St Lucia Birding Update: March

Green malkoha in St Lucia

​It was an interesting weather month in St Lucia with plenty of rain (over 250mm). As a result the wetlands are full to the brim again and a few road sections on the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park under water again.

Crocs sunbathing in the road! Eastern shores after heavy rains.

Tropical storm Filipo came very close to St Lucia, veering off to the ocean a few 100km to the North. Many birders were hopeful that Frigatebirds, Sooty terns or other vagrant pelagics might be forced closer to shore but none came ashore in St Lucia as far as I am aware.

Unusual sightings during the month included:

Yellow-billed oxpecker on the Eastern shores around Dune loop exit (on kudu again). Interestingly my last sighting was of 3 individuals (2 adults and a juvenile). A definite sign that they may be re-populating rather than it just being one lost individual!

Yellow-billed & Red-billed oxpecker, Eastern shores

​A Lesser moorhen has returned to its favorite spot in the wetlands 100m to the North of Amazibu hide.

Lesser moorhen, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso

​In the forest, the Buff-spotted flufftail have showed consistently throughout the month.

We have also enjoyed regular sightings of Green malkoha, Black-throated wattle-eye, Blue-mantled crested flycatcher, Woodward's batis, Livingstone's turaco, Grey waxbill, Narina trogon to name a few. Towards the end of the month the season has started to shift with mornings and afternoons becoming cooler. Forest birds have started searching for the sun more making themselves more conspicuous! Plenty of action in the forest has been happening around fruiting Tasselberry & Fig trees and flowering African flame/Wild tulip trees. 

White-eared barbets in Wild tulip/African flame tree

Seeding grass in forest clearings has been attracting a nice variety of seedeaters such as Red-backed mannikin, Grey waxbill, Common waxbill and Green twinspot.

Grey waxbill in St Lucia

​Significant changes have happened at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth due to the large swell associated with the Tropical storm Filipo. The sandspit opposite the mouth pushed inwards and was levelled allowing more swell to cross over and scour the beach and reedbeds. No rarities were found at the mouth this month but there has been an impressively large tern roost consisting of Greater crested, Lesser crested, Common, Little, Caspian and Sandwich terns.

St Lucia estuary mouth tern roost

With all the rainfall the Umflozi river (which connects to the estuary at the mouth) has been flowing strongly and pushing freshwater fish species such as Tilapia and barbel into the estuary channel (which then are forced onto the beach once they reach the saltwater) providing a feast for the many Yellow-billed storks (and crocodiles and Bull sharks)

Crocodiles and Yellow-billed storks at the Lake St Lucia estuary mouth

The Palm-nut vultures have continued to be regular on the estuary beaches and surrounds.

In the grasslands, the first signs of the approach of Winter have come with the arrival of Stonechat, Senegal lapwing and even a Jackal buzzard. Also, The Blue-cheeked bee-eater have started to gather in large flocks in preparation for their Northward migration.

Senegal lapwing, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso

Nocturnal birding has been great with regular sightings of White-backed night-heron, African wood-owl, Fiery-necked nightjar, Western barn owl and Spotted eagle-owl during the month.   ​

Raptor viewing was fantastic throughout the month with sightings of Crowned eagle, Brown, Black-chested and Southern-banded snake-eagle, Amur falcon, African fish-eagle, African goshawk, Black sparrowhawk, Little sparrowhawk, African cuckoo-hawk, Jackal buzzard and African marsh-harrier.

Jackal buzzard, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso

A bonus during the month was many spectacular leopard sightings enjoyed on the Eastern shores, Isimangaliso.

Leopard on the Eastern shores.