September birding update.

Celtis leaf beetle larvae.

Forest birding has been nothing short of amazing during September with many species vocalizing to proclaim territories or attract mates (making them more conspicuous), and many species busying themselves with nest building. Areas with plenty of White Stinkwood trees (Celtis Africana) have been exceptionally productive due to a proliferation of Celtis Leaf Beetle larvae (which eat the leaves of this tree). The beetle larvae ate almost every leaf off many of the trees and the branches and trunks were coated with dense clusters of them attracting many insectivorous birds. Interestingly, this rich food source has resulted in an influx of African emerald cuckoo and Klaas’ cuckoo to the area- both of which are more prolific than previous years. Fruiting Ficus natalensis and Wild-plum (Herpephyllum caffrum) trees have been attracting a wide assortment of frugivorous birds, the Livingstone's turaco, in particular, seems to be very fond of the wild plums (Can't blame them!)
 
Many altitudinal migrants and winter visitors were still lingering during September with good sightings of White-starred robin, Chorister robin-chat and Grey cuckooshrike.
 
Meanwhile, the reedbeds bordering the St Lucia estuary narrows and are abuzz with activity as the Thick-billed, Eastern golden, Lesser-masked and Southern brown-throated weaver males have started their nest-building endeavours. Along with the weavers, species such as Lesser-swamp warbler, African reed warbler and Rufous-winged cisticola are also common in the reedbeds. Boat cruises on the estuary narrows are also still reporting regular sightings of White-backed night-heron.
 
The Eastern shores section of the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park has been fantastic (as always!). The highlight has been the Rufous-bellied heron which has shown consistently at Nsombiza Pan (Pan loop) during the latter half of the month. Pale-crowned cisticola and Rufous-winged cisticola have also been showing nicely at the same pan.
 
Collared pratincole and Senegal lapwing are regular on Wetland edges throughout the park and African cuckoo-hawk has been a regular sighting on the Eastern shores too! The raptor-viewing has been characteristically superb with regular sightings of African Crowned eagle, Southern-banded snake-eagle, Brown snake-eagle, Black-chested snake-eagle, African Marsh-harrier and Long-crested eagle.
 
The summer migrant waders (such as Little stint, Curlew sandpiper, Grey plover, Common sandpiper ) have started to arrive in drips and drabs at the St Lucia estuary mouth joining the ‘usual’ Pied avocet, Common whimbrel, Grey-headed gull, White-fronted plover, Sanderling and African Black oystercatcher but nothing out of the ordinary has arrived as yet. Hopefully, the estuary mouth delivers some rare vagrants again this year (as it has done consistently in previous years). More crab plover and Eurasian oystercatcher please! There has been no sign of Sooty tern at the tern roost since August (according to my knowledge).

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Klaas' cuckoo and African Emerald cuckoo.