St Lucia Birding Update: August '24

Green malkoha, St Lucia

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. 

White stinkwood trees with Clusters of Celtis leaf beetle larvae on trunks (Brown patches)

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

African emerald cuckoo, St Lucia

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

Purple-banded sunbird in flowering Coral tree

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. 

Narina trogon male calling, St Lucia

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.

Green twinspot

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.

Eastern bronze-naped pigeon in 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.

Eurasian oystercatcher, Lake St Lucia estuary mouth

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.

Mangrove kingfisher, St Lucia estuary

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.

Rufous-bellied heron, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso Wetlands Park.

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.

Allen's gallinule, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso Wetlands Park

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

Fires on the Eastern shores, Isimangaliso Wetlands Park

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. ​

African cuckoo-hawk staking out freshly burnt grassland

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.

Collared pratincole, Isimangaliso Wetlands Park

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.