Attendees: Stan & Val Culley, Sandy Olver, Hazel Nevin, Ros & Sandi from Port Natal club, Facebook members - Rudolf & Geraldine all the way from Pietermaritzburg, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen
Species: 77                                                                 Text: Hazel van Rooyen

Umbogavango NR (photo HvR)

Umbogavango NR in early morning mist (photo HvR)

Having booked well in advance, the security was very efficient as we entered the nature reserve.  It was a chilly morning with mist rising from the lake in which a few Egyptian Geese idled beneath some low-hanging branches.  We decided to leave the forest walk until the day had warmed up a bit and took a long walk around, starting off along the road until we found the trail.  The first birds we noted were White-eared Barbets which are common in this area and seem to be moving down the coast, having even been seen in Port Edward.  Olive Sunbirds flitted in the coral-like flowers of Erythrina trees, Black-collared Barbet, Green-backed Cameroptera and Sombre Greenbul were vocallising their joy in the new day.  A Fish Eagle was calling and as we summitted a small hill a vista opened up and we looked over a valley, spotting the eagle on the top of a dead blue gum tree, obviously its favourite outlook post.
African Fish Eagle (photo HvR)

Entering a small hide next to a waterhole a Black Crake rushed right and left in the reeds below us, until it decided it would be safer on the other side and with much splashing of its little red legs, half-flapped its way over the water, disappearing into the safety of the reeds.  A Malachite Kingfisher and Dark-capped Yellow Warbler were also busy in this corner of the pond.
Malachite Kingfisher (photo HvR)
 
Southern Red Bishop (F) (photo HvR)

The pathway took us to a circle beneath some tall trees where two benches were conveniently provided.  Pausing here, we spotted some woodpeckers and Sandi realised it was a pair of Olive Woodpeckers.  This caused a bit of a stir – a Lifer for some people.  Golden-tailed and Cardinal Woodpeckers also appeared and there was quite a lot of air-chasing going on.
Ooh, it's an Olive Woodpecker! 

Cardinal Woodpecker (photo HvR)
Golden-tailed Woodpecker (photo HvR)

Moving along, Ros  spotted a Burchell’s Coucal and Black Saw-wings swooped overhead.  Another dam produced a family of Yellow-billed Ducks, Little Grebe and Common Moorhen while Little Rush Warblers chirruped amongst the reeds.
Common Moorhen (photo HvR)
Yellow-billed Ducks (photo HvR)

At this point we thought we had better return for breakfast.  On the way a Natal Spurfowl squawked in the dense grasses along the path whilst a Long-crested Eagle flew overhead.  Red-backed Mannikins and Red-winged Starlings were seen and at the edge of a grassy area two Kurrichane Thrushes dived into piles of dead leaves, cleverly flicking them over in their search for insects hiding there. 

Whilst we were enjoying our breakfast, Klaas’s Cuckoos could be heard calling to each other.  By this time the day had warmed up nicely and after a short walk through the forest we made our way to Vumbuka, spotting Little Bee-eaters and Blacksmith Lapwing along the way.  Vumbuka is an old slimes dam which has been successfully rehabilitated back to nature and some of the trees are now massive. At the picnic site there was a very nice lapa and next to this a hide which overlooked a stream.  We disturbed a Black Sparrowhawk that had been sitting in the stream.  Not far into the woods a pair of Impithi peacefully foraged.
Impithi (photo HvR)

After a relaxing braai we all made our way back to our respective homes, having enjoyed a lovely day out with a good bird count of 77 species, including a final Black-headed Heron on the road out.









Species: 77

Apalis, Bar-throated
Barbet, Black-collared
Barbet, Crested
Barbet, White-eared
Batis, Chinspot
Bee-eater, Little
Bishop, Southern Red
Boubou, Southern
Bulbul, Dark-capped
Cameroptera, Green-backed
Canary, Yellow-fronted
Cormorant, Reed
Coucal, Burchell’s
Crake, Black
Cuckoo, Klaas’s
Dove, Laughing
Dove, Red-eyed
Drongo, Fork-tailed
Drongo, Square-tailed
Duck, Yellow-billed
Eagle, African Fish
Eagle, Long-crested
Flycatcher, Dusky
Flycatcher, Paradise
Flycatcher, Southern Black
Goose, Egyptian
Grebe, Little
Greenbul, Sombre
Greenbul, Yellow-bellied
Heron, Black-headed
Heron, Goliath
Heron, Grey
Hoopoe, African
Ibis, Hadedah
Kingfisher, Malachite
Kite, Yellow-billed
Lapwing, Black-smith
Mannikin, Bronze
Mannikin, Red-backed
Moorhen, Common
Mousebird, Speckled
Oriole, Black-headed
Prinia, Tawny-flanked
Robin-Chat, Red-capped
Saw-wing, Black
Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed
Sparrowhawk, Black
Spurfowl, Natal
Starling, Black-bellied
Starling, Red-winged
Sunbird, Amethyst
Sunbird, Collared
Sunbird, Collared
Sunbird, Grey
Sunbird, Olive
Sunbird, Purple-banded
Sunbird, Malachite
Swallow, Lesser-striped
Thrush, Kurrichane
Thrush, Olive
Tinkerbird, Red-fronted
Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped
Tit, Southern Black
Turaco, Purple-crested
Twinspot, Green
Wagtail, Cape
Warbler, Dark-capped Yellow
Warbler, Little Rush
Weaver, Spectacled
Weaver, Thick-billed
Weaver, Village
Weaver, Yellow
White-eye, Cape
Wood-Hoopoe, Green
Woodpecker, Cardinal
Woodpecker, Golden-tailed
Woodpecker, Olive




(All photos property of photographers)