Birding update for St Lucia- June '26

Rudd's apalis enjoying the early morning sun

The shift change has happened in St Lucia with all of the Winter-visiting species now present to replace the Summer migrants.

In the forest, we have been enjoying regular sightings of Winter-visiting Spotted ground-thrush, White-starred robin, Olive bush-shrike, African dusky flycatcher and the odd Chorister robin-chat.

Spotted ground-thrush are a Wnter-visiting species to St Lucia. Photo credit: Trevor Mclachlan

Winter-visiting African stonechat are once again abundant in the coastal grasslands and have been joined by Pale-crowned cisticola at wetland edges. At the forest/grassland ecotone Fiscal flycatcher are another Winter arrival.

​At the estuary edges the Winter-visiting Mangrove kingfisher is another exciting arrival.

Mangrove kingfisher at the estuary edges in St Lucia

The chilly Winter mornings have been great for birding in the forest with many of the usually furtive forest species seeking sunshine and perching out in the open.

Green malkoha seeking bright sunshine on a chilly Winter morning

In the forest action has been happening around fruiting Pigeonwood trees, with the small dark berries attracting an impressive variety of birds such as Yellow-bellied greenbul, White-starred robin, Red-capped robin-chat, Lemon dove, Tambourine dove, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Terrestrial brownbul, Red-backed mannikin, Collared sunbird, Thick-billed weaver, Black-bellied starling and Sombre greenbul.

​Cape honeysuckle have started to flower and the nectar-laden flowers are attracting a nice variety of sunbirds including Grey, Olive, Collared and Purple-banded.

Flowering Cape honeysuckle are attracting a nice variety of sunbirds. Collared sunbird female in picture.

Roving bird parties in the forest have typically consisted of Dark-backed weaver, Square-tailed drongo, Black-backed puffback, Olive bush-shrike, Terrestrial brownbul, Golden-tailed woodpecker with the occassional Woodward's batis, Black-throated wattle-eye, Green malkoha and Narina trogon joining the mix!

Narina trogon often join mixed species bird parties in the forest

Fruiting Fig trees and Wild plum trees have been attracting Livingstones & Purple-crested turaco, African green pigeon, White-eared barbet and Black-bellied starling amongst others!

Livingstone's turaco perched near a fruiting fig tree

We have also enjoyed several great sightings of Buff-spotted flufftail.

The rains have somehow evaded St Lucia this year and the Wetlands continue to shrink, with many now totally dry. The shrinking wetlands are, however, proving a nice concentrated food source for a nice variety of egrets, storks, Hamerkop and kingfishers.

Saddle-billed stork at one of the shrinking wetlands close to St Lucia

Other species commonly seen in the wetlands include White-backed duck, Yellow-billed duck, White-faced whistling duck, African jacana, Little grebe and Black crake.

The tern roost at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth has typically consisted of Greater crested, Caspian and the odd Common & Little tern. 

Tern roost at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth

Other species commonly seen at the mouth area and estuary edges have included Kelp gull, Cape Gannet, African oystercatcher, Western osprey, African fish-eagle, Wooly-necked stork, Goliath heron, Southern brown-throated weaver, Sanderling, White-fronted plover & Brimstone canary to name a few.

Up the estuary on the narrows, the estuary boat tours have been producing regular great sightings of African finfoot.

African finfoot seen on an estuary boat cruise on the St Lucia Narrows. Photo credit: René van der Giessen

The Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park has produced some great raptor-viewing with regular sightings of Southern-banded, Brown & Black-chested snake-eagle as well as Black-winged kite, Martial eagle, Crowned eagle, Black sparrowhawk, African goshawk and African cuckoo-hawk.

Southern-banded snake-eagle

Other noteworthy sightings on the Eastern shores this month have included the Yellow-billed oxpecker and an unusual sighting (for the area) of Wattled starling.

Yellow-billed oxpecker on kudu female on the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso

Nocturnal birding has yielded great sightings of African Wood-owl, Fiery-necked nightjar and Swamp nightjar

Swamp nightjar