Birding update for St Lucia: February '26

Rudd's apalis, Igwalagwala trail

It was an exceptionally hot and dry February with only 93mm falling during the course of the month (roughly a quarter of what we received last February). The wetlands have shrank as a result and the grasslands are much drier than they have been for the previous 5 years. Many of the wetlands are coated with a beautiful purple carpet of waterlilies at the moment. 

The wetlands have been relatively quiet this month with very few egrets and herons present. They are still holding good numbers of White-backed duck and the odd African pygmy-goose along with African jacana, Black crake, White-faced whistling duck, Little grebe, Malachite kingfisher, Saddle-billed stork, Spurwinged goose, Rufous-winged cisticola and Reed cormorant. Blue-cheeked bee-eater are abundant at wetland edges where they can be seen busily hawking dragonflies.

African pygmy-goose on the wetlands

Senegal lapwing have returned (as is typical late Summer) and can be found in short grassy areas such as the road verges and heavily grazed grassland. 

Senegal lapwing often sift through Rhino and Elephant dung in search of invertebrates

Collared pratincole have been regular on the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park where they are often found perched on the road. A few individuals have also been lingering at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth.

​

Collared pratincole on the Eastern shores

Grassland birding has been great with regular grassland birds including Yellow-throated longclaw, Banded martin, Croaking cisticola, Black-bellied bustard, Fan-tailed widowbird and Common buzzard. We have also had some great sightings of Secretarybird on the Eastern shores this month.

Banded martin have been regular in the coastal grasslands

Raptor viewing has been great around St Lucia and within the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park with regular sightings of Southern-banded, Brown & Black-chested snake-eagle. Other birds of prey seen during the month include African cuckoo-hawk, African Harrier-hawk, Black sparrowhawk, African goshawk, African crowned eagle, African marsh harrier, Yellow-billed kite, Black-winged kite, African fish-eagle and Western osprey. There have also been a few sightings of Eurasian hobby on the Eastern & Western shores (an uncommon bird in Zululand).

Southern-banded snake-eagle often perch on the powerlines leading to Cape Vidal on the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park

Nearby in Umfolozi game reserve we enjoyed a great sighting of the rare Sooty falcon!

Sooty falcon in Umfolozi Game reserve

---

The tern roost at the estuary has held Caspian, Greater crested, Sandwich, Common, Little and Lesser crested tern during the month. The terns have been joined by the odd Kelp gull at times along with the many Grey-headed gulls. Waders have included: Curlew sandpiper, Little stint, Common-ringed plover, Kittlitz's plover, White-fronted plover, Grey plover, Eurasian whimbrel, Common sandpiper, Common greenshank, Wood sandpiper and Sanderling. 

Curlew sandpipers at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth

Other regular sightings at the mouth and surrounding dune scrub and reedbeds  included: Sand martin, Collared pratincole, Brimstone canary, Rufous-winged cisticola, Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Western osprey, African oystercatcher, African fish-eagle and Southern brown-throated weaver.

Blue-cheeked bee-eaters at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth

In the forest, action has been centred around fruiting Pigeonwood, Cape Ash, Tasselberry, Whitestinkwood and Natal fig trees. 

​Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Red-capped robin-chat, Yellow-bellied greenbul, Terrestrial brownbul, Red-eyed dove, Tambourine dove and Lemon dove are particularly fond of the fruits of the Pigeonwood, whereas the Cape Ash attract Trumpeter hornbill, Livingstone's turaco, Purple-crested turaco, Black-bellied starling and White-eared barbet.

Livingstone's turaco

Other regular birds seen on forest walks include Black-throated wattle-eye, Woodward's batis, Scaly-throated honeyguide, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Rudd's apalis, Brown scrub-robin, Grey sunbird, Olive sunbird, Green malkoha, Narina trogon and African emerald cuckoo to name a few.

We have enjoyed many great sightings of Black-throated wattle-eye

At forest edge we have enjoyed sightings of Broad-billed roller, African pygmy-kingfisher and seed-eaters such as Red-backed mannikin, Green twinspot and Grey waxbill.

Broad-billed roller

Lastly, it was great to see the Yellow-billed oxpecker again during February, making it the 3rd consecutive year now that they have been sighted on the Eastern shores.

Yellow-billed oxpecker on the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park