Weeks 1-4, 27th Jun - 24th Jul 2011

29 forms were received with an average of 34 birds per garden. Gardens ranged in size from 1 hectare to 10 acres. Highest count was 67. The majority of us have Laughing and Red-eyed Dove, Purple-crested Turaco, Crested Barbet, Arrow-marked Babbler, Kurrichane Thrush, White-browed Robin-chat, Dark-capped Bulbul, Grey-headed Sparrow, Variable Sunbird, Blue Waxbill, Red-billed Firefinch, Masked Weaver and Bronze Mannikin. Common over flyers are Cattle Egret, Pied Crow, Black-headed Heron and Sacred Ibis. Cape Turtle Dove were recorded only in the west and northwest (Marlborough, Meyrick Pk). Lots of raptors were recorded: 6 Lizard Buzzard, 8 Gabar Goshawk, 6 Long-crested Eagle, 4 Shikra and Little Sparrowhawk. The Barn Owl (8) is frequently heard or seen while a White-faced Scops-owl was noted for the first time in 35 years in Borrowdale. The Fiery-necked Nightjar was heard at 6 locations. Breeding was recorded for Red-billed Firefinch, Masked-weaver and barbets. Grey Go-away birds (6) are becoming more common and Fiscal Shrikes (5) less so. There was only 1 Yellow-fronted Canary, 1 Brown-hooded Kingfisher and 2 House Sparrow. Relative rarities were an African Spoonbill, a Black Sparrowhawk, a Magpie Shrike and 2 Red-backed Mannikin.

Weeks 5-8, 25th Jul - 24th Aug 2011

35 forms were returned, 30 complete, 1 with 1 page only and 4 without sightings. Highest count was 67 on a large property and 33 was the average. August was marked by a fair amount of breeding of weavers, barbets (specially provided logs were successfully utilized),firefinches, mousebirds, doves, sunbirds and a Gabar Goshawk. And a lone Paradise Flycatcher arrived in week 8. Otherwise, Village Indigobirds began to appear and 2 Thick-billed Weaver were noted. A flock of 40 Common Waxblill were still in a B’dale garden, but disappeared soon after. Meyer’s Parrot wer spotted in Alex Park and Greendale, 3 African Grey Hornbill passed through. Raptors were as before except for an African Harrier-hawk and a Peregrine, which became enmeshed in a net over a fishpond in Christon Bank. The Fiery-necked Nightjar still called over a wide area. Palm and Little Swift were overflying all areas but a Grey-rumped Swallow was the only hirundine.

Weeks 9-12, 22nd Aug - 18 Sep  2011

26 sheets were sent or handed in with an average of 44 species, 10 more than in the previous batch, evidence that activity is increasing. Breeding is getting under way, especially of weavers, Redbilled Firefinch, Speckled Mouse bird, Variable Sunbird and Robin-chat. The highest number was 65 recorded in Greendale and which included a flock of Wattled Starling, a Cuckoo hawk, an Eastern Saw-wing Swallow and a Meyer’s Parrot. A Peregrine Falcon was seen perched on a telegraph pole in Eastlea where first ever Black Flycatcher and Copper Sunbird were in the garden. Our second Paradise Flycatcher appeared on 16th Sept. Terrestrial Brownbul was another garden rarity but they are regularly heard in the Botanic Gardens. Among the much reported flyovers of Cattle Egret and Sacred Ibis were 5 and 11 African Spoonbill.

Weeks 13-16, 19th Sep - 16th Oct   2011

We received 27 completed Sheet 4s. As expected, lots of activity as the migrants arrive and many species get breeding, mostly resident and offering opportunities for the cuckoos, indigobirds and honeyguides to parasitise. The cuckoos were seen or heard in many gardens;  10 Klaas’s, 7 Red-chested, 2 Diderick’s and 1 Levaillant’s. The most often reported breeder was the Southern Masked Weaver but then this species does make a point of building so many nests it’s difficult to ignore him. Spectacled and Golden Weaver also make no attempt to hide their activities. The common residents like Speckled Mousebird, White-browed Robin-chat, Kurrichane Thrush, Laughing Dove, Dark-capped Bulbul,  various sunbirds, Bronze Mannikin, Red-billed Firefinch, Blue Waxbill and Pied Crow were all recorded as well as Gabar Goshawk. One observer in Hatfield/Park Meadowlands, with the help of two gardeners, has located over 20 nests on her 2 acre property.

Apart from the cuckoos, the other arrivals were Paradise Flycatcher, in 12 gardens, European Bee-eater overhead, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 House Martin,1 Wahlberg’s Eagle and 1 Yellow-billed Kite flying over. Senegal Coucals became more frequent visitors to gardens(3) as were Thick-billed Weaver and Red-backed Mannikins were again seen at birdbaths.

     
The night sounds were once again Fiery-necked Nightjar, in 10 locations, 9 Barn Owl, 5 Southern White-faced Scops-owl and 3 Spotted Eagle-owl.

Weeks  17-20, 17th Oct - 13th Nov  2011

We received 24 completed survey sheets, 7 handed in and 17 electronic. The average number of species recorded was 39 an increase on the previous month as birds become bolder as they search for mates or food for partners and young. Lots of breeding and fledglings noticed including a Miombo Double-collared Sunbird feeding a Jacobin Cuckoo. A resident breeding Gabar Goshawk helped itself to 2 Speckled Mousebird chicks in Monavale and a Shikra was attacking other species at a feeding tray. Cuckoos everywhere, Klaas’s, Red-chested and Levaillant’s being the most frequently mentioned. There are worryingly few swallows and martins, only 2 Barn, 1 Lesser-striped, 1 Eastern Saw-wing and a House Martin. Also only one Spotted Flycatcher although they do tend to arrive later than other migrants. A Red-headed Weaver was seen in Mt Pleasant and Red-backed Mannikins in 3 locations and the first Lilac-breasted Roller in 30  years in a Highlands garden. Owls often recorded including 2 breeding White-faced and a Wood Owl was heard.

Keep the records coming in and if you lack confidence or expertise send for an expert. There are more Bar-throated  Apalis, Green-winged Pytilia and honeyguides than appear on the forms.

Weeks 21-24, 14th Nov – 11th Dec  2011
A high average of 37 species per garden with migrants much in evidence. Amur falcon chasing alates in a few places, 1 Red-backed Shrike, 1 Garden Warbler, Eurasian Bee-eater calling overhead and 2 Red-breasted Swallow plus the expected Paradise Flycatcher. I’m sure there must be lots of Willow Warbler but they get lost in the foliage and only 3 were recorded.

Fruiting trees attracted a few Green Pigeon and there were more Yellow-fronted Canary and Yellow White-eye. Relatively rare garden birds were Groundscraper Thrush in Hillside, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and a Buff-spotted Flufftail was heard 23/11 and seen 9/12 in a large, wild garden in Highlands.

2 Swainson’s Spurfowl reported and sporadic Thick-billed Weaver. More woodpeckers at last, both Golden-tailed and Cardinal. At Agrifoods a Familiar Chat was an interesting sighting. Once again only one Common Fiscal was seen and a Pied Wagtail was new to the list as was Purple-banded Sunbird. Odd Meyer’s Parrot and a Rosy-cheeked Lovebird put in an appearance again.

More species flew over; Wattled Lapwing, a White-faced Duck, Reed Cormorant plus the widely reported Cattle Egret, Sacred Ibis and Black-headed Heron.

Don’t forget to look out for partridge in pear trees next sheet!