St Lucia Birding update: March '25

Crested guineafowl in St Lucia

It's been another great birding month in St Lucia. The month started off and ended with a fair amount of rain with just over 200mm recorded for the month. The first signs of the change of season are happening. The mornings and afternoon temperatures are a bit cooler and the sapping Zululand humidity also tapered off as the month  progressed. Many of the Summer visitors have already started to leave. Strange to peer up at the sky ​and not see any soaring Yellow-billed kites anymore! Have also had the first sighting of African stonechat in the grasslands- usually the first hint that Winter is upon us! 
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African stonechat are altitudinal migrants which move down to the coastal grasslands during Winter.

In the forest there has been plenty of activity around fruiting Pigeonwood trees- the small black berries attracting Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Yellow-bellied & Sombre greenbul, Terrestrial brownbul, Lemon dove, Tambourine dove and Eastern golden weaver. Fruiting figs have been attracting a nice mix of frugivorous species such as Purple-crested & Livingstone's turaco, White-eared barbet, Black-bellied starling, Trumpeter hornbill and African green pigeon. 

Livingstone's turaco

Seeding grass patches in forest clearings have been attracting mixed-species flocks of Bronze & Red-backed mannikin, Grey & Common waxbill and the odd Green twinspot.  

Red-backed mannikin feeding on seeding grass

We have been lucky to stumble onto some epic bird parties over the course of the month with one memorable bird party consisting of Square-tailed drongo, Dark-backed weaver, Black-throated wattle-eye, Woodward's batis, Blue-mantled cested flycatcher, Rudd's apalis, Yellow-breasted apalis, Yellow-bellied greenbul, Terrestrial brownbul, Golden-tailed & Cardinal woodpecker, Spectacled weaver, Green malkoha, Crowned hornbill, Black-backed puffback and last but not least Narina Trogon!

Green malkoha in St Lucia- a regular member of mixed species bird parties

We have enjoyed regular sightings of Buff-spotted flufftail during the course of the month- both male and female. They have now gone silent again as breeding season has ended. Will have to wait for Late September/early October to hear the haunting territorial calls of the males again.

Female Buff-spotted flufftail in St Lucia

We have also been privileged to see African crowned eagle on a couple of occassions on the walks in St Lucia. Was interesting to see one individual being mobbed by some noisy Trumpeter hornbills and was eventually encouraged to leave the area.

African crowned eagle being harassed by Trumpeter hornbills

 At the estuary, the 3 African skimmers seem to have left again with no sightings over the past couple of weeks. The tern roost is still usually holding 5 or 6 species including Greater crested, Lesser crested, Sandwich, Little, Common and Caspian tern. 

Tern roost at the St Lucia estuary mouth (overlooked by a Palm-nut vulture)

It's always great to start seeing many of the waders come into their more colourful breeding plumage during March just before their return migration to the Northern hemisphere. Waders regular at the mouth during March included Curlew sandpiper, Little stint, Common ringed plover, Kittlitz's plover, Grey plover and occassional sightings of Greater sand plover.

Curlew sandpiper at the Lake St Lucia estuary- some changing into breeding plumage

Blue-cheeked bee-eater have been very common on the beaches, providing great photographic opportunities as they perch on washed up river debris (with waves as a backdrop). In the past couple of days they have started to gather in large flocks- usually  a sign they are going to migrate North soon.

Blue-cheeked bee-eater perched on river debris close to the mouth

On the Eastern shores of Isimangaliso Wetlands Park it was great to see the Yellow-billed oxpecker again after a long period of no sightings.  The most recent sightings have all been on zebra so scan the zebra carefully in the area around Dune loop exit.

Also on the Eastern shores, sightings of Collared pratincole have been regular throughout the month and Senegal lapwing towards the latter end of the month.

Immature Collared pratincole on the Eastern shores

 Wetland birding has started to pick up again after the late Summer rains have topped up the wetlands again. African pygmy goose and White-backed duck are regular on the Wetlands along with White-faced whistling duck, Yellow-billed duck, Red-billed teal, Little grebe, Intermediate egret, Great white egret, African jacana, Black crake, Purple heron, Black-headed heron and the odd Saddle-billed stork.  An unusual sighting on the Eastern shores during the month was that of African black duck.

African black duck are uncommon on the Eastern shores