Pied Kingfisher (F) 



Attendees: Pete & Ann Wright, Barrie Willis & Sue Hansbury, Margie Cowan, Doug Butcher, Margaret Jones, Val Culley, Bob & Hazel van Rooyen

                                                                                   Text and photos: Hazel van Rooyen
38 species identified

After the horrendous rains of two weeks ago, Sunday dawned sunny and innocent and for once we didn’t have to pack rain-coats, although some did pack their wellies.  Pete and Ann Wright, residents at San Lameer, kindly led our group to the best birding spots and even found us the juvenile Crowned Eagle.

Crowned Eagle (juv)
The forest walk produced Black-collared Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Green Wood-hoopoe, Lemon Dove, amongst others.  On a small dam a pair of Pied Kingfishers were busy fishing, unconcerned by our arrival.  

Pied Kingfishers (the male has the double breast band)
At this point breakfast and coffee became a priority and this venue was perfect for it.

On another walk which led to the lagoon (now mostly mud after the recent rains) we found a Goliath Heron, Blacksmith Lapwing and Three-banded Plover.
Goliath Heron

We ended the day’s birding with a braai at the picnic spot next to the beach which was very comfortable with all the amenities including a small shop/cafe.  It was a great venue, most relaxing, and we also enjoyed the resident wildlife – bushbuck, impala and duiker.

Bushbuck 

Thanks to everyone for their great company and especially Pete & Ann Wright.  We will come again.


38 species identified

Barbet, Black-collared
Batis, Chinspot
Bulbul, Dark-capped
Cameroptera, Green-backed
Crow, Pied
Dove, Lemon
Dove, Red-eyed
Drongo, Fork-tailed
Duck, Yellow-billed
Eagle, African Fish
Eagle, Crowned (Juv)
Egret, Little
Flycatcher, Dusky
Flycatcher, Southern Black
Goose, Egyptian
Greenbull, Sombre
Hamerkop
Heron, Goliath
Heron, Grey
Hoopoe, African
Ibis, Hadedah
Kingfisher, Brown-hooded
Kingfisher, Malachite
Kingfisher, Pied (M&F)
Lapwing, Blacksmith
Oriole, Black-headed
Plover, Three-banded
Robin-Chat, Red-capped
Starling, Cape Glossy
Starling, Red-winged
Stork, Woolly-necked
Sunbird, Amethyst
Sunbird, Olive
Thick-knee, Water
Tinkerbird, Yellow-rumped
Wagtail, Cape
Weaver, Thick-billed
Wood-hoopoe, Green