It has been a predominantly hot and dry month in St Lucia! The Wetlands surrounding St Lucia have receded alot as a result  and the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth remains closed for the time being. More Summer-visiting birds have arrived throughout the course of the month. The Blue-cheeked bee-eater are pleasantly common again and calling Diedericks, Red-chested and Klaas' cuckoo are a common sound throughout St Lucia. Many Common Buzzard can be seen perched conspicuously on small trees in the grasslands.  

The wetlands have continued to produce some great birds during the course of the month with the highlights being sightings of Allen's gallinule, Lesser moorhen and Rufous-bellied heron. Other birds regularly seen on the wetlands include African pygmy-goose, Intermediate and Great white egret, White-backed duck, White-faced whistling duck, Black crake, Malachite kingfisher, African marsh-harrier, Saddle-billed stork, African jacana and Purple heron to name a few. 

Grasslands on the Eastern shores have produced regular sightings of Senegal lapwing and Collared pratincole during the course of the month.

The estuary and surrounding beaches have turned up some interesting birds this month, the biggest discovery being that of a Saunders's tern (the second consecutive year it has visited St Lucia). Other rarities at the mouth have included a Greater sand plover and Bar-tailed godwit. The tern roost has grown in numbers and diversity with Summer terns such as the Lesser crested, Common and Little terns returning again along with the  Greater crested, Sandwich and Caspian terns. Other species present at the mouth have included Ruddy turnstone, Sanderling, Common ringed plover, Eurasian whimbrel, Grey plover, Common sandpiper, Common greenshank, Western osprey and Palm-nut vulture.

The reedbeds lining the estuary narrows are still busy with nesting Southern brown-throated, Eastern golden, Lesser-masked and Thick-billed weavers which are usually spied on by their nest parasite- the Diederick's cuckoo.

In the forest we enjoyed a couple more great sightings of African broadbill towards the beginning of the month.

Other forest birds regularly seen during the course of the month included Narina trogon, Green malkoha, Livingstone's turaco, Woodward's batis, Rudd's apalis. African emerald cuckoo, Scaly-throated honeyguide, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher and Brown scrub-robin to name a few.

It's been a mixed bag of weather this month with howling winds, a fair amount of rain, the first Summer thunderstorms and some perfect, warm windless days inbetween. Intra-African migrants such as Violet-backed starling, Broad-billed roller, African pygmy kingfisher, Red-chested, Diedericks and Levaillant's cuckoo started to arrive at the start of the month- the first sign of summer. 

The intra-african migrants have been joined by the first-arriving Eurasian migrants such as Common buzzard, Barn swallow and European bee-eater. 

We are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of our other Summer migrants! ​It's been busy in the forest with many of the forest residents engrossed in nest building and plenty of vocalizing to attract mates or proclaim breeding territories. We have regularly encountered floating leks of male Narina trogon during the month. Amazing to watch these usually furtive species sitting conspicuously calling and performing overhead display flights!

​Fruiting large-leafed figs (Ficus lutea) have been attracting a great variety of frugivores including White-eared barbet, Black-bellied starling, African green pigeon, Trumpeter hornbill, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Livingstone’s turaco and Yellow-bellied greenbul whilst blossoming Natal Flatcrown and Forest Mahogany trees have been attracting a nice variety of Sunbirds- Grey, Olive, Purple-banded and Collared- as well as a few leaf-gleaners such as Yellow-breasted and Rudd's apalis.

​A few lingering African emerald cuckoo still provided nice sightings throughout the month, advertising their presence nicely with their piercing 'Hello georgie/ Mooimeisie calls.

​The haunting call of little Buff-spotted flufftail is a common sound in the forests at the moment at dawn, dusk, night-time and drizzly mornings. We have also enjoyed great sightings of these beautiful little birds during the course of the month.

​A nice surprise on one of the walks was a displaying African broadbill- a very uncommon bird for St Lucia. Amazing to hear and see it's very eccentric display.

​We saw the first termite alate emergences this month after the first heavy thunderstorms of the season. The whole of St Lucia and surrounds was a swarming mass of flying termites, providing a feast for a large multitude of birds, some bending the rules of what they are supposed to eat to take advantage of the high-energy, easy-to-obtain food source.

​At the estuary mouth wader numbers have starting to increase with sightings of Common-ringed and Grey plover, Curlew sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Common greenshank, Little stint, Ruddy turnstone and Sanderling. Other birds seen at the mouth during the course of the month have included Western osprey, Pink-backed pelican, Eurasian whimbrel, African Black oystercatcher and African fish-eagle.

​The Rufous-bellied bellied heron have still been seen regularly at Amazibu hide on the Eastern shores and the wetlands just to the North. 

​Nocturnal birding was great with up close sightings of Swamp nightjar and African wood-owl during the course of the month.

It was a very wet September with over 250mm rain falling and some icy cold weather too!

Birding has been fantastic in all the different habitats with some nice surprises.

Starting at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth, the biggest find of the month was that of 5 Damara terns which spent 3 days at the tern roost before disappearing. 

Other special sightings at the mouth during the course of the month included a sighting of Terek sandpiper and regular sightings of Bar-tailed godwit.

Other regulars at the mouth included African oystercatcher, Common ringed plover, Curlew sandpiper, Sanderling, Common greenshank, Common sandpiper, Sanderling, Western osprey, Ruddy turnstone, Grey plover, Eurasian whimbrel, White-fronted plover, Greater crested tern, Caspian tern, Common tern and the odd Little tern.

We enjoyed good sightings of Mangrove kingfisher in the early stages of the month but it seems they have now left to return to their Summer breeding territories in the Eastern Cape. The long-staying Eurasian oystercatcher also appears to have left.

The forest has been on fire this month, the Celtis leaf beetle larvae attracting plenty insectivores- such as African emerald cuckoo, Black cuckooshrike, Green malkoha, Brown-backed honeybird, Klaas' cuckoo- to the White stinkwood trees.  

Fruiting fig trees and Wild plum trees have been attracting Livingstone's turaco, White-eared barbet, Black-bellied starling, Yellow-bellied greenbul, Sombre greenbul, Trumpeter hornbill, Crowned hornbill and African green pigeon.

We have also enjoyed regular sightings of Buff-spotted flufftail, Bluemantled-crested flycatcher, Woodward's batis, Rudd's apalis, Olive bush-shrike, Grey waxbill, Red-backed mannikin and Green twinspot amongst others.  

With the large amounts of rainfall, the wetlands have filled up and previously dried up wetlands have re-filled meaning the wetlands birds have dispersed somewhat with more options available. Earlier in the month we enjoyed regular sightings of the Rufous-bellied heron and Allen's gallinule but after the rains the Rufous-bellied have become more erratic and the Allen's has moved elsewhere it seems. There are still plentiful African pygmy-goose and White-backed duck amongst others.

In the grasslands, Collared pratincole are still abundant and in recently burnt patches there are plentiful Senegal lapwing. The Red-breasted swallows have returned and can be seen perched alongside roadside culverts or animal burrows which they use to nest.  

Nocturnal birding has been great with excellent sightings of Swamp nightjar and African wood-owl during the course of the month and erratic sightings of White-backed night-heron.

Another interesting sighting during the course of the month included a Bush blackcap at Eden park campsite (reported by Ivonne Coetzee).

It has been a great birding month again with a mixed bag of weather. The August winds have certainly arrived on time this year! In between the many blustery days though we have had some perfect warm days hinting at the arrival of Spring. 

In the forest, the White stinkwood trees have started pushing out their new leaves which are fed on by the countless larvae of Celtis leaf beetle- an annual occurrence at this time of year. 

This coincides with an influx of African emerald cuckoo and Klaas' cuckoo which have both been pleasantly common throughout the month. ​

Flowering Coral trees are still attracting good numbers of Collared, Eastern olive, Grey and Purple-banded sunbirds as well as Eastern golden weaver.

The first Narina trogon males started calling towards the middle of the month making these spectacular birds easier to find. They are silent in non-breeding season from late summer until late Winter. 

Seed-eaters such as Grey waxbill, Red-backed mannikin, Green twinspot, Bronze mannikin and Yellow-fronted canary have been attracted to areas of seeding Beefwood/Casuarina trees, sometimes in mixed flocks of 30 or more individuals.

We have enjoyed regular sightings of Spotted ground-thrush throughout the month- one confiding individual has been treating us with close-up sightings! With an estimated global population of fewer than 2500 individuals it is always a privilege to see these beautiful birds!

A highlight in the forest towards the end of the month was a sighting of 2 Eastern Bronze-naped pigeon. These rare pigeons are synonomous with forests such as Dlinza and Ongoye so seeing them in St Lucia is a rare treat. Having said this, there have been a handful of sightings in recent years- all in late Winter and early Spring- which may hint at some seasonal movement of these birds to the coastal forests of St Lucia.

There have been big changes at the St Lucia estuary mouth during the course of the month with the mouth finally closing after the dry Winter we have had. The long-staying Eurasian oystercatcher has remained at the mouth and another highlight was 2 sightings of African finfoot during the course of the month.

At the estuary edges we have enjoyed regular sightings of Mangrove kingfisher which will soon be departing back to their Summer breeding grounds in the Eastern Cape.

The wetlands surrounding St Lucia and in the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park have continued to shrink and provide easy pickings for herons, egrets, spoonbills, kingfishers and reed cormorants. Amazingly, the one wetlands complex is frequented by at least 6 Rufous-bellied heron - a bird still considered to be rarity in South Africa.

Another highlight in the wetlands has been a juvenile Allen's gallinule- also a rarity to the area- which has been present on a wetland on the Eastern shores for most of the month.

As is usual for this time of year, large areas of coastal grassland have been burnt. 

Freshly burnt areas are attracting a nice variety of raptors including African cuckoo-hawk, Martial eagle, Brown, Black-chested and Southern-banded snake-eagle, Bataleur and Black-shouldered & Yellow-billed kite. Good numbers of Senegal lapwing are also present in some of the burnt areas. ​

Other highlights in the grasslands have included good numbers of Collared pratincole and- closer to Cape Vidal- the Yellow-billed oxpecker which have been seen regularly on herds of buffalo.

Lastly, we have once again enjoyed numerous leopard sightings during the course of the month. St Lucia and the Isimangaliso Wetlands park proving to be a fantastic place to see these beautiful predators.  

It has been an exceptional birding month in St Lucia with fantastic sightings in all the different habitats.

At this time of year in the forests most of the White stinkwood trees and Large leaved fig trees have shed their leaves allowing more light to infiltrate through the canopy meaning the forest is less gloomy, affording better photographic opportunities. 

Action in the forest has been centred around the fruiting fig trees, Wild plum trees, Sand apricot vines and Pigeonwood trees which have been attracting large numbers of frugivores including Trumpeter hornbill, Black-bellied starling, White-eared barbet, Yellow-bellied greenbul, Livingstone's turaco and Crowned hornbill. 

On the forest floor we have enjoyed regular sightings of Winter-visiting Spotted ground-thrush, Chorister robin-chat and White-starred robin as well as resident Brown scrub-robin, Buff-spotted flufftail, Lemon dove, Red-capped robin-chat and Terrestrial brownbul.

Roving bird parties have been quite spectacular in the forest this month with sometimes overwhelming numbers of species. Regular species present in the bird parties have included Olive bush-shrike, Orange-breasted bush-shrike, Green malkoha, Dark-backed weaver, Black-backed puffback, Rudds apalis, Yellow-breasted apalis, Black cuckooshrike, Green-backed camaroptera, Black-throated wattle-eye, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Square-tailed drongo, African paradise flycatcher and the odd Narina trogon.

Flowering Coral trees, Tree fuschia and Cape honeysuckle have continued to attract good numbers of Purple-banded, Grey, Eastern olive and Collared sunbirds.
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Seed-eaters have been concentrated around seeding Casuarina (Beefwood) trees this month with nice mixed flocks of Green twinspot, Red-backed mannikin, Bronze mannikin, Yellow-fronted canary and Grey waxbill often present in the vicinity.
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With a relatively dry Winter thus far the wetlands have receded around St Lucia and in the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park. The smaller, shallower wetlands are providing easier pickings for herons (Grey, Black-headed, Squacco, Rufous-bellied), little bittern, Egrets (Great white, Intermediate, Little), African spoonbill, Hamerkop and Sacred Ibises as aquatic organisms are more concentrated and easier to hunt, attracting good numbers of these birds.

Highlights in the wetlands have included regular sightings of a pair of Rufous-bellied heron as well as regular open views of the normally secretive Little bittern.

The last-remaining deeper wetlands are also holding more concentrated numbers of waterfowl such as African pygmy-goose, White-backed duck, White-faced whistling duck, Yellow-billed duck, Red-billed & Blue-billed teal and the odd Lesser moorhen.

Other highlights on the Eastern shores during the month have included Collared pratincole which are visible at wetland edges or on the road if one is lucky,  Saddle-billed stork, African cuckoo-hawk, Southern-banded snake eagle and African crowned eagle. 

Huge baitballs of sardine have been lingering around Cape Vidal throughout the month attracting good numbers of Cape cormorant, Cape gannet and Greater crested tern. 

A Parasitic jaeger (not a bird often seen perched ashore in KZN) has been harassing terns and gulls at Cape Vidal for their food- typical behaviour from this kleptoparasitic bird. Amazingly it has also been perching ashore (often seperate to the tern roost because it gets mobbed by them if it ventures too close). Other interesting sightings from shore at Cape Vidal included Indian Yellow-nosed albatross and  Brown booby. Also of interest, in St Lucia, a Wilson's storm-petrel was seen flying in the channel between the beach and backline- a bird usually seen much further off shore. 

The Lake St Lucia estuary mouth and narrows have produced some great sightings during the course of the month with regular sightings of the Eurasian oystercatcher which is often in the company of African (Black) oystercatchers. 

Lastly, in the narrows section of the Lake St Lucia estuary we enjoyed multiple sightings of African finfoot during the course of the month as well as some great Mangrove kingfisher sightings.

It was a relatively wet June in St Lucia with approximately 100mm of rain falling during the month. Nevertheless, the wetlands have continued to shrink and the shallow remaining pans with more concentrated, easy to catch invertebrates, frogs and fish are attracting a nice variety of predatory waterfowl including Squacco heron, Saddle-billed stork, Striated heron, Little bittern, Great white, Intermediate and Little egret, Black-headed heron, Grey heron, African spoonbill, Hamerkop, Saddle-billed stork and Wooly-necked stork to name a few. There are also abundant African pygmy-goose, White-backed duck, White-faced whistling duck, Red-billed teal and the odd Blue-billed teal along with African jacana, Black crake, Reed cormorant and the odd patrolling African marsh-harrier. 

One of the highlights of the month has been the regular sightings of Rufous-bellied heron on the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.

Another highlight has been the regular sightings of a Eurasian oystercatcher on the St Lucia beaches which has been in the company of African (Black) oystercatchers.

Forest birding has been fantastic with regular sightings of Green malkoha, Olive bush-shrike, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Woodward's batis, Rudd's apalis, Eastern nicator, Buff-spotted flufftail, Spotted ground-thrush, Black-throated wattle-eye, Brown scrub-robin, Livingstone's turaco, Grey sunbird, Purple-banded sunbird and the odd White-starred robin (to name a few)

At the estuary there has been a large tern roost present consisting predominantly of Greater crested terns with the odd Caspian, Sandwich and Little tern in the mix. The Western osprey has continued to show consistently as it hunts over the mouth and we have even enjoyed a sighting of African finfoot opposite the mouth  in recent days! The Palm-nut vulture have also given us nice sightings on St Lucia beaches during the course of the month.

The criteria for deciding on the top ten birds were as follows:

The distribution of the bird should be restricted predominantly to Zululand and/or Zululand should be the best place to see them in South Africa. Very localized species such as Green barbet were given preference over more widely distributed birds. The scarcity and level of difficulty in finding the birds ranked birds higher than others. For example Green malkoha is much more difficult to find than Rudd's apalis.
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​Livingstone’s turaco are only found within Zululand and into Mozambique. Their preferred habitat is Dune forest and as such are restricted to the narrow band of Dune forest skirting the Indian Ocean North of St Lucia and into the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park. St Lucia, Sodwana bay and Kosi bay are the best place to see them. These birds are relatively common in suitable habitat, especially areas with fruiting fig and Wild plum trees. Their nervous habits make them tricky to get good visuals of but they are very vocal (especially late afternoon) which helps in locating them.
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​Rudd's apalis are another species restricted to the Dune forest and sand forests of Zululand and into Mozambique. They are a very common and vocal species but their small size and furtive habits make them tricky to see. They favor areas with Dune thorn acacia and are often found in the company of the Yellow-breasted apalis which is much more confiding and conspicuous.
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​Woodward’s batis are often described as the 'lazy' batis as they move less than the other batis species. They are often content to sit and call from the same position in dense foliage for long periods where their ventriloquil abilities make them difficult to locate. They are restricted to Dune forest and sand forest habitats skirting the coast of Zululand. St Lucia and the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park are the best place to see them.
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Pink-throated twinspot are best searched for in the sandforest areas of  Mkhuze GR, Tembe Elephant Park and Bonamanzi but can also be found in dune forests of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park at places such as St Lucia, Sodwana and Kosi Bay.

They are often found in mixed flocks with other seedeaters such as Grey waxbill, Red-backed mannikin and Green twinspot.
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​Rosy-throated longclaw favour damp grassland, floodplains and wetland edge on the Coastal plain of Zululand. They occur sparsely and are nomadic according to rainfall and suitable habitat. Good places to see them are Nibela peninsula, Hluhluwe river floodplain, the shores of Lake Sibaya and the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park. 
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​With only a few hundred individuals occurring in the Country, the Southern-banded snake-eagle is most certainly one of the most rare birds in South Africa. Their specific habitat preference of Dune forest restricts them to the far North-Eastern parts of Zululand with most individuals found in the extensive dune forests still remaining within the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.  

The Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park and St Lucia are excellent places to search for this sparse and elusive bird.
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Neergaard's sunbird are restricted to the Sandforests of Zululand in places such as Mkhuze game reserve, Tembe elephant Park, Ndumo and the False bay section of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.

They are a discrete sunbird which is easily overlooked.  
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The Plain-backed sunbird is an extremely localised bird found in Sandforests and tall woodland only in the furthest Northern reaches of Zululand (and further North into Mozambique). The only reliable place to see them in the whole of South africa is the Tembe elephant Park and its surroundings. 
 

One of the most localised birds in the country, the Green barbet is restricted to the Ongoye forest West of the small town of Mtunzini in Zululand. The next nearest population of Green barbet is Southern Malawi and Northern Mozambique making it one of the most amazingly isolated and disjunct population of birds in the country. 

Theories why the Green barbet does not occupy other surrounding forests is supposedly due to the occurrence of a high density and diversity of Fig tree species in the Ongoye forest compared to other nearby forests. The Green barbet is synonymous with fruiting figs which are its almost exclusive food source.  

It's been a very dry month in St Lucia compared to last May when we received approximately 300mm of rain.

The Wetlands have continued to shrink and the grasslands have become a swathe of golden yellow.

With the lack of rain and reduced outflow from the imfolozi River the estuary channel has become much shallower.

Most of the summer terns have now left the estuary mouth with a few stragglers of Lesser crested tern still persisting amongst the many Greater crested terns and Caspian and Sandwich tern. As is usual for the Winter we have started to see Cape Gannet out at sea (amongst the first arriving humpback whales) and also more Kelp gull and the odd Cape cormorant.  Other species present at the mouth area throughout the month included: Pink-backed pelican, Yellow-billed stork, Sanderling, Grey plover, Little egret, White-fronted & Kittliz's plover.​

​The terns can rest easy these days with the absence of Yellow-billed kite but are still disturbed by the odd passing African fish-eagle and Western osprey.

In the forest we have enjoyed consistent sightings of Spotted ground thrush during the month and very reliable sightings of Buff-spotted flufftail in the latter part of the month. ​

We have also enjoyed our first sightings of the season of the beautiful winter-visiting White-starred robin and Grey cuckooshrike. We also enjoyed somewhat unusual sightings of Brown-backed honeybird. Bird parties are nice and large after being beefed up by winter-visiting species such as Paradise flycatcher, Olive bush-shrike, Dusky flycatcher, Grey cuckooshrike and Black cuckooshrike. Early mornings are starting to become chilly and birds have started hunting the early morning sun which makes for good photographic opportunities. Frugivorous species such as Livingstone's turaco, Black-bellied starling, White-eared barbet, Trumpeter hornbill have been congregating around the last fruiting fig trees whereas sunbirds (Olive, Grey, Collared and Purple-banded) are congregating on the first flowering Tree fuschia and Cape honeysuckle. ​

​The short cut grass  on the road verges on the Eastern shores are holding good numbers of Senegal lapwing and Wetland areas good numbers of Pale-crowned cisticola.

Also of interest, Cuckoo hawk sightings have been nice and consistent on the Eastern shores during the month along with Southern banded snake-eagle, Brown snake-eagle and Black-chested snake-eagle.

In the forest, action has been centred at fruiting Large-leafed and Sycamore fig trees, Tasselberry trees and flowering African flame/Wild tulip trees and we have enjoyed great sightings of all the forest specials during the course of the month. ​

​The wetlands are still holding good numbers of waterfowl including African pygmy-goose & White-backed duck and the odd Lesser moorhen and Saddle-billed stork. Sightings of the White-backed night-heron have dried up this month due to the receding wetlands.