St Lucia Birding Update: October '24

Green twinspot in St Lucia. Photo courtesy: Paul Mouton

It's been a mixed bag of weather this month with howling winds, a fair amount of rain, the first Summer thunderstorms and some perfect, warm windless days inbetween. Intra-African migrants such as Violet-backed starling, Broad-billed roller, African pygmy kingfisher, Red-chested, Diedericks and Levaillant's cuckoo started to arrive at the start of the month- the first sign of summer. 

The intra-african migrants have been joined by the first-arriving Eurasian migrants such as Common buzzard, Barn swallow and European bee-eater. 

European bee-eater

We are still eagerly awaiting the arrival of our other Summer migrants! ​It's been busy in the forest with many of the forest residents engrossed in nest building and plenty of vocalizing to attract mates or proclaim breeding territories. We have regularly encountered floating leks of male Narina trogon during the month. Amazing to watch these usually furtive species sitting conspicuously calling and performing overhead display flights!

Narina trogon male. Photo courtesy: Paul Mouton

​Fruiting large-leafed figs (Ficus lutea) have been attracting a great variety of frugivores including White-eared barbet, Black-bellied starling, African green pigeon, Trumpeter hornbill, Yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Livingstone’s turaco and Yellow-bellied greenbul whilst blossoming Natal Flatcrown and Forest Mahogany trees have been attracting a nice variety of Sunbirds- Grey, Olive, Purple-banded and Collared- as well as a few leaf-gleaners such as Yellow-breasted and Rudd's apalis.

Rudd's apalis

​A few lingering African emerald cuckoo still provided nice sightings throughout the month, advertising their presence nicely with their piercing 'Hello georgie/ Mooimeisie calls.

African emerald cuckoo calling from tree in St Lucia

​The haunting call of little Buff-spotted flufftail is a common sound in the forests at the moment at dawn, dusk, night-time and drizzly mornings. We have also enjoyed great sightings of these beautiful little birds during the course of the month.

Buff-spotted flufftail male in St Lucia. Photo courtesy: Wessel De Wet

​A nice surprise on one of the walks was a displaying African broadbill- a very uncommon bird for St Lucia. Amazing to hear and see it's very eccentric display.

African Broadbill in St Lucia

​We saw the first termite alate emergences this month after the first heavy thunderstorms of the season. The whole of St Lucia and surrounds was a swarming mass of flying termites, providing a feast for a large multitude of birds, some bending the rules of what they are supposed to eat to take advantage of the high-energy, easy-to-obtain food source.

Green malkoha relished the termite alate feast after the first thuderstorms

​At the estuary mouth wader numbers have starting to increase with sightings of Common-ringed and Grey plover, Curlew sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Common greenshank, Little stint, Ruddy turnstone and Sanderling. Other birds seen at the mouth during the course of the month have included Western osprey, Pink-backed pelican, Eurasian whimbrel, African Black oystercatcher and African fish-eagle.

Grey plover still with remnants of breeding plumage: Lake St Lucia estuary mouth.

​The Rufous-bellied bellied heron have still been seen regularly at Amazibu hide on the Eastern shores and the wetlands just to the North. 

Rufous-bellied heron, Eastern shores, Isimangaliso

The wetlands have continued to fill with the regular rainfall we have received throughout the month and are still holding good numbers of African Pygmy-goose, White-backed duck and the odd Saddle-billed stork amongst others.

White-backed duck in wetlands close to St Lucia. Photo courtesy: Paul Mouton

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​Nocturnal birding was great with up close sightings of Swamp nightjar and African wood-owl during the course of the month.

Swamp nightjar