🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – November 2026

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🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – October 2026

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🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – September 2026

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🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – August 2026

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🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – July 2026

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🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – June 2026

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🟢 Saturday 6 June – Walk: Virginia Bush Nature Reserve
⏰ 07h00 | Easy terrain | 🌳 Hosted by Marco Francini
A well-known urban reserve with with wonderful coastal forest.
🎯 Expect a good variety of forest species, with possible Spotted Ground Thrush as a Winter migrant.
A relaxed winter morning walk with birding opportunities for all levels.

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🟡 Sunday 14 June – Atlas Outing (Pentad Atlassing)
⏰ 06h00 | Easy terrain | 🗺️ Hosted by Dave Rimmer
Take part in citizen science and help build South Africa’s bird distribution data.
📋 Explore lesser-birded areas and contribute to SABAP2 records.
🎯 Past atlasing trips have produced African Firefinch, Blue Waxbill and a number of raptors.
This is a great opportunity for new birders to be exposed to a variety of habitats and bird species in an area you most likely haven’t explored.

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🏡 Saturday 20 – Sunday 21 June – Indigenous Open Gardens: Garden 1
⏰ 09h00 – 16h00
📍 Cliffview Estate, 58 Buckingham Road, Kloof
Come and visit BirdLife eThekwini KZN at Garden 1 – and get access to Gardens 2 and 3, as well as the Cliffview Common Gardens and Forest Walk.
🌿 A celebration of indigenous gardening and biodiversity.

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📚 Tuesday 23 June – Bird Learn: Birding Basics
⏰ 19h00 | Online (Zoom) | 🎤 Presented by Steve Hughes
A practical introduction to birding fundamentals for beginners and those wanting to refresh their skills.
🦜 Learn key identification tips, field techniques, and how to get more confident in the field.

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🟢 Sunday 28 June – Walk: Tanglewood
⏰ 07h00 | Easy–medium terrain | 🌿 Hosted by Sean Walker & Steve Hughes
A productive and varied habitat offering good forest and bushveld birding.
🎯 Expect grassland and forest birds as well as raptors on this private estate.
🐦 There will be plenty of opportunities to practice the Birding Basics at this event.

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🟢 Sunday 28 June – Stake-Out: Tanglewood
⏰ 07h00 | Easy terrain | 🔭 Hosted by Tayla van Rees & Tammy Harding
A relaxed sit-and-watch session at the estate dam, focusing on observation and patience.
🌿 Ideal for photography and practicing the Birding Basics looking out over the dam.

🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – May 2026

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🟢 Saturday 2 May – Walk: Umhlanga Nature Reserve
⏰ 06h30 | Easy-medium terrain | 🌊 Hosted by Tayla van Rees
A mix of wetland, coastal forest, and lagoon birding.
🎯 Possible species: Black-throated Wattle-eye, Spotted Ground Thrush, and Southern Brown-throated Weaver.
An adventurous walk with a great variety of habitats and birds.

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🟢 Thursday 7 May – Stake-Out: Durban Botanic Gardens
⏰ 07h30 | Easy terrain | 🔭 Hosted by Jenny Norman
Urban birding at its most rewarding. We will sit beside the lake and watch the activity unfold.
🎯 Regular highlights include Palmnut Vulture, breeding Black Sparrowhawk, Brown-backed Honeybird, Buff-spotted Flufftail and heron activity – with hopes for Black-crowned Night Heron.
A relaxed sit-and-watch outing ideal for beginners and photographers.

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🔴 Saturday 9 May – eBird Global Big Day (Citizen Science Event)
🐧 Join birders across the globe in one of the biggest birding events of the year! Take part by birding anywhere – your garden, local park, or favourite reserve – and logging what you see.
⏰ You can bird for 10 minutes or the whole day – every sighting helps scientists better understand bird populations and distribution.
🎯 Submit to eBird (website or mobile app) and contribute to a global snapshot of birdlife.
https://ebird.org/news/global-big-day-2026

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🟢 Sunday 10 May – Walk: Umdoni Park (Pennington)
⏰ 06h30 | Easy-medium terrain | 🌳 Hosted by Garth Aiston
Coastal forest birding at its best.
🎯 Regular highlights include Spotted Ground Thrush, Brown Scrub-Robin, Brown-backed Honeybird, Knysna Turaco and Green Malkoha.
Keep your eyes peeled for coastal forest specials!

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📚 Wednesday 13 May – BeKZN Bird Learn: Warbler Sounds
⏰ 19h00 | Online (Zoom) | 🎤 Presented by Steve Davis
🎧 Are you confused about which bird is calling from deep within the reeds or bushes? Join this talk to start identifying warblers by learning some of the most common warbler calls around you.

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🟢 Saturday 16 May – Walk: New Germany Nature Reserve
⏰ 07h30 | Easy–medium terrain | 🌿 Hosted by Cara Christianson
A compact but productive reserve combining grassland and forest habitats.
🎯 Possible species: Yellow-throated Longclaw, Rufous-naped Lark, Narina Trogon and occasionally Spotted Eagle-Owl.
Excellent variety and a very enjoyable winter morning walk.

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🔴 Sunday 31 May – Conservation: Van Riebeeck Park (Bluff)
⏰ 07h00 | Easy terrain | 🌱 Hosted by Steve Davis
Return to our ongoing wetland monitoring site. Members can see first-hand how habitat restoration benefits birds over time.
🦆 Expect waterbirds, weavers and seasonal visitors while supporting one of BirdLife eThekwini KZN’s most important hands-on conservation initiatives.

🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – April 2026

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🟢 Sunday 12 April – Walk: Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve
⏰ 07h30 | Easy terrain | 🌳 Hosted by Rob McLennan-Smith
One of Durban’s most reliable and enjoyable birding venues, offering grassland, coastal forest and wetland habitat around the dam.
🎯 Regular specials include Narina Trogon, Green Twinspot, Grey Waxbill and occasionally Green Malkoha.
A relaxed walk with excellent variety and good chances for both beginners and experienced birders.

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🔵 Wednesday 15 April – Talk: Raptors – A Beginner’s Guide to “Large Brown Jobs”
⏰ 18h00 | Online (Zoom) | 🎤 Presented by John Kinghorn
Confused by that soaring raptor overhead? This practical introduction will help demystify raptor identification.
🦅 Learn key shapes, flight styles and behaviour cues to separate buzzards, eagles and hawks with confidence.

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🟢 Thursday 16 April – Stake-Out: Crowned Eagle Estate
⏰ 07h30 | Easy terrain | 🔭 Hosted by Jenny Norman
A special visit to a private estate overlooking a river and waterfall.
🌿 Expect quality forest birding and a peaceful sit-and-watch session in beautiful surroundings.
Bring a chair and enjoy birds coming to you.

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🟡 Sunday 19 April – Atlas Outing (Pentad Atlassing)
⏰ 06h00 | Easy terrain | 🗺️ Hosted by Dave Rimmer
Take part in citizen science and help build South Africa’s bird distribution data.
📋 Explore lesser-birded areas and contribute to SABAP2 records.
🎯 Past atlasing trips have produced Orange-breasted Waxbill and a variety of raptors.

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🟢 Saturday 25 April – Walk: Giba Gorge Grasslands
⏰ 06h00 | Medium terrain | 🌾 Hosted by Adam Cruickshank
A chance to explore open grassland habitat — very different from forest birding.
👣 Expect early morning activity and good visibility for larks, pipits and other grassland specials.

🔴 Sunday 1 March – Conservation: Van Riebeeck Park (Bluff)
⏰ 06h30 | Easy terrain | 🌱 Hosted by Steve Davis
Our regular wetland monitoring visit. This small Bluff reserve continues to improve through ongoing clean-ups and habitat care.
🦆 Expect waterbirds, weavers and seasonal visitors while learning how habitat restoration benefits birds.
💚 A simple but important way members directly contribute to conservation.

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📋 BeKZN AGM – Annual General Meeting
🗓️ Details circulated separately
The club’s main annual gathering — reports, plans, committee matters and the future direction of BirdLife eThekwini KZN.

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🟢 Saturday 14 March – Walk: Springside Nature Reserve (Hillcrest)
⏰ 07h30 | Easy terrain | 🌾 Hosted by Cara Christianson
Grassland and forest along a small river corridor.
🎯 Target species: Broad-tailed Grassbird, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Red-throated Wryneck.
A relaxed and reliable birding venue with good visibility and pleasant walking.

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🔵 Wednesday 18 March – Talk: “The Big Year of African Sounds”
⏰ 18h00 | Online (Zoom) | 🎤 Presented by Ian Davies with John Kinghorn
Cornell University and BirdLife South Africa are collecting recordings of African bird vocalisations — and birders can help!
🎧 Learn how sound recording contributes to research and conservation and how you can add a new skill to your birding toolkit.

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🟢 Thursday 19 March – Stake Out: Westville Scout Bowl
⏰ 07h30 | Easy terrain | 🔭 Hosted by Jenny Norman
A surprising urban oasis surrounded by suburbia.
We will sit beside a vegetated pond and watch what comes in.
🎯 Often productive for Pied Mannikin and other woodland and wetland birds.
🪑 Bring a chair — this is classic sit-and-watch birding!

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🔵 Wednesday 25 March – Talk: “Location, Location, Location – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park”
⏰ 18h00 | 🎤 Presented by Nicky Forbes
Planning a trip to the Kgalagadi?
Learn the best camps, roads and viewing areas — where to stay, how to drive it, and how to maximise sightings in this iconic desert park.

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🟢 Saturday 28 March – Walk: Grass Roots (Cato Ridge)
⏰ 06h00 | Medium terrain | 🌾 Hosted by Adam Cruickshank
A working farm growing instant lawn with three large ponds and wide open views — easy walking and excellent birding.
🦆 Expect African Swamphen, African Black Duck, Black-winged Lapwing and Southern Bald Ibis.
🚗 Important: Please keep vehicles off the grass when parking.

🌿 BeKZN Birding Diary – February 2026

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🟢 Sunday 8 February – Walk: Durban Botanic Gardens
⏰ 06h00 | Easy terrain | 🌴 Hosted by Elton Bartlett
Urban birding at its best! The gardens consistently produce exciting sightings.
🎯 Possible highlights: Palmnut Vulture, breeding Black Sparrowhawk, Brown-backed Honeybird, Buff-spotted Flufftailand recently breeding Black-crowned Night Heron.
A relaxed walk with excellent photographic opportunities.

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🟡 Sunday 15 February – Atlas Outing (Pentad Atlassing)
⏰ 06h00 | Easy terrain | 🗺️ Hosted by Dave Rimmer
Help collect real conservation data while discovering new birding areas.
📋 Contribute to SABAP2 by birding “off the beaten track”.
🎯 Previous outings have produced Orange-breasted Waxbill and various raptors.
A perfect way to turn birding into meaningful science.

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🔵 Wednesday 18 February – Talk: House Crow Eradication & Invasive Species Management
⏰ 18h00 | Online (Zoom) | 🎤 Presented by Bheka Nxele
How eThekwini Municipality is tackling invasive species and restoring ecosystems.
🪶 Case study: the House Crow eradication programme.
An important conservation topic showing how urban management directly protects indigenous birds.

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📚 Saturday 21 February – BeKZN Bird Learn Course: Bird Names, Species, Splits & Lumps
👩‍🏫 Presented by Ticky & Nicky Forbes
A deeper learning workshop on bird taxonomy and changing species lists.
Understand why names change, what “splits” and “lumps” mean, and how it affects your life list and field guides.

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🟢 Sunday 22 February – Walk: Palmiet Nature Reserve
⏰ 06h00 | Medium terrain | 🌳 Hosted by Rob McLennan-Smith
Riverine forest in Westville with excellent habitat diversity.
⭐ Recently added due to requests following sightings of Half-collared Kingfisher.
Quiet walking may also produce forest specials and kingfishers along the river.

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🟢 Thursday 26 February – Stake-Out: Palmiet Nature Reserve (Pond Sit-and-Watch)
⏰ 07h30 | Easy terrain | 🔭 Hosted by Jenny Norman
Bring a chair and watch the pond and cliffs.
🎯 Possible birds: Half-collared Kingfisher, Mountain Wagtail, Giant Kingfisher — and whatever else flies in!

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🟠 Saturday 28 February – Day Trip: Darville Settling Ponds (Pietermaritzburg)
⏰ 06h00 | Medium terrain | 🚶 Hosted by Adam Cruickshank
A longer ±5 km walk — sometimes muddy — but worth it!
🦆 Target wetland specials: Greater Painted Snipe, African Snipe, African Rail, Baillon’s Crake.
👢 Gumboots recommended if wet.

Part of UKZN’s natural heritage, this small forest reserve offers surprising diversity in a compact space. 🎯 Possible species: Black-bellied Starling, Brimstone Canary, Square-tailed Drongo, Thick-billed Weaver, and Large Rock Martin. 🧭 Excellent for a relaxed morning of urban-adjacent birding.

🔴 BeKZN Talks!
 CWAC Counts & Citizen Science
Wednesday 21 January | 🎤 Presented by David Ehlers Smith (BirdLife South Africa)

⏰ 18h00 | Online (Zoom) 
💬 Learn why Common Waterbird Counts (CWAC) are vital, how data helps conservation, and how YOU can get involved.
📣 This talk aims to prep participants for our Saturday field count.
🧠 Bonus: tips on waterbird ID and counting techniques included as part of the talk

⏰ 24/1 | 09h00 | Easy terrain |
Join the BeKZN team for this national citizen science initiative.
🦆 Start at the Green Hub (uMngeni River mouth), then on to the Bayhead wetlands.
📋 Bring: binoculars, hat, water, snacks, clipboard (if you have one!)
🎯 All skill levels welcome — if you can count and spot a Grey Heron or Blacksmith Lapwing, you can contribute!