Report by Elena Russell

Saturday 6th january 2018

The indemnity form had not been left at the office by security. Without it we were not going to gain access to Umbogavango, one of our favourite birding spots.

We were considering whether to toyi-toyi into the office and demand our rights but a few phone calls were made and all was sorted out amicably.

We had a very good crowd, old and new members and some visitors. We broke up into 3 groups, my thanks to Mike Roseblade and Adam Cruikshank for leading two of the groups.

Our bird count was eventually 103 not too shabby (click here to see the list) – some of the highlights: Common Buzzard, Malachite Kingfisher (adult and juvenile) Buff-spotted Flufftail, Natal Spurfowl, African Spoonbills, Purple-banded Sunbird, Mountain Wagtail, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Black Crake and lots more!

Common Waxbill – Adam Cruikshank

Southern Red Bishop – Adam Cruikshank

Kurrichane Thrush – Adam Cruikshank

Thick-billed Weaver – male – Adam Cruikshank

Black-bellied Starling – Adam Cruickshank

Black Flycatcher – John Bremner

Bronze Mannikin – juvenile – John Bremner

Yellow-fronted Canary – John Bremner

African Spoonbills – Tyron Dall

Barringtonia Racemosa – John Bremner

Black Crake – John Bremner

Black-bellied Starling – John Bremner

Blacksmith lapwing – John Bremner

Cape Wagtail – John Bremner

Chinspot Batis – Tyron Dall

Crested Barbet – John Bremner

Julia Skimmer Dragonfly – John Bremner

Little Grebe – John Bremner

Mistletoe – John Bremner

Red-billed Teal – John Bremner

Reed Cormorant – Tyron Dall

Tawny-flanked Prinia – John Bremner

Three-banded Plover – John Bremner

White-eared Barbet – John Bremner

Yellow Weaver – John Bremner

Yellow Weaver – John Bremner

Yellow-billed Ducks – John Bremner

Yellow-billed Kite – John Bremner

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Thanks to Sandi du Preez for the attached bird list and thanks to John Bremner, Adam Cruickshank and Tyron Dall for some really great photos.

Cheers

Elena