred Robins and Brown- couple of nights. We had a few relaxing Silverbirds being the highlights. Udzungwa Mountains. breasted Barbets, we were also lucky walks around the housing estate, a On our drive out the park we ticked off Even using a GPS this was the first enough to find seven more lifers rehabilitated sisal farm, and spotted Beautiful Sunbird; yes it was beautiful! day we got a little lost and went to the including Baglafecht Weaver, Stripe- Purple Grenadier, Cardinal Quelea, and our first Rűppell's Vulture. wrong entrance to the Udzungwas. It faced Greenbul, Cinnamon-chested Pangani Longclaw and Grey-headed In Lake Manyara other than finding turned into an interesting trip on a small Bee-eater, Green-backed Honeybird Silverbill. the Usambiro Barbet the highlight was track through some villages. We and an African Tailorbird. We shopped at Shoprite in Arusha finding two of the famous tree-climbing managed to see our first Blue-naped Having had enough of rainy mountain before heading off for the wallet draining lions lying in a small acacia tree right Mousebird which is similar to the Red- weather, we headed off the mountain northern national parks of Tarangire, over the road - an incredible thing to see. faced Mousebird but has a bright blue and to a run-down camp site on the M a n y a r a , N g o r o n g o r o a n d t h e From here it was off to Ngorongoro nape. We had to backtrack a bit so spent Pangani River. We almost left the camp Serengeti. Crater. It certainly lived up to its the night camped on the banks of the but decided to brave it and stay - there Our first stop at Tarangire was a nice expectation and although incredibly Ruaha River. was hot water and a flush loo after all. surprise. It is often referred to as a mini expensive it is certainly worth the money We eventually made it to the Lucky we did stay, because once again Serengeti which is an apt description. to drive around in the bottom of the Udzungwa Mountains the next day. We the birding provided much excitement The game viewing was spectacular with crater. We saw black rhino, lion and camped in the foothills and the highlight with some beautiful birds. There were great sightings of lion and leopard but elephant down there amongst the of the birding was seeing a Pied magnificent Black-bellied Sunbirds the highlight of our stay was a 'mini- flamingos and crowned cranes. A Mannikin - long overdue for us. A forest amongst many Taveta Weavers and migration' which passed our camp early magical place that deserves its walk the next day turned up some Spotted Palm-Thrush all over the camp. incredible reputation, other than the incredible primates with great sightings Crimson-rumped Waxbills and Nubian BELOW: White-headed lousy campsites and lack of facilities in Buffalo-Weaver of blue monkey, red colobus and black- Woodpeckers were seen in the shrubs Craig Nelson relation to the cost. The Schalow's and-white colobus monkeys. The latter outside camp. Rufous Chatterers and Wheatear, mating Hildebrandt's looked like caped super-heros with long Northern Brownbuls hopped through the Spurfowl and Rosy-breasted Longclaw white fur flowing behind them as they undergrowth. A great little stop and on were highlights among 11 lifers in and leapt from tree to tree. the way back we stopped there again around the crater. We continued the journey the next day and managed to add a Scaly Chatterer We left the crater and drove the worst and after an overnight stop in Morogoro to the list. road that we would encounter on this we drove on and up to the Usambara Onwards the next day towards Mt safari to the Serengeti. After having to Mountains and set up camp at Mullers Kilimanjaro and Northern Tanzania. We repair leaking radiator pipes on the Mountain Lodge. Unfortunately here the ended up camped at Lake Chala, a Landy caused by the corrugations on weather did not play along and we had circular crater lake in the foothills of this road we arrived in the Serengeti. miserable wet weather for the three days Kilimanjaro. Unfortunately, we never got The couple of stops we made to repair we were on the plateau. Despite this the to see the mountain, as it never stuck its the pipes yielded great birds such as July 2014 24 25 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

Banded Parisoma, Fischer's Lovebird, White-headed Saw-wings were also Turaco were added to the list. and Red-headed Bluebill. We were also Red-throated Tit and Red-fronted prominent flying around. After a few days’ break from intense entertained by the ever-present red- Barbet. We camped at two places in the The next day we paid our $80 each birding it was time to get back into it. tailed and black-and-white colobus Serengeti with the better being Lobo in entry fee to drive in to the Masaai Mara. Having read up about it somewhere, we monkeys. the far north. Game viewing was great, We really had no idea where we were decided to go a little out of the way and The next two days were taken up with even though most of the wildebeest were going but decided to take a reading on head up north to Saiwa Swamp National guided walks. What an incredible couple still up in Kenya, with brilliant leopard the GPS and head for the Mara River. As Park. As parks go this is incredible. It is of days’ birding it turned out to be. Other and lion sightings as well as all the usual we got close to the river we noticed a only 3 square km and was proclaimed to than six different new Greenbuls the suspects. The White-headed Barbets couple of safari vehicles speeding protect Kenya's only population of notables we saw were Bocage's Bush- livened up Lobo Camp before we towards the river. We followed them and Sitatunga and a small population of De shrike, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Brown- endured an almighty hailstorm were lucky enough to come across a Brazza’s monkeys. It is essentially chested Alethe, Yellow-spotted Barbet, accompanied by strong winds. We had great herd of wildebeest crossing the indigenous forest surrounding a small Jameson's and Chestnut Wattle-Eyes, to hold down camp while the lightning, Mara River. We climbed on the roof of swamp and bordered by cultivated Northern Puffback and the Blue-headed hail and wind raged around us, quite the car and watched thousands of lands. This makes for great birding as Bee-eater – a Kakamega special. scary while it lasted. wildebeest leaping into the river, the forest tracts surrounding the swamp Kakamega was our last stop in Kenya The Serengeti was to be our last swimming across and climbing out the are narrow passages along which the and it proved to be just as much of a treat major destination in Tanzania before we other side. What a spectacle and birds move. As forest birding goes it is as Saiwa Swamp and resulted in an headed north along its western something we never expected to see. fairly easy. Apart from giving us great additional 29 lifers to our list which had boundary towards the Kenyan Border. There were two other crossings that sightings of De Brazza's monkeys this by now increased to 191. And we still As a point of interest by this stage we same day which we couldn't get to little park also yielded 17 lifers in two had Uganda to come. had 137 new lifers for our African bird list. because of the thick bush. Later we went days without much effort. Craig Nelson to the bridge over the Mara River where Although not a new bird in theory, the [email protected] KENYA we saw hundreds of dead wildebeest first exciting find here was a white morph 033 3303027 Kenya was never really on our initial floating down the river. A bit of a of the African Paradise-Flycatcher. It Howick itinerary but seeing as we were there we “ d o w n e r ” a f t e r w i t n e s s i n g t h e was spectacular to see a white morph of thought we could take a couple of weeks spectacular crossing earlier. But, though these in comparison to our russet one HONORARY RECORDER’S REPORT checking it out. We had come through sad to see, it is part of the bigger picture. back home. Other notable sightings the border fairly close to the Masai Mara Apart from the crossing itself, seeing included Grey Apalis, Lűhder's Bush- GREETINGS birders! Now that winter so we decided we may as well stay a few hundreds of thousands of wildebeest all Shrike, Black-collared Apalis, the cute has arrived and the birding is quieter, days in the reserve. We planned to around you on the plains is a once in a Yellow-whiskered Greenbul and two here is a summary of the rare and out-of- spend a few nights outside the park and lifetime, never to be forgotten spectacular barbets - the Yellow-billed range sightings in KZN since the last do a couple of day trips in. We arrived at experience. and the Double-toothed Barbet. During report. As mentioned in that last report, Oloololo Gate and it looked pretty Leaving the Mara we stopped in at our stay in this cute little park we also European Honey Buzzards were quite uninteresting so we continued along the Narok at the first decent supermarket we managed great sightings of White- numerous in summer, as were Sooty northern boundary and the Loita Plains came across in seven weeks. We were bellied Tit, Black and White-casqued Terns off our shores. towards Talek Gate. There were lots of like kids in a candy store and the Danish Hornbill and White-chinned Prinia. On wildebeest, zebra, Coke's hartebeest, pastries were delicious. We camped at the morning we left we added a Yellow- RARITIES Thompson's gazelle and even buffalo on Lake Naivasha where there were lots of throated Leaf-love and Snowy-crowned GREY-HEADED KINGFISHER the plains outside the park intermingling flamingos and pelicans and a great Robin-chat. Halcyon leucocephala with cattle, quite bizarre! At Riverside campsite with hot showers, cold beers After a great couple of days it was off KZN Rarity Camp we had our first hot shower in five and pizza. to Kakamega Forest, possibly the best One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, days! En route heading north-west towards primary and secondary forest in Kenya. 23 February 2014 The next day we spent in camp doing Uganda, we stopped over outside Just relaxing around our campsite in a (SA Rare Bird News) washing, cleaning and stock-taking. A Eldoret at a great camp on the Naiberi clearing in the forest that first afternoon One, Cavern Drakensberg Resort, short walk around the camp was River. The birding began improving was a treat, where we were surrounded 14 March 2014, several members of rewarded with African Blue-flycatcher again and a Northern Double-collared by Joyful Greenbul and had great BirdLife South Africa Karen and Rolf and Brown-throated Wattle-eye while Sunbird and magnificent Hartlaub's sightings of Grey-headed Negrofinch Wiesler, SA Rare Bird News July 2014 26 27 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

LEVAILLANT'S CUCKOO Two, iMfolozi River mouth, John Cox, SA Rare Bird News: KZN Rarity accepted Clamator levaillantii 1 February 2014, Digby Cyrus: KZN Rarity accepted One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, KZN Rarity KZN Rarity accepted. One, Mtunzini, 9 February 2014 23 February 2014 SA Rare Bird News One, Weenen Game Reserve, Three, Zinkwazi beach, SA Rare Bird News One, Mkhuze Game Reserve, 23 March 2014, Tobias von Seydlitz, 3 February 2014, Klaus Achtzehn, One, Cape Vidal, February 2014, 16 May 2014, Paul and Sally Bartho: SA Rare Bird News. Chris Macdonald and Bing Comrie: Richard Mckibbin KZN Rarity submitted. BLACK COUCAL Centropus grillii KZN Rarity accepted. One, Empangeni 11 February 2014 AYRES'S HAWK-EAGLE KZN Rarity Four, Tugela River mouth, John Cox, SA Rare Bird News: Hieraaetus ayresii One, Nibela Peninsula, St Lucia, 8 March 2014, James Rawdon: KZN Rarity accepted KZN Rarity January 2014, Penny de Vries KZN Rarity accepted One, Richards Bay, 11 February 2014 One, near Empangeni, 7 May 2014, One, near King Shaka Airport, Durban, Nada Crafford, SA Rare Bird News Andre Bernon 14 February 2014, Tim Wood: One, Kube Yini Private Game Reserve, PEREGRINE FALCON KZN Rarity accepted. 16 February 2014, Digby Cyrus: Falco peregrinus One, Cape Vidal, February 2014, KZN Rarity accepted KZN Rarity Richard Mckibbin Two, Ndumo Game Reserve, Two, Kube Yini Private Game Reserve, VERREAUX'S EAGLE-OWL 25 February 2014 Vincent Flory, 10 March 2014, Digby Cyrus: Bubo lacteus SA Rare Bird News KZN Rarity accepted KZN Rarity One, Palmiet Nature Reserve, GREATER FRIGATEBIRD One, near Greytown, 6-10 April 2014 Westville, 26 February 2014 Fregata minor SA Rare Bird News Wendy Robinson, SA Rare Bird News National Rarity PENNANT-WINGED NIGHTJAR One, Southern Sanctuary, Richards One, Richard's Bay, 27 April 2014 Macrodipteryx vexillarius Crystelle Wilson Bay, 27 February 2014 SA Rare Bird News KZN Rarity ABOVE: Sooty Tern adult and juvenile SA Rare Bird News One, Nibela Peninsula, Lake St Lucia, One male, Leopard Mountain Game One, Hluhluwe village, 6 March 2014, 14 May 2014 SA Rare Bird News Lodge, Mkhuze, 18 February 2014 SOOTY TERN Onychoprion fuscatus Digby Cyrus: KZN Rarity accepted. WHITE-FACED STORM PETREL SA Rare Bird News National Rarity One, Richard's Bay, 18 March 2014 Pelagodroma marina One, Zululand Rhino Reserve, Around 200, offshore Durban, SA Rare Bird News National Rarity 12 March 2014, SA Rare Bird News 9 March 2014 SA Rare Bird News One, Bonamanzi Game Reserve, One, offshore Durban, 3 May 2014 STRIPED CRAKE Around 30, offshore Richards Bay, 30 March 2014 SA Rare Bird News Niall Perrins, SA Rare Bird News Aenigmatolimnas marginalis 3 March 2014 SA Rare Bird News One, Hillcrest, Durban, 31 March 2014 MAGPIE MANNIKIN National Rarity Several, offshore Durban, 3 May 2014 Ian Greyvenstein, SA Rare Bird News Lonchura fringilloides One, Kube Yini Private Game Reserve, SA Rare Bird News One, near Champagne Castle, KZN Rarity 7 March 2014, Digby Cyrus: One, St Lucia Estuary, 24 May 2014 29 March 2014 SA Rare Bird News Several, Jubilee Park, Westville, National rarity accepted SA Rare Bird News One, Mtunzini, 3 April 2014, 19 February 2014, Peter Spence. LESSER MOORHEN CASPIAN PLOVER Nick Theron: KZN Rarity accepted Six, Jubilee Park, Westville, Gallinula angulata Charadrius asiaticus One, Lake Eland Nature Reserve, 21 February 2014, Sarah Burns KZN Rarity KZN Rarity South Coast, 7 April 2014 and others A pair with chicks, Weenen Game A few, Mpempe Pan, Zululand, SA Rare Bird News Several, Jubilee Park, Westville, Reserve, 23 March 2014 and again on 16 February 2014 SA Rare Bird News One, Kwambonambi, 8 April 2014 2 March 2014, Sandi du Preez 18 and 27 April 2014 CRAB PLOVER Dromas ardeola SA Rare Bird News Three, Jubilee Park, Westville, SA Rare Bird News National Rarity One, Ndumo Game Reserve, 9 March 2014, Niall Perrins: One, Weenen Game Reserve, 19 April One immature, Southern Sanctuary, 9 April 2014 SA Rare Bird News KZN Rarity accepted 2014, Dave Rimmer: KZN Rarity Richard's Bay, 27 February 2014 DARK CHANTING GOSHAWK SHORT-TAILED PIPIT accepted SA Rare Bird News Melierax metabates Anthus brachyurus AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD KZN Rarity KZN Rarity Haematopus moquini Pernis apivorus One, Mkhuze Game Reserve, One, Cobham Nature Reserve, KZN Rarity KZN Rarity 16 February 2014 Michael Wright, 16 February 2014, Darren Pietersen: One, Richards Bay, 7 February 2014 SA Rare Bird News: July 2014 28 29 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

KZN Rarity accepted Spotted Ground Thrush KZN RARITIES ACCEPTED One, Mont-aux-Sources Hotel, The Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve THE following previously reported KZN records have been accepted by the KZN Drakensberg, 12 March 2014, birds returned this year on 13 April Rarities Committee since the February 2014 Honorary Recorder's Report. Karin Nelson and Dylan Vasapolli: 2014, as reported by Crispin Hemson. These include records forwarded to the committee for adjudication KZN Rarities accepted This was nearly a month later than from SABAP2 field cards. YELLOW CANARY their appearance last year on 22 March Crithagra flaviventris Barratt's Warbler SPECIES OBSERVER DATE LOCALITY KZN Rarity One heard calling, Pigeon Valley Chestnut-banded Plover Digby Cyrus 24 December 2012 False Bay, Lake St Lucia Five and three, St Bernard's Peak, Nature Reserve, 18 May 2014, Caspian Plover Digby Cyrus 24 December 2012 False Bay, Lake St Lucia Drakensberg, 31 January and Crispin Hemson Dwarf Bittern Ilse Genders 17 January 2013 Palmiet River 1 February 2014, Tim Wood: Red-headed Quelea African Crake Digby Cyrus 17 February 2013 Kube Yini Game Reserve KZN Rarities accepted Two, near Richmond, 11 March 2014, Wandering Albatross Dominic Rollinson 7 July 2013 at sea near Port Shepstone Short-tailed Pipit Stuart McLean 25 December 2013 Borreray Farm, Drakensberg Tim Wood OUT-OF-RANGE SIGHTINGS European Honey Buzzard Chris Macdonald 31 December 2013 Brettenwood Estate Red-headed Finch Lilac-breasted Roller European Honey Buzzard Paul Bartho 9 January 2014 Isimangaliso Wetland Park A pair, Durban North, 10 March 2014 One, Weenen Game Reserve, European Honey Buzzard James Rawdon 25 January 2014 Umhlanga Sewage Works Andrew Perkins, SA Rare Bird News 1 March to 27 April 2014 European Honey Buzzard Peter Spence 29 January 2014 Umbogavango Nature Reserve Western Yellow Wagtail Dave Marshall, SA Rare Bird News Two, Darvill Bird Sanctuary, NATIONAL RARITIES ACCEPTED One, Prince's Grant, North Coast, 9-11 February 2014 THE committee has received notification of the following National Rarities that were 9 March 2014, Merle Paton SA Rare Bird News observed in KwaZulu-Natal being accepted by the National Rarities Committee Purple Roller One, Weenen Game Reserve, SPECIES OBSERVER DATE LOCALITY 9-23 March 2014 Dave Marshall, BELOW: Western Yellow Wagtail Western Marsh Harrier Colin Summersgill 1 March 2009 Darvill Bird Sanctuary Tobias von Seydlitz, Karin Nelson Western Marsh Harrier Lisl van Deventer 28 November 2010 Nibela Peninsula SA Rare Bird News Golden Pipit Digby Cyrus 10 December 2010 Phongola Nature Reserve White-fronted Bee-eater Golden Pipit Mark Tittley 14 December 2010 Pongola Nature Reserve One, Uvongo, 8 April 2014, Pectoral Sandpiper Mark Tittley 14 December 2010 Muzi Pan, Mkhuze Golden Pipit Jason Boyce 23 December 2010 Pongola Nature Reserve Cary and Veronica Kroeger Sooty Tern Digby Cyrus 18 July 2012 Mfolozi Estuary Two, Hermannsburg, 13 April 2014 Sooty Tern Malcolm Robinson 31 July 2012 St. Lucia Estuary SA Rare Bird News Sooty Tern John Cox 1 August 2012 Umfolozi River Mouth Cape Parrot Black-tailed Godwit Chris & Danny Macdonald 28 October 2012 Durban One, Wembley, Pietermaritzburg, Eurasian Bittern Tim Wood 20 November 2012 Farm Vrederus in Naude's Nek Area 29 May 2014 SA Rare Bird News Sooty Tern Dylan Vasapolli 17 December 2012 St Lucia Estuary mouth Tawny Eagle Pacific Golden Plover Niall Perrins 4 January 2013 Mpempe Pan Nature Reserve, Westville, Franklin's Gull John Cox 6 May 2013 Pelican Island, Richard's Bay 27 February 2014, Warren Friedman Caveat: the sightings recorded here Franklin's Gull Tony Archer 11 May 2013 Alkantstrand, Richard's Bay Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark Striped Crake Digby Cyrus 7 March 2014 Kube Yini GR have been submitted directly to me or Five, Phinda Private Game Reserve, have been posted on the SABirdNet or 24-26 February 2014 SA Rare Bird News, and have not been CLUB ACTIVITIES SA Rare Bird News vetted by any rarities committee for BIRDLIFE PORT NATAL OTHER SIGHTINGS validation unless otherwise noted. As African Scops Owl such, the information presented here Members of the activities committee: One, Howick Golf Club, 6 May 2014, should be used with due consideration. Paul Bartho: co-ordinator 072 1573678, 031 7168416, [email protected] Elena Russell: Saturday outings 031 7052902 [email protected] Mark Able Steve Davis: Honorary Recorder Temminck's Courser Lesley Frescura: Weekday outings 031 2664150, 083 2313408, 031 2054459, Fax: 031 2731302 [email protected] One, Nibela Peninsula, St Lucia, [email protected] 1 March 2014, Richard Mckibbin Sandi du Preez: Wednesday outings: 031-7014839, 0733324431, 59 Edmonds Road Glenwood 4001 [email protected] July 2014 30 31 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

Mike Roseblade and Jane Morris: Weekend outings 082-8046377 beauty contest for the best photograph: people are invited to submit interesting [email protected] pictures which informs us a bit more about birds and their behaviour. Ideally the Garth Aiston: Bird ringing 084 5491752 [email protected] pictures should have been taken in KwaZulu-Natal and be of reasonable, clear Andrew Pickles: Bird ringing: 082 338 3302, [email protected] quality. Details should include the place and date where it was taken, and why the James Rawdon: Bird ringing: 083 745 6007 author thought it was interesting, or what the stories associated with the images Tessa White: Krantzkloof Birds 083 5404120, 031 7673195 were.” Please send pictures to Crystelle by 2 July at the latest. Resolution should be Barry Pullock: Scottburgh Birding, 082 4951865, [email protected] about 2-3 MB. MEMBERS PLEASE NOTE: KINDLY PHONE THE CONTACT PERSON FOR Saturday 12 July 13h30 - BMCG Meeting . Venue to be advised. ANY SPECIFIC OUTING BEFOREHAND TO ENSURE THAT THE OUTING Wednesday 16 July 08h30 - Pigeon Valley NR with Lesley Frescura, 031 2664150 WILL TAKE PLACE. Participation is at your own risk. BirdLife Port Natal cannot or 083 2313408. A small remnant patch of coastal bush which once covered the be held responsible for theft/loss of property at any venue. whole of the Berea. Crispin Hemson will lead this outing. His knowledge of the OUTDOOR OUTINGS: Please don't forget to bring your tea/lunch baskets and reserve and its flora and fauna is phenomenal, so do not miss this opportunity. Of socialise afterwards. Please note that many places now charge so take entrance course an added bonus would be to see the Spotted Ground Thrush – the birds are in money, Wild and/or Rhino Cards with you on any outing. the reserve throughout the winter months. Directions: Follow South Ridge Road from INDOOR MEETINGS are usually held on the second Wednesday evening of every Tollgate, towards the University. Turn left into King George V Ave then right into month (except February and December) at 19h00. Alternative venues include: Princess Alice Ave. The entrance is on the right. Bring chair, coffee/tea and eats for Northwood Crusaders Sports Club, 10 Ranleigh Crescent, Durban North and picnic afterwards. Westville Methodist Church, Jan Hofmeyer Road, Westville. Sunday 20 July 07h00 - Hilton College with Paul and Sally Bartho. Please confirm BIRD RINGING: Normally starts very early, but people are welcome to arrive later meeting time 031 7168416 or 072 1573678. From the entrance to the river is about a and see what is going on. 4 km drive down a dirt track. There are a number of walking trails to follow along the KRANTZKLOOF BIRDS: Meetings are held at 09h30 on the second Tuesday of river and through the grassland. Directions: Take the N3 west around every second month at Krantzkloof Interpretive Centre. Pietermaritzburg. At the top of Town Hill take the Hilton exit. Turn right back over the BMCG: The Bird Monitoring and Conservation Group meets at 14h00 on the second motorway and drive 6 km to the entrance of Hilton College. Meet at the security gate Saturday of each month. Venue to be advised. If you would like to improve your before entering the grounds. Bring tea/coffee etc and chairs. Picnic sites, braai area birding skills and knowledge or give something back to the birds please join us. and toilets are beside the river. There will be a collection of R20 per person as an JULY 2014 entrance fee. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a Sunday each month. Sunday July 27 08h30 - CWAC winter count. Meet at the Bird Park, Riverside Road. Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to the time on the BLPN The Bayhead count will follow and proceed through the afternoon. Lunch will be at website and KZN Birds@yahoo. Cell:084 5491752. Bayhead. Please contact Roy or Steve to confirm. 083 7754459 or email: Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles: Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. [email protected]. Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details. Cell 082 3383302 or AUGUST 2014 barbetaventurenet.co.za Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a Sunday each month. Bird Ringing with James Rawdon: James visits many private estates on the North Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to the time on the BLPN Coast. Contact James for details: 083 745 6007. website and KZN Birds@yahoo, 084 5491752. Saturday 5 July 07h30 - New Germany with Elena Russell. Meet in car park. Please Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles: Usually the first or second Sunday of the phone to confirm meeting time 031 7052902 (after 18h00) or email month. Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details 082 3383302 or [email protected] Directions: Take the N3 from Durban and then the M13 barbetaventurenet.co.za towards Pinetown. Take the Stapleton Road/New Germany turnoff (exit 16). Turn left Bird Ringing with James Rawdon: James visits many private estates on the North then right onto the M5 heading towards New Germany. Continue until Mountain Coast. Contact James for details 083 745 6007. Ridge Road where you turn right. Continue for 700 m and then turn left into Gilbert Weekend outing 1-2 August - River Valley Nature Reserve Uvongo with Mike Drive. Carry on to the reserve. Park in the car park. They don't charge an entrance, Roseblade and Jane Morris. Please confirm all details with Mike or Jane, but do ask for donations. [email protected] or [email protected], 031 2660487. A private reserve on Wednesday 9 July 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Crystelle Wilson “A Summer the Vungu River with pristine riparian forest and grassland. There is an excellent Photographic Odyssey”. Westville Methodist Church, Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville. campsite and two reasonably priced lodges each with accommodation for four. “Birders are increasingly using cameras as tools to enhance their birding skills and as Phone Andrew for bookings 083 2635537 and go to the website an aid in observation and identification. The aim of this evening is to provide our www.rivervalleynaturereserve.co.za for directions. members with a platform to share their experiences and images. But it is not merely a Saturday 2 August 07h30 - Botanic Gardens with Elena Russell. Please phone to July 2014 32 33 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 confirm meeting time and place, 031 7052902 (after 18h00) or researchers and conservation organisations in KZN. All members welcome to attend. [email protected]. Directions: From Berea Road, turn into Botanic Tea/coffee provided, bring your own lunch. Directions: Go to Howick town centre via Gardens Road and travel north until the Botanic Gardens are reached. Turn right into the N3 and take the road to Karkloof/Rietvlei. uMngeni Valley NR is about 800 m out John Zikhali Road and follow the signs to the new entrance. of town on the right. Park at the reception centre. Wednesday 6 August 08h00 - Msinsi NR with Sandi du Preez 031 7014839 or 073 Wednesday 10 September 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Luis Segura, Rockjumpers, 3324431. Directions: Enter Francois Road via Umbilo Road or Manning Road and “Exploring birdlife in Argentina”. Westville Methodist Church, Jan Hofmeyr Road, then proceed right over the top of the hill. Further down enter Msinsi Reserve through Westville. the entrance gate to the University sports fields, meet at the cricket oval area. Special Saturday 13 September 13h30 - BMCG meeting. Venue to be advised. birds to be seen include Black Sparrowhawk, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Crested Sunday 21 September 06h30 - Umdoni Park, Pennington with Dave Rimmer. Meet Barbet, Natal Spurfowl, Tambourine Dove, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, White- at the Enviro Centre. Please confirm with Dave 082 4537255 or eared Barbet, Grey Sunbird. Bring tea/coffee, chairs and eats for picnic afterwards. [email protected] The Brown Scrub-Robins are quite vocal at this time and Saturday 9 August 13h30 - BMCG meeting. Venue to be advised. hopefully with more eyes we would get to see Green Malkoha, Lemon Dove, Knysna Tuesday 12 August 09h30 - Krantzkloof. Malcolm Gemmel will talk on the “Sites, Turaco and Narina Trogon. Directions: Take the N2 south from Durban, turn left at the sights and Sounds of Ntsikeni”. Directions: Up Fields Hill along M13, take Village Umzinto/Park Rynie turnoff 6 km past Scottburgh, the same glide-off as for Vernon Road turn-off (exit 23). Turn right over the bridge, then left at the traffic circle into Old Crookes NR. At the junction with the old main road (R102) turn right and continue Main Road. Continue through another traffic circle and then bear right around a south along the old main road for 8.5 km until you reach Umdoni Carvan Park at further traffic circle, then sharp left over the railway bridge, then left again into Church Pennington in Pennington Drive. Turn left and continue 600 m, then turn right into Street. At the T-junction turn left into Abelia Road, then right into Kloof Falls Road (it is Minerva Avenue. Proceed to gravel road, sign in at the boom gate and then follow the signposted from this point). At the next traffic circle, bear right and continue down this birding rout marker on the right to the Enviro Centre. About 45 minutes. Remember to road for about 2 km until you reach the picnic site on the right hand side. Meet at take picnic and chairs. Bridle road (main) entrance. OCTOBER 2014 Wednesday 13 August 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Karin Nelson, “East African trip”. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a Sunday each month. Westville Methodist Church, Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to the time on the BLPN Sunday outing 23 August 08h00 - Bisley Valley Nature Reserve with Jenny Rix. website and KZN Birds@yahoo, 084 5491752. Please contact Jenny to confirm. 031 5639286 or 082 4039147, Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles: Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. [email protected]. Meet at the gate. Bisley Valley has a good thornveld and Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details 082 3383302 or grassland habitat, open and closed woodland thickets, two hides with dams and barbetaventurenet.co.za wetlands, well marked easy walking trails and a nice picnic site. You must park at the Bird Ringing with James Rawdon: James visits many private estates on the North gate – safe parking. No entrance fee. 7 km from Pietermaritzburg. Directions: Drive Coast. Contact James for details 083 745 6007. to PMB on the N3, exit at Market Road - Exit 74, go past the market and bear left onto Saturday 4 October 06h00 - Shongweni with Elena Russell. Directions: Take the N3 the R103 to Cleland. At the next traffic light go right into Gladys Manzi Road. Proceed west, go through the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, then take the Shongweni off ramp. Turn 2.3 km and go left through the gate at Canterbury Stables. Parking and entrance to left and drive for approximately 1 km before turning left again at the sign to the reserve are 100 m on the right. Bring tea/coffee, chairs and eats for picnic Shongweni Dam. This road eventually leads to the entrance. Use your Wild Card or afterwards. pay the entrance fee using a credit card, no cash taken. Take the left road and meet in SEPTEMBER 2014 the parking at the Resource Centre. Please phone to confirm meeting time and place. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a Sunday each month. 031 7052902 or email [email protected] Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to the time on the BLPN Wednesday 8 October - Save Our Seabirds Festival. Details to follow. website and KZN Birds@yahoo. 084 5491752. Saturday 11 October 13h30 - BMCG meeting. Venue to be advised. Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles: Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. Tuesday 14 October 09h30 - Krantzkloof. Directions: Up Fields Hill along M13, take Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details. 082 3383302 or Village Road turn-off (exit 23). Turn right over the bridge, then left at the traffic circle barbetaventurenet.co.za into Old Main Road. Continue through another traffic circle and then bear right Bird Ringing with James Rawdon: James visits many private estates on the North around a further traffic circle, then sharp left over the railway bridge, then left again Coast. Contact James for details: 083 745 6007. into Church Street. At the T-junction turn left into Abelia Road, then right into Kloof Saturday 6 September - To be advised, with Elena Russell. Please phone to Falls Road (it is signposted from this point). At the next traffic circle, bear right and confirm meeting time 031 7052902 or email [email protected] continue down this road for about 2 km until you reach the picnic site on the right hand Saturday 6 September 08h00 - 17h00 - KZN Bird Forum, uMngeni Nature Reserve, side. Meet at Bridle road (main) entrance. Howick. Learn more about birds. High quality presentations by a variety of Wednesday 16 October 08h30 - Ilanda Wilds with Lesley Frescura. BLPN has July 2014 34 35 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 confirm meeting time and place, 031 7052902 (after 18h00) or researchers and conservation organisations in KZN. All members welcome to attend. [email protected]. Directions: From Berea Road, turn into Botanic Tea/coffee provided, bring your own lunch. Directions: Go to Howick town centre via Gardens Road and travel north until the Botanic Gardens are reached. Turn right into the N3 and take the road to Karkloof/Rietvlei. uMngeni Valley NR is about 800 m out John Zikhali Road and follow the signs to the new entrance. of town on the right. Park at the reception centre. Wednesday 6 August 08h00 - Msinsi NR with Sandi du Preez 031 7014839 or 073 Wednesday 10 September 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Luis Segura, Rockjumpers, 3324431. Directions: Enter Francois Road via Umbilo Road or Manning Road and “Exploring birdlife in Argentina”. Westville Methodist Church, Jan Hofmeyr Road, then proceed right over the top of the hill. Further down enter Msinsi Reserve through Westville. the entrance gate to the University sports fields, meet at the cricket oval area. Special Saturday 13 September 13h30 - BMCG meeting. Venue to be advised. birds to be seen include Black Sparrowhawk, Spotted Ground-Thrush, Crested Sunday 21 September 06h30 - Umdoni Park, Pennington with Dave Rimmer. Meet Barbet, Natal Spurfowl, Tambourine Dove, Lemon Dove, Narina Trogon, White- at the Enviro Centre. Please confirm with Dave 082 4537255 or eared Barbet, Grey Sunbird. Bring tea/coffee, chairs and eats for picnic afterwards. [email protected] The Brown Scrub-Robins are quite vocal at this time and Saturday 9 August 13h30 - BMCG meeting. Venue to be advised. hopefully with more eyes we would get to see Green Malkoha, Lemon Dove, Knysna Tuesday 12 August 09h30 - Krantzkloof. Malcolm Gemmel will talk on the “Sites, Turaco and Narina Trogon. Directions: Take the N2 south from Durban, turn left at the sights and Sounds of Ntsikeni”. Directions: Up Fields Hill along M13, take Village Umzinto/Park Rynie turnoff 6 km past Scottburgh, the same glide-off as for Vernon Road turn-off (exit 23). Turn right over the bridge, then left at the traffic circle into Old Crookes NR. At the junction with the old main road (R102) turn right and continue Main Road. Continue through another traffic circle and then bear right around a south along the old main road for 8.5 km until you reach Umdoni Carvan Park at further traffic circle, then sharp left over the railway bridge, then left again into Church Pennington in Pennington Drive. Turn left and continue 600 m, then turn right into Street. At the T-junction turn left into Abelia Road, then right into Kloof Falls Road (it is Minerva Avenue. Proceed to gravel road, sign in at the boom gate and then follow the signposted from this point). At the next traffic circle, bear right and continue down this birding rout marker on the right to the Enviro Centre. About 45 minutes. Remember to road for about 2 km until you reach the picnic site on the right hand side. Meet at take picnic and chairs. Bridle road (main) entrance. OCTOBER 2014 Wednesday 13 August 19h00 - Indoor meeting. Karin Nelson, “East African trip”. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a Sunday each month. Westville Methodist Church, Jan Hofmeyr Road, Westville. Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to the time on the BLPN Sunday outing 23 August 08h00 - Bisley Valley Nature Reserve with Jenny Rix. website and KZN Birds@yahoo, 084 5491752. Please contact Jenny to confirm. 031 5639286 or 082 4039147, Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles: Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. [email protected]. Meet at the gate. Bisley Valley has a good thornveld and Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details 082 3383302 or grassland habitat, open and closed woodland thickets, two hides with dams and barbetaventurenet.co.za wetlands, well marked easy walking trails and a nice picnic site. You must park at the Bird Ringing with James Rawdon: James visits many private estates on the North gate – safe parking. No entrance fee. 7 km from Pietermaritzburg. Directions: Drive Coast. Contact James for details 083 745 6007. to PMB on the N3, exit at Market Road - Exit 74, go past the market and bear left onto Saturday 4 October 06h00 - Shongweni with Elena Russell. Directions: Take the N3 the R103 to Cleland. At the next traffic light go right into Gladys Manzi Road. Proceed west, go through the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, then take the Shongweni off ramp. Turn 2.3 km and go left through the gate at Canterbury Stables. Parking and entrance to left and drive for approximately 1 km before turning left again at the sign to the reserve are 100 m on the right. Bring tea/coffee, chairs and eats for picnic Shongweni Dam. This road eventually leads to the entrance. Use your Wild Card or afterwards. pay the entrance fee using a credit card, no cash taken. Take the left road and meet in SEPTEMBER 2014 the parking at the Resource Centre. Please phone to confirm meeting time and place. Bird Ringing with Garth Aiston: Usually held early on a Sunday each month. 031 7052902 or email [email protected] Please call Garth for details if no notification is put out nearer to the time on the BLPN Wednesday 8 October - Save Our Seabirds Festival. Details to follow. website and KZN Birds@yahoo. 084 5491752. Saturday 11 October 13h30 - BMCG meeting. Venue to be advised. Bird Ringing with Andrew Pickles: Usually the first or second Sunday of the month. Tuesday 14 October 09h30 - Krantzkloof. Directions: Up Fields Hill along M13, take Venue to be advised. Please contact Andrew for details. 082 3383302 or Village Road turn-off (exit 23). Turn right over the bridge, then left at the traffic circle barbetaventurenet.co.za into Old Main Road. Continue through another traffic circle and then bear right Bird Ringing with James Rawdon: James visits many private estates on the North around a further traffic circle, then sharp left over the railway bridge, then left again Coast. Contact James for details: 083 745 6007. into Church Street. At the T-junction turn left into Abelia Road, then right into Kloof Saturday 6 September - To be advised, with Elena Russell. Please phone to Falls Road (it is signposted from this point). At the next traffic circle, bear right and confirm meeting time 031 7052902 or email [email protected] continue down this road for about 2 km until you reach the picnic site on the right hand Saturday 6 September 08h00 - 17h00 - KZN Bird Forum, uMngeni Nature Reserve, side. Meet at Bridle road (main) entrance. Howick. Learn more about birds. High quality presentations by a variety of Wednesday 16 October 08h30 - Ilanda Wilds with Lesley Frescura. BLPN has July 2014 34 35 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 recently been doing some work with Corinne Winson and the ‘Toti Conservancy, and AUGUST she has kindly agreed to lead this walk through beautiful coastal bush close to the Sunday 3 - Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 river. Birding is excellent, and quite a few of the summer migrants will have returned. 3865555 The best place to meet is the main parking area at Lords and Legends. Directions: Tuesday 12 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Shane McPherson on the From Durban, take the Adams Road off-ramp into Amanzimtoti. Turn right, and right progress of his Crowned Eagle research (which the club has helped to support) again at the traffic lights to go over the freeway. Left at the next lights, and follow the Sunday 17 - Day outing to Zulu Falls Lodge near Mooi River, where the Southern road until the T-junction (you will cross the river, and pass the Library and Civic Bald Ibis breed. Contact the coordinator Sally Cumming 033 3307175 or 072 Centre to your left). Turn right at the T and travel aboout 0.5 km inland to the entrance 1194253 to the bowling club, cricket grounds and Lords and Legends. If you would like to Wednesday 20 - Presentation at Amber Valley Auditorium at 18h00 by Tanya Smith: organise a lift, please contact Lesley 083 2313408, [email protected]. Bring a “Wattled Cranes: Symbols of Water, Wetlands and Life: conserving South Africa's picnic tea for after the walk which will last about two hours. Critically Endangered Crane”. Sunday 26 October - Vumbuka Nature Reserve with Barry Pullock. Contact Barry to Wednesday 27 - Morning outing to Albert Falls Dam at 07h00. There is an entrance confirm meeting time and place 082 4951865 or [email protected]. fee (or Wild card/Rhino card). Meet at Greendale Shopping Centre to arrange Remember to take picnic and chairs. Directions: Take the N2 towards Amanzimtoti transport. Coordinator Pam Nicol 033 3302947 and exit at the Moss Kolnik Drive/KwaMakhutu turnoff. Turn right across the freeway SEPTEMBER and continue for about 1 km. Turn right at the Southfork signpost and continue for a Saturday 6 September 08h00 - 17h00 - KZN Bird Forum, uMngeni Nature Reserve, short distance to the security gate to enter Umbogavango. We will meet there and Howick. Learn more about birds. High quality presentations by a variety of proceed together to Vumbuka. researchers and conservation organisations in KZN. All members welcome to http://blpn.org attend. Tea/coffee provided, bring your own lunch. Directions: Go to Howick town centre via the N3 and take the road to Karkloof/Rietvlei. uMngeni Valley NR is about BIRDLIFE KWA-ZULU NATAL MIDLANDS 800 m out of town on the right. Park at the reception centre. Committee: Chair Drummond Densham 033 3304039, outing activities Eve Hughes Sunday 7 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 033 3302723, evening activities Peter Divall 033 2395537, secretary Sally Cumming 3865555 072 1194253, membership secretary Pam Nicol 033 3302947, treasurer Viv O'Neill Wednesday 17 - Presentation at Amber Valley Auditorium at 18h00 by Shane 083 4647666, rarities/SABAP2 Colin Summersgill, Conservation Karin Nelson, McPherson on the progress of his Crowned Eagle research (which the Club has Newsletter Rosemary Forrester. Pietermaritzburg evening meetings are held at helped to support) Woodgrove Retirement Centre on the second Tuesday of alternate months at 18h00. Sunday 21 - Outing to Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve near Durban. Contact the Howick evening meetings are held in the Amber Valley Centre on the third coordinator Luiz Mateus 033 3454078 or 084 06 8496 Wednesday of the month at 18h00. Entry by donation. Please contact the coordinator Wednesday 24 - Morning visit to Benvie in the Karkloof. There is an entrance fee of before an outing to confirm the time of meeting and other arrangements. R50pp. Benvie will be an Open Spring Garden that day and members will be Bird ringing: Contact Karin Nelson on 033 3303027 or 072 7724219 welcome to stay on. Meet at the Greendale Shopping Centre at 07h00 to arrange Darvill: first or second Saturday of the month transport. Coordinator Eve Hughes 033 3302723 or 082 8724333 At the home of Pam and Bill Nicol, 13 Riley Crescent, Howick: four times a year OCTOBER JULY Sunday 5 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 Sunday 6 - Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 3865555 3865555 Tuesday 7 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Sonja Krueger on her survey of Wednesday 16 - evening meeting at Amber Valley Auditorium. Sally Johnson will the Bearded Vulture. give a presentation on "Baddies of the Bird World". Wednesday 15 - Presentation at Amber Valley Auditorium. Topic/speaker to be Sunday 20 - Morning outing to Bed Rock, a property a few kilometres past Benvie. announced. There will be a fee of R20 per person. Coordinator Eve Hughes 082 8724333 Sunday 19 - A full day outing up Sani Pass. You will need to take passports and Saturday 26 - Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts. Contact Peter Divall if you would lunch. Coordinator Hugh Bulcock 082 37 6569 like to participate 033 2395537 or 083 2634169 Wednesday 29 - A morning outing to the African Birds of Prey Sanctuary south of Wednesday 30 - Morning outing to Kilgobbin Forest in the Dargle. There will be a fee Pietermaritzburg near the Lion Park. Entrance fee is R40 pp. Meet at Greendale of R20 per person. Meet at Greendale Shopping Centre to arrange transport. Shopping Centre to arrange transport. Coordinator Karin Nelson 033 3303027 or Coordinator Eve Hughes 033 3302723 or 082 8724333 072 7794219 15 July - 15 August - CWACs at various lakes/ponds. Please contact Eve Hughes if http://midlandsbirdclub.blogspot.com you would like to participate 033 3302723 or 082 8724333 July 2014 36 37 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42 recently been doing some work with Corinne Winson and the ‘Toti Conservancy, and AUGUST she has kindly agreed to lead this walk through beautiful coastal bush close to the Sunday 3 - Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 river. Birding is excellent, and quite a few of the summer migrants will have returned. 3865555 The best place to meet is the main parking area at Lords and Legends. Directions: Tuesday 12 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Shane McPherson on the From Durban, take the Adams Road off-ramp into Amanzimtoti. Turn right, and right progress of his Crowned Eagle research (which the club has helped to support) again at the traffic lights to go over the freeway. Left at the next lights, and follow the Sunday 17 - Day outing to Zulu Falls Lodge near Mooi River, where the Southern road until the T-junction (you will cross the river, and pass the Library and Civic Bald Ibis breed. Contact the coordinator Sally Cumming 033 3307175 or 072 Centre to your left). Turn right at the T and travel aboout 0.5 km inland to the entrance 1194253 to the bowling club, cricket grounds and Lords and Legends. If you would like to Wednesday 20 - Presentation at Amber Valley Auditorium at 18h00 by Tanya Smith: organise a lift, please contact Lesley 083 2313408, [email protected]. Bring a “Wattled Cranes: Symbols of Water, Wetlands and Life: conserving South Africa's picnic tea for after the walk which will last about two hours. Critically Endangered Crane”. Sunday 26 October - Vumbuka Nature Reserve with Barry Pullock. Contact Barry to Wednesday 27 - Morning outing to Albert Falls Dam at 07h00. There is an entrance confirm meeting time and place 082 4951865 or [email protected]. fee (or Wild card/Rhino card). Meet at Greendale Shopping Centre to arrange Remember to take picnic and chairs. Directions: Take the N2 towards Amanzimtoti transport. Coordinator Pam Nicol 033 3302947 and exit at the Moss Kolnik Drive/KwaMakhutu turnoff. Turn right across the freeway SEPTEMBER and continue for about 1 km. Turn right at the Southfork signpost and continue for a Saturday 6 September 08h00 - 17h00 - KZN Bird Forum, uMngeni Nature Reserve, short distance to the security gate to enter Umbogavango. We will meet there and Howick. Learn more about birds. High quality presentations by a variety of proceed together to Vumbuka. researchers and conservation organisations in KZN. All members welcome to http://blpn.org attend. Tea/coffee provided, bring your own lunch. Directions: Go to Howick town centre via the N3 and take the road to Karkloof/Rietvlei. uMngeni Valley NR is about BIRDLIFE KWA-ZULU NATAL MIDLANDS 800 m out of town on the right. Park at the reception centre. Committee: Chair Drummond Densham 033 3304039, outing activities Eve Hughes Sunday 7 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 033 3302723, evening activities Peter Divall 033 2395537, secretary Sally Cumming 3865555 072 1194253, membership secretary Pam Nicol 033 3302947, treasurer Viv O'Neill Wednesday 17 - Presentation at Amber Valley Auditorium at 18h00 by Shane 083 4647666, rarities/SABAP2 Colin Summersgill, Conservation Karin Nelson, McPherson on the progress of his Crowned Eagle research (which the Club has Newsletter Rosemary Forrester. Pietermaritzburg evening meetings are held at helped to support) Woodgrove Retirement Centre on the second Tuesday of alternate months at 18h00. Sunday 21 - Outing to Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve near Durban. Contact the Howick evening meetings are held in the Amber Valley Centre on the third coordinator Luiz Mateus 033 3454078 or 084 06 8496 Wednesday of the month at 18h00. Entry by donation. Please contact the coordinator Wednesday 24 - Morning visit to Benvie in the Karkloof. There is an entrance fee of before an outing to confirm the time of meeting and other arrangements. R50pp. Benvie will be an Open Spring Garden that day and members will be Bird ringing: Contact Karin Nelson on 033 3303027 or 072 7724219 welcome to stay on. Meet at the Greendale Shopping Centre at 07h00 to arrange Darvill: first or second Saturday of the month transport. Coordinator Eve Hughes 033 3302723 or 082 8724333 At the home of Pam and Bill Nicol, 13 Riley Crescent, Howick: four times a year OCTOBER JULY Sunday 5 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 Sunday 6 - Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30. Coordinator Gordon Bennett 033 3865555 3865555 Tuesday 7 - Presentation at Woodgrove at 18h00 by Sonja Krueger on her survey of Wednesday 16 - evening meeting at Amber Valley Auditorium. Sally Johnson will the Bearded Vulture. give a presentation on "Baddies of the Bird World". Wednesday 15 - Presentation at Amber Valley Auditorium. Topic/speaker to be Sunday 20 - Morning outing to Bed Rock, a property a few kilometres past Benvie. announced. There will be a fee of R20 per person. Coordinator Eve Hughes 082 8724333 Sunday 19 - A full day outing up Sani Pass. You will need to take passports and Saturday 26 - Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts. Contact Peter Divall if you would lunch. Coordinator Hugh Bulcock 082 37 6569 like to participate 033 2395537 or 083 2634169 Wednesday 29 - A morning outing to the African Birds of Prey Sanctuary south of Wednesday 30 - Morning outing to Kilgobbin Forest in the Dargle. There will be a fee Pietermaritzburg near the Lion Park. Entrance fee is R40 pp. Meet at Greendale of R20 per person. Meet at Greendale Shopping Centre to arrange transport. Shopping Centre to arrange transport. Coordinator Karin Nelson 033 3303027 or Coordinator Eve Hughes 033 3302723 or 082 8724333 072 7794219 15 July - 15 August - CWACs at various lakes/ponds. Please contact Eve Hughes if http://midlandsbirdclub.blogspot.com you would like to participate 033 3302723 or 082 8724333 July 2014 36 37 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

BIRDLIFE TROGONS PLEASE note all outings are on a Sunday unless otherwise stated. They are advertised in the South Coast Herald, South Coast Fever and The Rising Sun a few days prior to each event. The venues and dates of outings may be changed at short notice; please check www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com for updated information or phone Eric Kok 039 6950573 or 072 7510686 for further details and lift sharing. 6 July - Bird ringing, venue and time to be advised 20 July 08h00 - Winter CWAC and Ingeli Forest 27 July 07h30 - Kenneth Stainbank NR Durban 3 August 07h30 - Empisini NR 10 August - Bird ringing, venue and time tba 24 August 07h30 - Umbambazi NR 7 September - Bird ringing, venue and time tba 14 September 07h00 - Oribi Gorge NR Friday 19 September - Members trip away (4 nights) Richards Bay 28 September 07h00 - Mpenjati NR 5 October - Bird ringing, venue and time tba 12 October 06h30 - Culley's Dam, Port Edward 26 October 06h30 - Umbogavango/Vumbuka www.birdlifetrogons.blogspot.com BIRDLIFE ZULULAND For information or details check out the website: www.birdlifezululand.co.za FIFTEEN kilometres from Howick in the Karkloof Valley is the Karkloof Conservation Centre boasting two birdhides strategically built to allow the visitor maximum birding enjoyment. A rich diversity of birdlife abounds on the farm where agriculture and dairy-farming are practiced in harmony with birds, antelope and many other species. A list of over 180 bird varieties, including all three of South Africa's crane species can be seen at the hides. Pack a picnic basket, or plan a late afternoon trip for sundowners to come and absorb the tranquillity and beauty of the area. We are open daily and an “honesty box” is in place should the office not be manned Entrance is R20 p/a and R10 p/c aged 5 - 12 Pensioners pay only R10 p/p every Friday Contact us for more information on 072 376 3023/ [email protected] or visit our website at www.karkloofconservation.org.za July 2014 38 39 July 2014 KZN BIRDS No 42 KZN BIRDS No 42

JOIN US FOR A 21 DAY SAFARI IN DECEMBER TO AFRICA'S BIGGEST MAMMAL MIGRATION (THE BATS OF KASANKA) AND TO FIND THE AFRICAN PITTA IN THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY 21 day Birds and Bats (Zimbabwe and Zambia) – Great Zimbabwe, Vumba Highlands, Marondera, Masoka Village (the African Pitta hangout) and the bat migration in Kasanka National Park in Zambia December 2014 The.safari is inclusive of transport (in 4X4 vehicles), accommodation (mixed camping and chalet), meals and park entry fees Safari groups are a minimum and maximum of 6 people accompanied by two qualiﬁed guides in two vehicles Note: 1. Departure dates are ex Johannesburg or Howick 2. We will also customise the safari to cater to a group’s needs Please contact the guides Craig and Karin Nelson for further information and prices Phone: 033 3303027 Mobile: 082 9000107

Mazeppa Bay Bird Week It is me to fluff out those tail feathers and join fellow birders for a week of birding on the prisne beaches and coastal forest of the Eastern Cape Wild Coast. Your leader and guide Karin Nelson from BirdLife Midlands club has in-depth knowledge of the area and what it has to offer ACTIVITIES ON OFFER INCLUDE: Walks along the beaches and rocky shores. Explore the rivers and estuaries. Walks in coastal forests. Walks in Manubi Forest Reserve. Weather perming there will be some bird ringing. These acvies are structured to appeal to beginners and more experienced birders alike. Non- birding partners and birders who want to try something else can take advantage of some great fishing opportunies and enjoy the other acvies the hotel offers. The special package rate is R4 235.00 per person per week – inclusive of accommodaon, all meals and acvies. Should you wish to stay for a shorter me, we have a five day package rate of R3 025.00 per person per night. DATE: 16-23 NOVEMBER 2014 Call us now on 047 498 0033 or e-mail us at [email protected] to make your reservaon Come and let us spoil you. Mazeppa Bay Hotel will enchant you!