Sally and I went to SAPPI (the saw mill close to Stanger, KZN) on Sunday to watch the bird ringing efforts of Garth Aiston and James Rawdon. The variety of the birds which were ringed included Cape White-eyes; African Paradise-Flycatcher; Sunbirds – Scarlet-chested and Olive; Dark-capped Yellow Warbler and numerous other warblers; Black-throated Wattleye; Weavers – including Southern Masked-Weaver; Malachite, Pygmy and Brown-hooded Kingfishers to name a few.

It is impressive to watch the way the birds are delicately handled and the records that are kept. It is a chance to see the birds up close and personal and to be shown how each bird is correctly identified by Garth and James. Their knowledge is immense.

The lasting impression you get when you see the birds so close is how small they actually are compared to when you see them in their natural habitat (especially through binoculars).

Whilest there we visited the bird hide and wandered around the ponds. This is an excellent place to see a wide variety of waterbirds including some of the more difficult species – like Snipes, Crakes and Rails. Only African Snipes made an appearance for us.

The hide overlooks a stretch of land protruding into the pond and provides an ideal place to practice bird photography. To show you what I mean by variety of birds to be seen I have attached the following photos. Amongst them is a photo of a mystery warbler – have a go at IDing it. Click on the bird to enlarge it then add your comment below it.

Paul & Sally Bartho

Brown-throated Weaver

Southern Pochard & Red-billed Teal

Wood Sandpiper

Pied Avocets

African Darter on nest

Curlew Sandpiper

Greater Flamingo

Hottentot Teals

Cape Shoveler

Greater Flamingos – checking the action.

Red-billed Teals & White-faced Ducks

Lapsmith

Goliath Heron

Leguaan & Ruff

White-breasted Cormorant

Brown-throated Weaver

The Spit from the bird hide

Greater Flamingos – pink-legged

Cape Teal

Brown-throated Weaver

Cape Shoveler

Purple Swamphen – first footing

Southern Pochard among the Hottentots

Common Fiscal

Leguaan among the Hottentots

Greater Flamingo in flight

Purple Swamphen – tail’s up.

Wood Sandpiper & Three-banded Plovers

Brown-throated Weaver

Black-collared Barbet

Leguaan sunbathing

African Darter

Greater Flamingo in flight

Interesting Warbler

Wattled Starlings

Lesser Striped Swallows

Greater Flamingos looking startled