Outing to the Tokai Arboretum.

05 December 2024 – Led by Otto Schmidt.

A slight drizzle and a serious accident on the M3, with a resultant major traffic jam, caused the outing’s start to be slightly delayed. A few of the early arrivals spotted Cape Siskin close to the car park, but sadly these did not show again later.

25 eager birders eventually headed up the gravel path out of the forest, several times dodging cyclists on route. Our first bird of note was a Fork-tailed Drongo. Common Chaffinches could be heard calling at various points but they kept well hidden.

Turning right off the gravel path into what had been a picnic area, we spotted an African Hoopoe which showed well for several minutes, and was very likely the sighting of the morning as they have become fairly rare on the Peninsula. Karoo Prinia was spotted, and, back on the gravel path Cape Canary showed well and a pair of Southern Boubou feeding chicks was a nice find, although not that easy to see well. Baboons could be heard calling nearby, but fortunately they kept out of sight.

A short excursion towards some tall dead trees where Margaret McIver, who knows the area intimately and was a mine of information during the morning, frequently picks up Brown-backed Honeybird, unfortunately did not produce the bird in question. Continuing along the gravel track, several overflying buzzards produced the expected lively discussion of Common or Cape/Mystery buzzard with the jury eventually deciding on Common Buzzard.

During the walk, with the birds being generally sparse and fairly distant, lizards and flowers became welcome alternate photographic subjects. A Black-girdled Lizard and Dietes grandiflora.

We then returned along the gravel path, deviating into the forest and heading towards the area near a stream where African Paradise Flycatchers were known to have a nest. Although the birds were about, they were keeping well-hidden and calling only infrequently and we could not locate the nest. Common Chaffinches were however eventually seen fairly well feeding on the forest floor.

From here we returned to the car park in ever-improving weather conditions. The birding had unfortunately not been overly productive, but it had been an enjoyable morning outing in pleasant surroundings and in good company.

Photographs by Daryl de Beer.
Report by Otto Schmidt.