Springside Saturday 6 December 2014

Our Christmas outing to Springside was well attended (28 + a few late comers) and we raised R410 for the Hillcrest Conservancy – well done BLPN for your generosity. We broke up into 3 groups; many thanks to Sally and Sandi for leading the other groups.

We started off with the Long-crested Eagle quartering over the hillside – in fact there was a pair and some good pics were shot. The Diederick Cuckoos called incessantly and good views were had at the start of the walk.

Long-crested Eagle

Long-crested Eagle – Decklan

The weather was not the greatest, very dull and overcast, it even started to drizzle at one stage. Some of the birds we saw – Olive Thrush, Southern Boubou, Cape Batis, Paradise Flycatchers, Black-headed Orioles, Bronze & Red-backed Manikins; Sunbirds – Amethyst, Greater Double collared, Olive, Collared & Grey, Lesser & Greater Honeyguides.

Black-headed Oriole

Black-headed Oriole singing a strange call

Black-headed Oriole -Hennie (2)

Red-backed Mannikins

Lesser Honeyguide

Lesser Honeyguide – Decklan

Cape Batis – Decklan

Greater Double-collared Sunbird

The Thick-billed weavers were nest building by the picnic site and we found the Golden Weavers at their nests further up by the stream. There was a very confiding pair of Sombre Greenbuls sitting on a nest right next to where we had our braai – they didn’t seem to be perturbed even though we were a little raucous at times. Also in the picnic area a Greater Double Collared Sunbird’s nest was found. The Black Saw-wings were nesting in the stream bank.

Greater Double-collared Sunbird

Thick-billed Weaver strutting on his nest

Sombre Greenbul – Decklan

Golden Weaver

Sombre Greenbul on nest

Black Saw-wing

Black Saw-Wing – Decklan

Later on a few of us stayed on and took another walk up the centre path and picked up Board-tailed Warbler. In Decklan’s pic you can see the bird taking a worm(?) back to the nest. In fact she became a little agitated so we turned around and left the birds in peace.

Broad-Tailed Warbler – Decklan

Broad-tailed Warbler

In total our bird count was 67.

Lesley had donated a bottle of SOS wine for the ‘best bird seen’. The adjudication of which collapsed into much hilarity and mirth and we decided to ‘pick a number’ between 1 – 50 and Anne Blake picked the right number – well done Anne!! In fact, I think the best bird maybe was the African Firefinch (Sandi & her group) but to make a decision proved much too difficult. Edgar come up trumps with the braai – he made the fire and then toasted all the sandwiches – well done Edgar!!

Thanks to Decklan & Paul for the excellent pics.