Hilton Quarry's Spotted Eagle-Owl Chick

Kenneth Dahlgren at Jeffeares and Green at Hilton Quarry took a photo of this Spotted Eagle-Owl chick in the Hilton Quarry on the 9th of November. Thanks to Sally for forwarding this to me to put onto the blog.

There have also been reports of a Pink-backed Pelican at the old 'Bird Sanctuary' [now Motor City] at Chatterton Road.

Darvill Resource Reserve 4/10/2009

The usual first Sunday-of-the-month Darvill outing, dawned cool misty. Instead of the usual 6am summer start, we had a 6.30am start. A fair number of us, led by Gordon Bennett, braved what looked to be slightly wet weather, but turned out to be just morning mist.

A fairly standard morning's birding was on offer [the SABAP2 list reached 75], with fewer than expected swallows. There were some White-throated Swallows and Black Saw-wings about, and very many Brown-throated Martins.

A Purple Gallinule [or rather African Purple Swamphen] showed very well for some time. The ducks were also fairly well represented. No fish eagle about, but a Long-crested put in a little display.

Should anyone want a list of what was seen, drop me an email [or leave a comment] and I will send one along.

Nature's Hideaway Outing on 20/09/2009

Eleven KZNMBC members enjoyed an outing to Nature's Valley on Sunday 20/9/09.

Neville Durow of the Lower Mpushini Conservancy met us at Pandora Long's property and guided us on a very interesting walk through both his and Pandora's property. The trail was well kept and clear.

Birding was perhaps a little slow as the weather was cool with a wind blowing. [We had a slightly late start thanks to the blog's author taking a wrong turn and leading the convoy halfway to Campbell's Drift, but I must stress that venue is extremely easy to find].

One suggestion was for future groups to perhaps be split into more manageable sizes, as much of the area is fairly thick woodland, with the inevitable stringing out of the group. This never the less allowed for some spirited discussion on Black-crowned and Southern Tchagra dialects.

The final tally for the moring was 56 species, the highlight being a Narina Trogon at the picnic site. This bird apparently showed well, but was unfortunately was not seen by the last three people to arrive back after the walk, not for lack of trying, I might add.

This is ceratinly a good birding venue with lots of potential, and is open to the public. Simply contact Neville to let him know when you would like to visit. Please contact me should you need directions and Neville's contact details, or if you would like a copy of the bird list for the day [this courtesy of Malcolm Robinson who completed the atlas card for the outing].

Karkloof Birding and Botanical Weekend

19th to 22nd November 2009 Organised by the KARKLOOF CONSERVANCY and THE HOWICK BIRDING GROUP Phone the Karkloof Conservation Centre on 033 330 2992 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings or email karkloofcentre@telkomsa.net for your entry form and further information

Oct-09 to Jan-10 Club Calendar

Sunday 4^th October – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 6am

Sunday 11^th October – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 6am

Sunday 18^th October – day outing to Karkloof Conservancy and to Karkloof Canopy Tours forest. Meet at the Conservancy at 6.30am. Please note there is an entrance fee to both venues. Contact the leader, Eve Hughes on 033 330 2723 for directions.

Sunday 1^st November - morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 6am

Sunday 8^th November - morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 6am

Thursday 12^th November - evening meeting at Ezemvelo Headquarters in QE Park at 7pm. Stuart Mclean will give a presentation on Sani Pass.

13^th to 15^th November – weekend outing to Wakkerstroom. The dormitories and campsite at the BirdLife Centre (self-catering) have been booked. Cost per night: members R95, non-members R120, camping members R35, camping non-members R45. We will also use a local guide at a cost of R350 per morning or afternoon session – cost to be shared between all people on the outing. Contact Sally (phone 072 119 4253 or sally@wessa.co.za). Numbers are limited, so it’s first come, first served!

Sunday 6^th December - End-of-year braai at Benvie. Meet for a walk at 6.30am. Braai fires will be lit at 11am. Bring braai food and chairs, as well as family and friends. Please note there is an entrance fee of R20 per person.

Sunday 10^th January – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 6am

Sunday 17^th January - morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 6am

Saturday 23^rd January – BirdLife KZN Midlands AGM, with Ian Sinclair as guest speaker. Details to follow.

Sunday 7^th February - morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 6am

Sunday 14^th February - morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 6am

Sunday 21^ST February – afternoon/evening outing to Durban Botanical Gardens and Mount Moreland. Meet at the Gardens for picnic lunch followed by birding, and then move on to the barn swallow roosting site at Mount Moreland. Phone the leader Adrian Ogilvie 033 347 1685 to arrange times and meeting point.

BIRDLIFE KZN MIDLANDS - OUTINGS & MEETINGS: AUGUST TO DECEMBER 2009

Sunday 2^nd August – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 8am

Sunday 9^th August – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 8am

Thursday 13^th August - evening meeting at Ezemvelo Headquarters in QE Park at 7pm. Stuart Mclean will give a presentation on Sani Pass.

Sunday 16^th August – day outing to Stainbank Nature Reserve. Please phone the leader, David Crampton on 082 771 7274 to arrange meeting place and time.

Sunday 6^th September - morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 7am

Thursday 10^th September – evening meeting at Ezemvelo Headquarters in QE Park at 7pm Simon Bellingham will give a presentation on Mana Pools

Sunday 13^th September – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 7am

Sunday 20^th September - day outing to Nature’s Hideaway, Mpushini. Please contact Sally on sally@wessa.co.za or 072 119 4253 to arrange meeting place and time.

Sunday 4^th October – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 6am

Sunday 11^th October – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 6am

Sunday 18^th October – day outing to Karkloof Conservancy and to Karkloof Canopy Tours forest. Meet at the Conservancy at 6.30am. Please note there is an entrance fee to both venues. Contact the leader, Eve Hughes on 033 330 2723 for directions.

Sunday 1^st November - morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 6am

Sunday 8^th November - morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 6am

13^th to 15^th November – weekend outing to Wakkerstroom. We have booked the dormitories and campsite at the BirdLife Centre (self-catering). Cost per night: members R95, non-members R120, camping members R35, camping non-members R45. We will also use a local guide at a cost of R350 per morning or afternoon session – cost to be shared between all people on the outing. Contact Sally (phone 072 119 4253 or sally@wessa.co.za). Numbers are limited, so it’s first come, first served!

6^th December - End-of-year braai at Benvie. Meet for a walk at 6.30am. Braai fires will be lit at 11am. Bring braai food and chairs, as well as family and friends.

HOWICK BIRDING GROUP - DIARY OF EVENTS TO JANUARY 2010

Evening meetings are held at WESSA in their Goldfields Education Centre on the 3^rd Wed of the month. Tea/coffee and registration at 17:30. BirdLife Members R5 pp. Non-members R10 pp. Morning outings usually take place on the last Wed. of every month.

Committee: Drummond Densham – 033-330-4039, Eve Hughes – 033-330-2723, Pam Nicol – 033-330-2947, Bob Moore – 033-239-2331, Shirley Bennett – 033-330-3234.

Wed. Aug. 26 – Morning outing to ‘Bar Circle Ranch’ to see, hopefully, the Red-billed Oxpeckers and do some Atlasing. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00 to arrange transport, or at the Ranch at 07:45. Directions, take the Motorway south turning left at Exit 65, marked Lynnfield Park (R103), turn right to Lynnfield Park, and drive under the motorway, turning right almost immediately signed Bar Circle Ranch, and back under the motorway. Carry straight on to a Gate marked Imvelo Ranch (which please close) and carry on to a white pole fence, bearing right to the main house where we will meet. Bring tea. Leader – Pam Nicol

Wed. Sept. 16 – Illustrated talk by George Zaloumis on ‘Madagascar’.

Wed. Sept. 23 – Morning outing to ‘Ben Vie’ to see the specials and the azaleas. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 06:30 to arrange transport or at Ben Vie at 07:15. Entrance R20.00 p p. Bring tea. Don’t forget to Atlas! Leader – Bob Moore

Wed. Oct. 21 – Illustrated talk by Roger Porter on ‘Antarctica’.

Wed.Oct. 28 – Morning outing to ‘Mbona’ in the Karkloof. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00 to arrange transport, or at the entrance to Mbona at 07:45. Bring tea. Don’t forget to Atlas!

Leader – Eve Hughes

Wed. Nov. 18 – Well illustrated talk by Mark Brown on ‘Bird ringing - why it is so important’

Wed. Nov. 25 - Morning outing to the Perry’s farm in the Dargle. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:30 or at their farm at 08:00. Patti Perry has kindly offered to provide tea! Proteas, Grasslands and Indigenous Forest – something for everybody. Take Exit from N3 – Howick North/Tweedie towards Tweedie, at T-junction turn right onto the R103 towards Lions River. Turn left onto the Dargle/Impendle Road and travel for 6 kms, then right onto the D17 dirt road. A further 2.2 kms turn left into ‘Carlisle Farm’ and follow the signboards. Don’t forget to Atlas! Leader – Pam Nicol

Thurs. Dec. 3 – Mark Brown will be ringing in Pam & Bill Nicol’s garden. Anybody is free to pop in for as long as they like to see birds in the hand, and watch how ringing is done. Contact – Pam Nicol

Wed. Jan. 20 – Illustrated talk by Adam Riley on ‘KZN’s Best Birds’.

Wed. Jan. 27 – Morning outing to ‘Cumberland Nature Reserve’. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00

to arrange transport, or at the Reserve at 08:00. Bring tea. Don’t forget to Atlas! There is an

honesty box of R10 pp. Leader – Drummond Densham