October birding update: St Lucia

Rosy-throated longclaw, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.

​October is a fantastic time for birding in St Lucia with plenty of bird activity everywhere.

Starting at the estuary: The reedbeds lining the estuary are buzzing with nesting Southern Brown-throated, Eastern golden, Lesser-masked and Thick-billed weavers. Areas of exposed mud flats and shallow water on the low tide are attracting a nice diversity of waders including Bar-tailed godwit, Pied avocet, Common-ringed plover, Curlew sandpiper, Little stint, Common greenshank, Marsh sandpiper, Wood sandpiper and Common sandpiper. The highlight has been a Eurasian curlew which has been seen a number of times in the last couple of weeks.
The tern roost at the mouth itself has been holding Greater crested, Caspian, Little and Common terns whilst the stretches of beach surrounding the mouth have produced Ruddy turnstone, Eurasian oystercatcher, African black oystercatcher, Sanderling, Whimbrel, White-fronted plover and Grey plover.    

Meanwhile in forest, the 'dawn-chorus' has been at it's absolute best giving a spectacular glimpse at both the numbers and diversity of birds in the forest. The eery calls of Buff-spotted flufftails can be heard in the early mornings and late afternoons and we have enjoyed spectacular sightings of these shy little birds this month- the highlight being a sighting of a male, female and two tiny chicks crossing the path infront of us! Otherwise the Narina trogon males have been characteristically vocal for this time of year, often so preoccupied with their calling 'matches' that they are totally oblivious to us birders making for fantastic photographic opportunities. We have also enjoyed regular sightings of Eastern nicator, Gorgeous bush-shrike, Black-throated wattle-eye, Green twinspot, Livingstone's turaco, Brown scrub-robin, Southern-banded snake-eagle, Green malkoha, Green twinspot, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Woodward's batis, Rudd's apalis, Red-backed mannikin, Tambourine dove, Grey sunbird, Purple-banded sunbird and many more during the month.

The wetlands surrounding St Lucia have been beautifully picturesque recently and coated with a carpet of purple waterlily flowers. African pygmy-goose and White-backed duck are pleasantly common. Other species regular at the wetlands include Intermediate, Great white and Cattle egret, Lesser moorhen, African marsh-harrier, Pale-crowned, Croaking, Zitting  and Rufous-winged cisticola, Yellow-throated longclaw, White-faced whistling duck, Black-headed heron, African spoonbill, African jacana, Spur-winged goose, Black-crowned night heron, Striated heron, Saddle-billed stork, Three-banded plover to name a few.

In the Eastern shores section of the Isimangaliso wetlands park the highlight has been a couple of sightings of Rosy-throated longclaw at wetland edge. Amazibu hide has also continued to be reliable for Rufous-bellied heron with as many as four showing at a time!. Freshly burnt grassland areas are attracting Senegal lapwing, Secretarybird and a big variety of raptors including Black-chested, Brown and Southern-banded snake-eagles, Martial eagle, Common buzzard and  African cuckoo-hawk. Collared pratincole are around again and can often be seen flying around or perched at wetland edges.

Nocturnal bird sightings have included Swamp and Fiery-necked nightjar, African wood-owl, Spotted eagle-owl, Western Barn owl and Marsh owl.

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Narina trogon male, St Lucia