19 July 2025

This outing took us to the quiet gem of Danville Park in Durban North, a peaceful green space tucked away in the suburbs and home to a wide variety of bird species. The lovely dam, fringed with reeds, and the surrounding mix of woodland and open areas made for excellent birding.

Despite the chilly start, spirits were high, and the rain kindly waited until after we wrapped up at 10 am. Two groups set out to explore the park – one led by Carryn Smith and the other by Marco Francini – allowing for a relaxed pace and plenty of opportunities to enjoy sightings.

The morning’s highlight was undoubtedly seeing Spotted Ground Thrush, a special find and a welcome addition to the KZN count happening that same weekend. By the end of the morning, the two groups had tallied a total of 36 species. The colder weather had many of the birds tucked away in their nests. 

Danville Park once again proved to be a rewarding and scenic spot for birding. A warm thank you to our leaders, Carryn and Marco, and to everyone who braved the crisp weather to join in.

Text by Carryn Smith