Howick Activities - February to July 2010

HOWICK BIRDING GROUP - DIARY OF EVENTS TO JULY 2010

Evening meetings are held at WESSA in their Goldfields Education Centre on the 3^rd Wed of the month. Registration at 17:30. Unfortunately, we have had to increase our charges from Jan. 2010 - BirdLife Members R10 pp. Non-members R15 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 Murray – 033-239-4233 Karin Nelson – 033-330-3027 Shirley Bennett – 033-330-3234.

Wed. Feb. 24 – Morning outing to ‘Darvill’. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00 to arrange transport, or at Darvill at 07:45. Bring tea. Don’t forget to Atlas! Leader – Pam Nicol.

Wed. Mar. 17 – Illustrated talk by Brent Coverdale on ‘Birds and Biodiversity.’

Wed. Mar. 24 – Not the last Wed. because of Easter. Morning outing to ‘Umgeni Valley’. Meet at the Reserve at 07:00. There is an entrance fee payable for non-WESSA members. Bring tea. Don’t forget to Atlas! Leader – Eve Hughes.

Wed. Apl. 21 – Illustrated talk with sounds by Dave Bishop on ‘Local Bird Calls.’

Wed. Apl. 28 – Morning outing to ‘Shongweni Resources Reserve’. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00 to arrange transport, or at the entrance to the Reserve at 08:00. There is an entrance fee unless you have a Wild Card. Take the Shongweni/Assagay off ramp, turn left and drive for approx. 1 km, turning left again at the sign to Shongweni Dam. The entrance is about 6 km further on. Don’t forget to Atlas! Bring tea. Leader – Drummond Densham.

Wed. May 19 – Illustrated talk by Barry Taylor on ‘Rails of Africa.’.

Wed. May 26 – Morning outing to ‘Albert Falls’. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00 to arrange transport, or at the entrance to the Reserve at 07:45/08:00. There is an entrance fee unless you have a Wild Card. Bring tea, and don’t forget to Atlas! Leader – Bob Murray.

Wed. June 16 – Illustrated talk by Sally and David Johnson – on a topic of their choice!

Wed. June 30 – Morning outing to the ‘Botanical Gardens’ in Pmb. Meet at 07:15 at Umgeni Valley to arrange transport, or at the entrance to the Gardens at 08:00. We will probably also visit the Indigenous Nursery there at the end of the morning. There is an entrance fee. We will Atlas! Bring Tea. Leader – Karin Nelson.

There is no evening meeting in July – too cold!

Wed. July 28 – Morning, or all day outing, to ‘Weenen Game Reserve’. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07:00 to arrange transport, or at the Reserve Gate at about 08:30. There is an entrance fee unless you have a Wild Card. Take tea and lunch, and don’t forget to Atlas! Leader –Pam Nicol.

Midlands Events March to August 2010

Sunday 7^th March – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 7am

Sunday 14^th March – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 7am

Sunday 21^st March - day outing to Mbona Estate, Karkloof. Contact the leader, Eve Hughes on 033 330 2723 for meeting place and time. Bring chairs and refreshments.

Sunday 4^th April – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 7am

Sunday 11^th April – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 7am

Sunday 18^th April - day outing to Sani Pass. Contact the leader, Hugh Bulcock on 082 373 6569 for meeting place and time

Sunday 2^nd May – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 7am

Saturday 8^th May – Cape Parrot Counting Day. Contact Professor Colleen Downs, 033 2605127/04 (w), 033-3962011 (h), 082-9202026 Email: downs@ukzn.ac.za

Sunday 9^th May – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 7am

Thursday 13^th May - evening meeting at Ezemvelo Headquarters in QE Park at 7pm. Ben and Shannon Hoffman from the African Raptor Sanctuary will give a presentation on their work with raptors at the centre

Sunday 16^th May – morning outing to Bisley Valley. Leader Mike Spain 033 347 2797. Meet at Bisley Valley entrance (Canterbury Riding School) at 7am. Bring chairs and tea, and picnic lunch if you wish.

Sunday 6^th June – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 8am

Sunday 13^th June – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 8am

Sunday 20^th June – day outing to Satellite Dam, Cramond. Contact the leader Mike Spain on 033 347 2797 for meeting place and time.

Sunday 4^th July – morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 8am

Sunday 11^th July – morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 8am

Friday 16^th to Sunday 18^th July - weekend outing to Umdoni Park, Pennington. Accommodation at R165 pppn at the Trust Cottages has been booked, but is limited, so please contact Sally by 9^th July on 072 119 4253 or sally@wessa.co.za to book. We will ask a local guide to take us around the estate on the Sunday morning.

Sunday 1^st August - morning outing to Darvill; Leader Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555; Time: 7am

Sunday 8^th August - morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park; Leader: Mike Spain 033 347 2797; Time: 7am

Thursday 12^th August – evening meeting at Ezemvelo Headquarters in QE Park at 7pm. Mark Anderson, Executive Director of BirdLife South Africa. Topic to be advised.

Sunday 15^th August – day outing to Cumberland Nature Reserve. Meet at the campsite at 7am. The campsite has been booked for Saturday night for those who would like to spend the weekend at Cumberland, and if you would like to stay longer please contact Stella Behn direct on 082 376 5600. Contact Sally by 6^th August on 072 119 4253 or sally@wessa.co.za if you wish to camp (R50pppn, plusday entry R10pp). Leader: David Crampton 082 771 7274