The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter

JANUARY 2020

Chair: Pat Nurse Tel 044 382 0638 E-mail: [email protected]

Membership Secretary and Treasurer: Steve Gettliffe Tel 044 384 0289 E-mail: [email protected]

LBC Club address: P O Box 3576, Knysna, 6570

Newsletter contributions to: Cecil and Else Hiscock Tel 0828553309 E-mail: [email protected] CHAIR’S CHIRP

A Happy New Year to all members. I wish you a productive year of excellent birding. I trust you all went out birding over the last few months. I enjoyed meeting up with Roadrunnners, Cardinals and other Arizona birds for 6weeks. This year is going to be a very busy one for the Lakes Bird Club. You will recently have received notice that the Garden Route District Municipality is to take part in the City Nature Challenge, which was won by Cape Town last year. It is done under the umbrella :www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-garden-route-district-municipality. Although it is primarily based on photographs, which can include plants, insects, butterflies, fish, etc can all be recorded. For birds, if two people agree on a sighting it will be accepted. I really urge members to get involved and I need one or two champions to be prepared to run with it as Louw Claassens of the Knysna Basin Project will be co-ordinating the various clubs and organisations that are taking part. Please contact me if you are prepared to do anything, as I am tied up with other projects. The next big event is the Flock to Wilderness (the Annual General Meeting of Birdlife South Africa) at the Wilderness Hotel on the weekend of 29th – 31st May. The A.G.M. will take place at 10.00 am on Saturday 30th followed by a lunch. Mark Anderson (CEO of BLSA) is counting on at least 50 members of the LBC attending both events, so please come along to meet some of the interesting people that you may have read about. Your committee is organising and leading a series of bird walks together with Birdlife Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley Trust on the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. We, will also have a table at the venue to sell our cards and stickers. January 2021 will see the long-awaited Flock to Marion taking place. I am sure you have all seen the details that Steve has been sending out and I know that a lot of members have already booked. The cabins are selling out fast, so if you want to be part of this historic event, go to the Birdlife website for details. It is going to be a Once in a Lifetime Event. Since our last newsletter the following have joined the Club: Pieter and Marietta Westerberg and Claire Clarke from Sedgefield and Alison du Plessis and Gavin and Anne O’Connell-Jones from George. I look forward to meeting you and I hope you will enjoy all the activities. Your Committee will be getting together soon to draft our programme for the next few months. After the wonderful recent rains, a lot of the venues should have recovered from the drought and the fires. If you have any suggestions for venues and an Away Trip later this year, please contact me. The same goes for interesting speakers for our winter indoor meetings. I urge you all to get out and enjoy the incredible birdlife on our Garden Route and keep your eyes open for any rare or vagrant birds that may pitch up.

Pat Nurse.

Great Horned Owl JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter EDITORIAL

The month of January 2020 has already passed, but the good news is that we have a further eleven months of, hopefully, good birding ahead of us. We wish you a year of enjoyable birding. As Pat mentioned in her Chirp, 2020 appears to be going to become a busy birding year, with lots to look forward to. Please take Pat’s requests seriously with regards to suggested new outing venues and for an away outing. It is indeed a privilege for the Club to “host” Flock at Wilderness in May, hopefully this event will be well supported by all of our members. When we attempted to book for Flock to Marian Island in January 2021 a couple of days after bookings opened for Birdlife members, there were no longer rooms {cabins} with a sea view. However inside rooms were still available. This is an event that will possibly never be repeated and presents an amazing opportunity for all who are privileged to be part of this historic event. Once again Club members assisted the Wilderness SANParks Honorary Rangers during their annual Birding Experience from Ebb & Flow Rest Camp. Various groups, mainly people with a limited knowledge of birds, were taken on walks to identify birds. Peter Ginn presented well attended bird identification courses. This event was well organised and proved to be a great success. One way we can assist in the conservation of birds and the environment as a whole, is to allow our enthusiasm for birds to enthuse others in appreciating the birds we are able to enjoy and trust that future generations will also be able to enjoy. Once again, we wish to express our appreciation to all who have contributed either writeups, photographs and interesting birding experiences for inclusion in the Newsletter. With so much happening since the last Newsletter in September 2019, it is going to be a major undertaking to remember everything, and therefor if we have inadvertently excluded a contribution of yours, our sincere apology. We don’t normally include anything that has already been posted on any of the social media platforms. Any suggestions for improving the newsletter will be most welcome.

Cecil & Else Hiscock

White- breasted Cormorant

OUTINGS

Plettenberg Bay, 7 September 2019

On what must be one of the most beautiful days of the year thus far, 19 club members gathered at Old Nick’s in Plettenberg Bay for an outing to the Gansvallei Water Purification Works, Twin Rivers Estate on the Bitou River, and the Plettenberg Bay Game Park. Mike Bridgeford, the President of the Plettenberg Bay Bird Club, was kind enough to lead the group and to take us to some well- known birding spots during the course of the morning. We started off at Gansvallei which hosted a number of duck species, including Yellow-billed, Cape and Red-billed Teal, and Cape Shoveler. Pied, Giant and Brown-hooded Kingfishers were in attendance, and the bush around the dams revealed Southern boubou, Bar-throated Apalis, Cape Batis and an Olive Bushshrike. White-throated Swallows were in abundance and a Greater Striped Swallow was spotted as we were leaving the facility. Pat Nurse heard the call of the African Goshawk above, and there above us, just visible, was this active little bird calling and displaying for all it was worth. On the way up to the Plettenberg Bay Game Farm, Mike stopped to show us all the nesting Blue Cranes on a narrow spit of land in the Bitouvlei Private Nature Reserve. This breeding pair has been observed nesting in this same site for 10 years now, and have raised many chicks. The adults have returned each year and at the time of our visit, had been brooding their eggs for 19 days. It was thought that the eggs might have been hatching out as we were watching but we could not confirm that. I visited the site again on the way back from a visit to the Birds of Eden, on the following Thursday and two chicks were active around the nest. Before we arrived at the game park, we spotted a pair of Denham’s Bustard in the farm lands. We were hoping for a Ludwig’s Bustard, but the Denham’s was a great sighting nonetheless. At the game park, besides the Cape Longclaw, there were a couple of casual sightings of a white rhino, a group of African elephants, some rather unearthly looking “golden wildebeest”, the odd giraffe, and one lonely gemsbok, and a host of black springbok. One wonders what is wrong with our naturally bred wildlife. What on earth do the foreign tourists make of these odd-looking hybrids – or might they not know any better? The group spent some time on the spit of land behind Twin Rivers Estate, where there was an abundance of water birds, including a Common Whimbrel, African Spoonbills, and African Fish Eagle, White-breasted, Cape, and Reed Cormorants, Grey and Kittlitz’s Plovers, and many more – what a fantastic place to be on such an exquisite morning. Those who stayed on, enjoyed a picnic lunch together at Cape Nature’s little facility on the East Bank of the Keurbooms River, where we spotted the much sought after Pied Wagtail. Our bird list for the day was 74 birds. This was a really enjoyable outing. Clive Watson JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter

Little Egret

Blue Crane turning eggs

Stilbaai - Botterkloof Resort 17 -20 October 2019

Day 1 Twenty members arrived to a sunny sky and light breeze. The late afternoon was spent walking around the resort which has established trees, shrubs and lawns ticking House Sparrow, Greater Striped Swallow, Cape White-eye, sunbirds Malachite and Greater Double-Collared attracted by the flowering aloes. The green lawns/borders provided food for Olive Thrush, Common Waxbill and Cape Robin-Chat while a Mallard floated on one of the ponds. Tall trees behind the accommodation gave up several nesting Black-crowned Night-Herons along with Black- headed Heron. Walking over the main road to another part of the resort we saw a flock of a hundred or more male Red Bishops feeding on the crop in a farm field-spectacular in their breeding plumage. The evening ended with fire master Peter Dawson along with helpers preparing the communal braai after which we all retired. Day 2 Early risers saw White-rumped Swift, Cape Weaver and Cape Bulbul. After breakfast we drove in cloudy and very windy conditions to the museum and information centre at Palinggat. A slow walk down the trail through indigenous vegetation to the Goukou river estuary revealed Terrestrial Brownbul, and a very noisy Knysna warbler which defied being seen only a metre away. Common Whimbrel, Grey Plover and African Black Oystercatcher tried to feed on the windswept mud flats. We returned to the Museum’s natural spring water pond at 11h00 to watch the fresh water eels being fed where they have been living for decades, returning from the Indian Ocean and their breeding areas close to Madagascar. Coral trees in flower had Streaky-headed Seedeater and the usual crowd finding nectar. Lower branches of Milk wood had Fiscal Flycatcher. Next stop was Lappiesbaai Restaurant for lunch, with 20 people arriving at the same time, out of season and only two waitrons created logistical problems. Long waiting periods after orders taken, with most people finishing their meals except one! John Bircher epitomized the saying “Patience is a virtue” as over an hour later on the brink of collapse with no food he was asked “what does he want to order”. Mayhem and chaos ensued (as the owner found out) akin to a snake being mobbed by a birding (club) party. Eventually calmness prevailed and John was resuscitated with a plate of fish and chips. A quiet drive along the Melkhoutkraal/Klipfontein road afterwards restored calm and focus. Red-capped Lark seen in a field and displaying Cape Clapper Lark added to our list. At the river edge three Water Thick-knees took flight along with a Yellow-billed duck. By this time evening was upon us so an early night beckoned. Day 3 A morning drive to Skulpiesbaai Nature reserve and sewage ponds handed us Cape Shoveler, Common Moorhen, Cape Teal, Hybrid Mallard, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Rock Kestrel, Cape Turtle Dove, Jackal Buzzard, Red-Knobbed Coot, Water Thick-Knee, Blacksmith Lapwing amongst others. On the rocky shore a small tern roost held Swift, Common and Sandwich Terns, Cormorants, Cape and Reed. We then drove to Jongensfontein arriving earlier than expected for a picnic lunch with the wind in full force. We decided to return to Botterkloof for lunch while some members went to the harbour to buy fresh fish. A drive to Pauline Bohnen Nature (flower) reserve after mid-afternoon gave up Grey- backed Cisticola, Cape Bunting and African Pipit at the airfield. The evening braai at the swimming pool with help from fire master Peter and a final bird list count resulted in 109 species before leaving after breakfast the next day. The strong wind was against us but we still had a most enjoyable time in this lovely area.

Brian Taggart

Feeding the eels. JANUARYBlack 2020-crowned Night-Heron

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter DIX INN, WOLWE RIVER. - 5 OCTOBER 2019

27 members met up at the SANParks Rondevlei office complex and Peter Ginn joined us at the linking channel. It was good to see that all our “young” members had turned up and we welcomed Anje Lombaard, a new member, who also helped to bring the average age of the members down quite a bit. We consolidated vehicles and then set off for the channel. There were not as many birds in the water there as usual, but in the reeds, we heard Cape Grassbird and Little Rush Warbler and saw Levaillant’s Cisticola and African Stonechat. A Rock Martin and Brown-throated Martin flew over and both the White-throated and Greater Striped Swallows seemed to be nesting under the culvert. In fields on the way to the Dixons, we saw a Cape Crow, Helmeted Guineafowl, a pair of Fiscal Flycatchers and an African Hoopoe. Once we got parked in the field and were waiting for Mark Dixon to arrive we saw a pair of Jackal Buzzards circling around, giving their most distinctive call. There were a lot of flowering Erythinas nearby which were very popular with a number of sunbirds: Amethyst, Greater Double- collared and a very visible and noisy Grey, which gave everyone a good chance to see its identifying features very clearly. Mark welcomed us and then offered to lead us on a couple of trails down to the river and eventually up to his mother’s house. We saw an African Paradise Flycatcher and Brown-hooded Kingfisher, while we heard the Knysna Turacos, a Narina Trogon and the Red-chested Cuckoo. Some members got a “ gleeting flimpse” ( With apologies to Robert) of a Collared Sunbird diving into a bush. Up above we saw an African Harrier Hawk and also Black Saw-wings. Mark had to leave us, when we got to the main house, as he had another engagement. Our group of youngsters volunteered to go on another more strenuous trail up behind the house, where they reported Terrestrial Brownbuls, while the rest of us meandered down the hill and opted for an early lunch in a nice copse of trees near the river. Mark had told us that there were up to 5 pairs of Collared Barbets in the area and also a pair of Brown-backed Honeybirds, but we were unable to find either species. When we did our bird list, I was surprised to note that we had 76 species recorded for the morning from our initial rendezvous. A few of us opted to drive back to the Rondevlei bird hide, as we had finished up earlier than we had thought we would. At the hide I was very happy to see a flock of about 20 Greater Flamingos, which very kindly took to the air from the far side of the lake, and gave us beautiful views of their colours as they flew in and landed Paradise Flycatcher much closer to us. There were many Red-knobbed Coots in the water with also a lot of Black-necked Grebe. There were very few Little Grebe and only a couple of Great Crested Grebe and we were unable to find any of the usual duck species, very odd. A pair of Three-banded Plovers were right in front of the hide as well as Pied Kingfisher, White-breasted and Reed Cormorant. One of the Reed Cormorants was trying to confuse us, by having a distinct crest, so that it could have been mistaken for a Crowned Cormorant. All in all, it was a very pleasant morning of good birds and congenial company.

Pat Nurse Photos: Justin Ponder

Greater Striped Swallow

White-throated Swallow

JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter

EBB AND FLOW, WILDERNESS – 17 October 2019

17 Lakes Bird Club members and a guest met outside the offices of the SANParks Ebb and Flow reception on a rather cool and slightly misty morning.

The group took a leisurely stroll through the campsite and observed a Common Moorhen chick feeding in a reed bed. The call of the Knysna Warbler had members straining to see the bird in a bush thicket. The bird refused to show itself and left members slightly frustrated that they were unable see it!

Members hiked along the Half- collared Kingfisher Trail and the calls of the Emerald Cuckoo, Knysna and Olive Woodpeckers were identified amongst other birds. The African Fish Eagle did not disappoint the group in calling and seen flying high above the forest canopy. A flock of Green Wood-Hoopoes chattered away in the forest and then flew into a tree canopy above the members. Knysna Turacos were seen in abundance and their vibrant colours seen whilst the birds were in flight.

Members gathered back in the car park for the traditional cup of coffee and to confirm the 63 birds recorded for the day. Cape Weaver An enjoyable morning was had by all in one of our National Parks.

John Crowson

Common Moorhen Chick

Ganzvlei 2 November 2019.

A mere nine members met in a pasture at Gansvlei, where African Emerald Cuckoo called intensely. Jenny Metelerkamp walked with us, and as our small group walked toward the forest, we were treated to sightings of Black-backed Puffback and Greater Double- collared Sunbird, while a distant raptor proved hard to identify, but it ended up being a Jackal Buzzard. Our group entered the forest, where our first bird was a Cape Grassbird, then an Egyptian Goose, which we saw through a gap in the trees. Next, we were impressed by a seemingly habituated White-starred Robin, which treated us to stunning views of him in the open. As we came across a section of the Goukamma River, we saw Black Saw-wing, Greater Striped Swallow, and Malachite Kingfisher. We also observed several Brown-hooded Kingfishers and Saw-wing nests in the mudbank. Other interesting birds we recorded along the river were Common Sandpiper and Cape Wagtail. In the next part of the forest, we found Cape Batis, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Chorister Robin-Chat, and African Black Duck, while a Tambourine Dove abused us by calling, but refusing to let us see him. We entered a wetland area, where we found Yellow-billed Duck, White- throated Swallow, and Levaillant’s Cisticola, while Yellow Bishop and Lesser Swamp Warbler were found nearby. We caught fleeting glimpses of African Emerald Cuckoo as it flew off. African Paradise Flycatcher were particularly abundant, as males and females displayed and called above us in the treetops. On the way back to the farmhouse, we found Giant Kingfisher, Black Cuckoo, and Terrestrial Brownbul. Our total for the morning was 79 species. Those of us who had taped the rugby went home to watch the Springboks flatten the Roses.

Justin Ponder

JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter Photos Justin Ponder

Jackal Buzzard White-starred Robin

Bar-throated Apalis Emerald Cuckoo

Mossel Bay & Environs, 21 November 2019

Due to high water levels in most estuaries (no waders), the program was changed and members and overseas visitors where re-directed to Twee Kuilen Residential Estate in Mossel Bay. Everyone, included eight very interested and enthusiastic young children complete with bins and cameras – what an absolute delight to witness parents supporting these young ones –the competition was getting stiff! After signing in at security a short walk brought us to this hidden gem - a wonderful tidal estuary complete with reed beds, a small grassy island and a solid board walk. Gulls, Grey-headed and Hartlaub’s, nestled or swam side by side giving every one the opportunity to see the slight differences between them. A Purple Swamphen flew away from us out of the reed beds while a Little Bittern tried unsuccessfully to hide. A Black Crake called out but could not be seen, above it Red Bishops displayed their colourful breeding plumage. Across the estuary a Purple heron watched from afar at the Red-knobbed Coots and Common Moorhens enjoying this stretch of water along with a White-winged Tern. Lots of midges had hatched just in front of us creating a nice meal for Cape Bulbuls and a Cape Robin-Chat. Not to miss out a Levaillant’s Cisticola perched within metres and was joined by a Karoo Prinia. Lots of competition between the juveniles to tick and photograph these birds. Taller shrubs gave up Red-faced Mousebird, Speckled Pigeon and Common Fiscal. Looking toward the estuary mouth, Kelp Gull, African Oystercatcher and White-breasted Cormorants where ticked. Sadly, we had to leave and look for waders in other places. Peter Ginn led us back to the Hartenbos River where African Darter and Grey Heron waited for food. In the adjacent reeds a Southern Masked Weaver was spotted and a Dideric Cuckoo called far away. Then on to Hartenbos Estuary car park for coffee, at last a Little Egret chased fingerlings in the shallows watched over by a Swift Tern. High water levels kept the waders away again. Peter took us to a three-tree heronry a short distance away with Cattle Egrets in full breeding plumage, Reed Cormorants, Sacred Ibis and a couple of Black-crowned Night Herons. Then on to check the list at Klein Brak tennis courts where the pond at the side of the courts gave up a Eurasion Curlew and Common Starlings. A total of 65 species was a good result with the recent rains flooding the estuaries.

Brian Taggart

Levaillant’s Cisticola

Sacred Ibis JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter

Photos Brian Taggart

Red Bishop

NMMU Saasveld, 7 December 2019

The final week-end Club meeting of the year took place at the beautiful grounds of the Mandela Metropolitan University’s Campus at Saasveld. The influence of the prolonged drought and heat has obviously had a great effect on the birdlife in the area. Compounding the hot and dry weather conditions is the hangover of the 2018 firestorm which ravaged much of the commercial plantations and fynbos all around the campus. Thankfully the majestic university buildings and grounds were spared the worst of the fire’s onslaught.

Notwithstanding all the weather-related problems, the outing produced some really very special sightings.

First up was of an African Goshawk, observed from the parking area, which was being tormented and harassed by four or five Fork- tailed Drongos. In spite of the Drongos’ best efforts, the Goshawk ignored them flatly and stayed defiantly on its perch.

On entering one forest patch, good sightings were had of Knysna Turacos, flying colourfully from tree to tree, then maneuvering in their very distinct mouse-like manner from branch to branch within the tree canopy after fruits and other food items. After very close scrutiny in one patch of forest, a very exceptional find was made by Justin Ponder of an immature White-starred Robin. The subject was extremely very well hidden in the lower undergrowth and luckily (with a lot of help and pointing out from Justin!) everyone in the group of 13 managed to find and take a good look at the bird. The bird kept itself completely motionless for the four or so minutes that the group spent admiring it. This is an apparent survival strategy – the adults had obviously taken flight and hidden themselves in the adjoining undergrowth. The chick, by instinctively keeping very still, was relying on its cryptic plumage to avoid detection. But in this instance, Justin’s keen eyes were not to be outsmarted!

Other significant finds were of a single feeding African Dusky Flycatcher doing its unobtrusive yet spectacular perch and hover- gleaning maneuvers to catch small insects in the lower canopy. A pair of Cape Batis’ were also admired in the lower canopy a bit further on – presumably a breeding pair which presumably had a nest close by.

A short walk through a part of badly burned commercial plantation was uneventful, but at a point where the burnt trees had not yet been sawn down and removed, a small bird party of Cape Canaries, Brimstone Canaries, Forest Canaries and Streaky-headed Seedeaters were found which raised the observer’s spirits dramatically! In the burned trees alongside, an African Hoopoe and a pair of Fork-tailed Drongos were observed. This activity seemed to stimulate other species. The result was a good sighting of a pair of Olive Woodpeckers, undertaking their spiral feeding pattern up the one tree, then dropping down to the next tree in search of victims and following their way up the next tree.

In total, a total of 67 species were identified on the outing, in which 24 Club members participated.

Robert Smith

Juv White-starred Robin Photo Justin Ponder

JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter

Woodville Forest Big Tree – 16 January 2020

36 keen birders arrived at the gate at the Woodville Big Tree shortly before 8 am. The gate was locked and there was no sign of any officials. After many phone calls we were informed that they were on the way. Eventually they arrived at 8:30. This was, we believe, their official opening time! During the wait some took the opportunity to do some birding outside the forest and 9 birds were ticked before we entered the forest. The cool atmosphere in the forest was a big contrast to the heat outside. Once inside we hardly heard or saw a bird for the first half hour - typical forest birding. One we did hear was the Narina Trogon far in the distance. It was one of the target birds for the day. The party split into two groups going in opposite directions around the short trail. I led the clockwise group with Brian taking the anti- clockwise group. For a while we enjoyed looking at the trees. Some of the best specimens of the Witels (White Alder) trees can be seen on this walk with the one which straddles the stream taking first prize. Other good specimens were the Stinkwood, Ironwood and Hardpear trees. We did manage to see a Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and some saw a Black-backed Puffback besides a few “heards”. After passing the group going in the other direction we were fortunate to come across a bird party. We saw a pair of Grey Cuckooshrikes, an Olive Woodpecker, a Collared Sunbird, some Sombre Greenbuls, Cape White-eyes, a Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler and we heard a Green-backed Camaroptera doing it’s bleating call all in one area. This bird party made the day for my group and we were happy to return to the tree and picnic spot to enjoy our refreshments together with the other group. Whilst enjoying our tea/lunch, a Narina Trogon was seen. I suspect that it had responded to Justin’s mimic and had come to investigate. A tame Chorister Robin-chat (see photo thanks to Hillary Aubert) kept us company whilst we chatted and filled in the checklist.

A final count of 34 birds was two less than the number of birders! For the record, this is a short walk and should rather just be TC not TLC in the future and should only start at 8:30 at the earliest.

John Bircher

Photo Hillary Aubert

Chorister Robin-chat

Interesting experiences

BIRDING TOUR TO SWAZILAND 21st September – 9 October 2019

I joined Japie and Ralie Claassen of Karoo Birding Safaris for the sixth time when they offered a birding tour to Swaziland. We were a small group of 6 clients. The tour started in Beaufort West and we travelled in a Toyota Quantum bus via Bloemfontein, Memel and Wakkerstroom to the border at Nerston.

Birds seen from the bus started the list – Pale Chanting Goshawk, Blue Korhaan, Verreaux’s Eagle with chick on a nest, Ludwig’s Bustard, Larklike Bunting and Spike-heeled Lark. The first overnight stop was at Toms Place on the Tierpoort Dam 30 km outside Bloemfontein where some water birds were added – Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Kittlitz and 3-banded Plovers, Ruff, African Spoonbill, African Shelduck, amongst others.

Memel and surroundings are considered an important birding area and the nearby Seekoei Nature Reserve a Ramsar site, but unfortunately the vlei was dry and not many birds were seen, however I did see a Wing Snapping Cisticola, my first Lifer of the trip and enjoyed seeing huge flocks of Blue and Grey Crowned Cranes flying in late afternoon to roost at a farm dam.

Arriving in Wakkerstroom I was delighted to finally tick the African Rail, there were also large numbers of Purple Swamphen and good views of African Snipe. We stayed for two nights at the Forellenhof Guest Farm and although bird guide Lucky Ngwenya did his best, no luck with either Rudd’s or Botha’s Larks. Looking at my notes I recorded 40 birds that day with excellent sightings of Buff-streaked Chat, a Lanner Falcon perched on a pole, Black-bellied Bustard, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, White-bellied Korhaan, Red-collared Widowbird, Wattled and Crowned Lapwings, Bald Ibis, Orange-breasted Waxbill, African Quail-finch flying and calling overhead, Capped and Mountain Wheatears, Wryneck etc.

One of the group had forgotten her passport so it was a tense couple of days before the missing passport was delivered by Courier to JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter Wakkerstroom shortly before we headed to the border. First impression of Swaziland was the amount of Black Wattle and shocking road surface. We were due to spend two nights at Mololotja Nature Reserve, recognized as one of Southern Africa's important bird areas and it also has an impressive flora checklist, but there was a mistake with the booking so alternative accommodation had to be found. This cut short the time we had at Mololotja, which personally I found stunningly beautiful. Some of the birds seen were Cliff Mocking Chat, Cape Rock Thrush, Long-billed Pipit, Wailing Cisticola, African Stonechat, Bokmakierie, African Quail.

Our next destination in Swaziland was Mantenga Cultural Village and Nature Reserve where we stayed for 3 nights and from where we did day trips to Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary. Birding was good at Mantenga but unfortunately the camp was a building site with major renovations and upgrades to accommodation being done which detracted from the beautiful surroundings. Birds seen included Purple-crested Turaco, a stunning sighting of a Narina Trogon, Mountain Wagtail, Striped Pipit, Southern Black Tit, Amethyst Sunbird, Dark-capped Bulbul, Crested Guineafowl, Shikra, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Hamerkop and lots of Bald Ibis flying to and from their nest site at the top of the Mantenga Falls. At Milwane there were White-fronted Bee-eaters all over the place, Village Weaver, Spotted Thick-knee, Blue Crane, Yellow-throated Longclaw, White-bellied Sunbird, Emerald Spotted Wood Dove, Black-crowned Tchagra, African Harrier Hawk, Kurrichane Thrush, Palm Swift, White-browed Robin-chat etc.

Another disappointment was Mhkaya Game Reserve where due to a misunderstanding about time of arrival, an entire day was wasted and we missed the real African Wildlife Experience by arriving after dark. On the two game/bird drives and birding around camp I saw Pink-throated Twinspots, Neergaard's and Purple-banded Sunbirds, Grey Bush Shrike, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Eastern Nicator, Bennett’s Woodpecker, lots of Paradise Flycatchers, Black-collared Barbet, Chinspot Batis, Blue Waxbill, Bearded Scrub Robin, Cardinal Woodpecker etc.

After two nights at Mhkaya Game Reserve we moved on to Simunye Country Lodge in the middle of the sugarcane belt, where we spent three nights. From here we did excursions to Hlane Royal National Park, Mbuluzi Private Game Reserve and Mlawula Nature Reserve. Hlane was very disappointing the result of a four-year drought. In fact, I hadn't realized earlier how Swaziland as a whole has been affected by drought and the only green to be seen were the sugarcane fields. Birding at Mbuluzi is a special attraction and more than 300 species have been recorded of which I saw Yellow-throated Petronia, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Brown Snake Eagle, Common Scimitarbill. Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills, Little Bee-eater, Long-billed Crombec, Golden-breasted Bunting, Red- headed Weaver, White-backed Vulture on a nest etc.

We crossed back into South Africa after 10 days in Swaziland at the Luvumisa/Golela Border Posts. Pongola Game Reserve where we stayed for two nights was very near to the border. While driving to Mvubu Camp we had a large flock of White-backed Vultures and one Hooded Vulture circling overhead. I loved Mvubu Camp despite the drought conditions and extreme heat. Birds seen were White-throated Robin-chat, Jameson’s Firefinch, Magpie Shrike, Yellow Hornbill, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Go-away-bird, lots of Purple-crested Turaco, Scarlet-chested Sunbird etc. We also visited Pongola Nature Reserve where we saw the first African Jacana of the trip, four Marabou Stork sitting on top of a tree, Bushveld Pipit, Red-billed Quelea, Burchell’s Coucal, Intermediate Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Swainson’s Spurfowl, Red-billed Hornbill etc.

From Pongola via Golden Gate National Park we headed to the Drakensberg, stunning scenery despite low hanging fog. Despite our best efforts no Gurneys Sugarbird but an excellent sighting of a Bush Blackcap, even Japie admitted he had never seen it this close before. We birded in the Maloti Drakensberg Park, a Heritage Site, before arriving at our overnight accommodation Montusi Mountain Lodge. Birds seen in the garden – both Klaas’s and Dideric Cuckoos, Wryneck, Cape Batis, Chorister Robin-chat. White- rumped Swift, both Greater Striped and White-throated Swallows, Glossy Starling, Lesser Masked Weaver etc.

After a long drive we arrived at Garingboom Farm near Springfontein for the last night of the trip. Riette and her son Abri took us in their bakkie for a drive around the farm to find Melodious and Pink-billed Larks. I enjoyed an Eastern Clapper Lark doing its display. Before dinner we ticked the Trip Bird List together for the last time. I personally saw 280 species of which 16 were Lifers,

Then Garingboom Farm via a short stop at the Gariep Dam to Beaufort West, where I collected my car and drove myself home to Knysna. 18 days was quite a long time but with good birding, good company it was worth it despite a few disappointments.

Pat Korrubel Knysna

HIGHLIGHTS OF BIRDING IN PERU 28TH APRIL-7TH MAY 2019

Inspired by Mike Bridgeford’s wonderful photos of his trip to Ecuador in 2018, he told me that he had booked his trip with Judy Vos’ Custom Touring from Plettenberg Bay. Judy was leading a trip this year to Peru so I immediately booked up and Judy organised an extension for me to the places in Ecuador that Mike had visited. This I did on my own, once Judy had booked it all, as she was taking the rest of the group to the Peruvian Amazon. The trip to Peru was to visit all the historic and cultural sites and was not intended to be a birding trip, unlike the Ecuadorian sector which was for birds and mammals. However, I always had my binoculars with me and with the help of a bird book Mike had lent me; I managed to tick off a total of 49 species in Peru. The first morning when I woke up in Lima, there was a dove on the wire right outside the window. This was an Eared Dove, which is quite similar to our Laughing Dove. Our first day we had no tours, so Judy and I wandered up to the nearby Miraflores Park where I identified Scrub Blackbird, Tropical Kingbird and Blue-grey Tanager. The next day while visiting the Main Square and Eared Dove Presidential Palace area, I was amazed to see Black Vultures perched on all the JANUARY 2020

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter buildings and doing what Crows would do in South Africa. We then flew up to Cusco and stayed in a rather rustic hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas for two nights. The overgrown gardens were full of birds, including a few hummingbirds which I could not identify. However, there were Chiguanco Thrush (like the Olive Thrush) and lots of Rufous-Collared Sparrows. On our drive to the ruins at Pisac I saw Andean Gulls in the Vilcanota River and an American Kestrel hawking insects at the ruins. Our next stop was Aguas Calientes, in the valley below Machu Picchu. The river here was very rocky and swift flowing, so I was thrilled to see a White-capped Dipper, going up and down the rocks and underwater. I also saw a Fasciated Tiger-Heron fishing from the bank. Amongst all the ruins up in Machu Picchu were many very pretty Blue and White Swallows. My guide Marcelino knew I was mad about birds, so when he took me back for a second visit (the others were tired or feeling the effects of the altitude) Chiquanco Thrush he took me to see a Swallow-tailed Nightjar roosting in a rocky cleft. We then went back to Cusco and had a whole day visiting all the famous ruins on the surrounding hills. At the Tambomachay site I got side-tracked when I saw Sparkling Violetear (a species of hummingbird) and some Peruvian Sierra-Finches. The following day we had a ten-hour bus trip to Puno on Lake Titicaca. Once we got up to La Raya at over 4000 metres, we were driving through what they call the Altiplano, which is the most extensive high-altitude plateau on earth after Tibet. There were vast stretches of moorland with lakes on which I managed to identify Andean Goose, Neotropic Cormorant, Cattle and Snowy Egrets, Andean Ibis, White-cheeked Pintail and one Chilean Flamingo. On some of the powerline poles I saw the very attractive large raptor; the Mountain Caracara (resembles the Bateleur.) When we arrived in Puno our guide, Jose Chipana, told me he had just published a book on the Birds of Lakes Titikaka, so of course I had to buy it. It is a most excellent little book with so much information about the whole area and it proved invaluable in identifying the birds at the Lake and on the Altiplano. Our hotel was right on the lake shore and had a wonderful bird hide built into the reed bed. The first birds I saw on the lawn were Andean Lapwings. Jose took us out to visit the floating islands of the Uros people and on the way identified all the birds I was seeing. There were Ruddy Duck, Puna Teal, Andean Coot, Common Moorhen, White-tufted Grebe and the Titicaca special Short-winged Titicaca Grebe. While visiting the islands it was interesting to see that the people have domesticated the Puna Ibis and they use its eggs as well as eating them. The rest of that day and until mid-afternoon of the following day we were free to do our own thing, so I wandered all around the area seeing Yellow-winged Blackbirds and Black Siskin in some rank vegetation. From the hide I watched Wren-like Rushbirds and Bar-winged Cinclodes flitting in and out of the reeds as well as the most stunning little bird a Many-colored Rush Tyrant. It is certainly well named. I heard what I was sure were rails calling and then a family of two adults and a youngster came quite close to me. I was very thrilled. This was the end of my Peruvian trip as in the evening we flew back to Lima and after overnighting there near the airport I took off for Guayaquil in Ecuador for more fabulous birding. South American really was wonderful.

Pat Nurse

Ruddy Duck

Peruvian Sierra Finch

Andean Lapwing

JANUARY 2020 Many Coloured Rush Tyrant

The Lakes Bird Club Newsletter

Plumbeous Rail

Andrew Marshall and Peter Dawson ringing a Black Oystercatcher Chick on the Swartvlei Beach.

FUNNIES

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