Birding weekly 20140623

Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini) walking the
rocks near Haga Haga

From the fog of Johannesburg to the wind in the Eastern Cape I found myself birding the coastline and coastal-shrub from Port Elizabeth (P.E.) to Haga Haga. Shortly after landing in P.E. we went down to visit Cape Recife an old light house that safe guarded the ships sailing by. It now safe guards a breeding population of Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii) and currently has a reported Bridled Tern (Onychoprion anaethetus) which we missed out on due to poor weather conditions. The weather was worsening as the day progressed. However as we went down to the beachfront we saw a small group humped-backed whales swimming in the bay. Making our way round to Cape Recife we found the normal coastal birds; Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Cape Gull (Larus vetula) and White-fronted Plover (Charadrius marginatus). Unfortunately the tide was in and the Terns seemed to be bracing themselves for the Cold front moving in and sat safely on a rock out of the surf but also too far for identification. This meant no Roseate to add to the list this time round. 

As the cold front hit we caught a bus up to East London, travelling during the fowl weather was the only thing worth doing. From East London we met up with friends and headed down into Haga Haga. Surprisingly we were met by three Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorium) standing among a herd of cattle in a farmers field. Exploring some of the estuaries and gully forests we found Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus),  Greater Double-collared sunbird (Cinnyris afer), Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), Cape White-eye (Zosterops capensis), Brimestone Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) and hoped for Knysna (Bradypterus sylvaticus) and Barrett's (Bradypterus barratti) warblers. Within the rough surf brought on by the Cold Front moving past were Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) moving up and down the coastline.

Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorium) being watched by a herd of cows in a field of cows.

Black Oystercatcher  (Haematopus moquini): Still on the Red IUCN endangered list as Near-Threatened it is a success to the conservation initiatives taken to save them. They were decreasing in numbers until the law banning all vehicles driving on beaches was passed. This saw there numbers increase and now they are fairly common feeding in the rocky shores along the coastline.

Grey Crowned Cranes (Balearica regulorium): It was great to see the Grey Crowned Crane in the open fields between East London and Haga Haga. these remarkable birds are truly magnificent. paler than there northern cousins the Black crowned Crane (Balearica pavonina), they too enjoy marsh or grasslands to feed in.

Other Species: Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis)

Common Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

Red-winged starling (Onychognathus morio)

Cape sparrow (Passer melanurus)

Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)