6 birders attended the outing on a lovely sunny day. Msinsi was looking green and lush after the rain and the paths had recently been mown which made for pleasant walking. As we began the walk we noticed many Swifts flying over the sports ground – Little, White-rumped, African Palm, and to our surprise a single Horus Swift! Barn Swallows were also still around, and Lesser striped Swallows and a Familiar Chat were perched on the “grandstand”. An Orange-breasted Bush-shrike called nearby. We had lovely views of Square-tailed Drongos and of course we saw Fork-tailed as well. The grassland area did not produce much this time but in the forested areas we saw or heard Terrestrial Brownbul, Bar-throated Apalis, Black-collared and White-eared Barbets, Green-backed Camaroptera, Tambourine Dove, African Paradise Flycatcher, Sombre Greenbul, Black-headed Oriole, Black-backed Puffback, Red-capped Robin-chat, Natal Spurfowl, Olive Sunbird, Southern Black Tit, Purple-crested Turaco, Common Waxbill, Golden-tailed Woodpecker and others (see attached bird list). We only saw two raptor species – African Goshawk and Black Sparrowhawk. A new species for me in Msinsi was Red-billed Firefinch – not really surprising as they are often seen at Pigeon Valley which is very close by. The Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds were calling non-stop throughout the morning! Undoubtedly, the highlight of the outing was a beautiful male Collared Sunbird which was feeding on the flowers of  Deinbollia, flitting from one tree to the next, feasting on the delicious nectar!

Thanks to Dave Rimmer for the photos. John Bremner also sent me photos but something went wrong on my computer and I couldn’t access them. He is in Kruger Park at the moment so I am unable to ask him to resend them to me (Sorry, John!)

The bird count for the outing was 57. MSINSI N.R. Bird list

Sandi du Preez