Seeking the Rare Birds of Kwazulu Natal

[Panthera Pardus]

More Images from Cape Vidal

 

Grey Headed Gulls

 

 

 

 

 

Bushbuck on the beach

 

 

Common Waxbill

 

 

 

Samango Monkey

 

 

 

From Cape Vidal our next stop was Mkhuze

 

 

There are so many good things about Mkhuze it is difficult to decide where to start. Nsumo Pan is lined with fever trees and has a beautiful hide and picnic site, use both at your own risk. The pan is suppose to be good for the great white and pink backed pelicans, spoonbills, openbill, pygmy goose and the Pel's has been seen in the area

The fig forest walk is through ancient riparian forest with massive sycamore fig trees and reminded me of our walk from Balule (in Kruger) also looking for the Pel's. The largest sycamore fig is said to be 600 years old and the path is strewn with fossils of ancient marine creatures showing that the ocean was once here. There is also a canopy boardwalk and two suspension bridges to cross.

All the hides are good. We found the kuMasinga to be the best. The kuMahlala was quiet and the kwaMalibala is not photographer friendly. We did not drive much around Mkhuze, rather spending most of our time in the hides.

The hide in camp, opposite reception, will guarantee sightings of the blue waxbill, green winged pytilia and dark capped bulbul.

[Alexander33]

Enjoying this very much. You say, "There are so many good things about Mkhuze it is difficult to decide where to start. Nsumo Pan is lined with fever trees and has a beautiful hide and picnic site, use both at your own risk."

 

Could you elaborate on what the risks are?

[Panthera Pardus]

Enjoying this very much. You say, "There are so many good things about Mkhuze it is difficult to decide where to start. Nsumo Pan is lined with fever trees and has a beautiful hide and picnic site, use both at your own risk."

 

Could you elaborate on what the risks are?

 

@@Alexander33. glad that you enjoying this. Mkuze is a big 5 Park and also has hippo and crocodiles. The picnic site and the paths leading up to the hides are not fenced.

 

 

On the paths to the hides they have imprinted spoor of the dangerous animals just to remind you to be alert

 

 

 

[Panthera Pardus]

The reception area at Mkuze. In the foreground you can see some cycad plants, another of our endangered species, that are removed from the wild and several of them have become extinct in the wild in the last few years but that is another story for another trip report. Even get stolen from a place like Kirstenbosch Garden here

 

 

 

The Bird Hide just opposite reception - proved to be worth a stop for a few minutes

 

 

 

The accommodation is huge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the walk to the swimming pool

 

[Alexander33]

 

Enjoying this very much. You say, "There are so many good things about Mkhuze it is difficult to decide where to start. Nsumo Pan is lined with fever trees and has a beautiful hide and picnic site, use both at your own risk."

 

Could you elaborate on what the risks are?

@@Alexander33. glad that you enjoying this. Mkuze is a big 5 Park and also has hippo and crocodiles. The picnic site and the paths leading up to the hides are not fenced.

 

 

On the paths to the hides they have imprinted spoor of the dangerous animals just to remind you

 

 

Thank you so much for the explanation. I wasn't sure if the risk was from animals or people!

Edited September 15, 2014 by Alexander33

[Marks]

I like the gulls, which look like they're out for a stroll on the beach, and the bushbuck steadfastly ignoring the sign to keep off the dunes.

[Panthera Pardus]

The hide in camp, opposite reception, will guarantee sightings of the blue waxbill, green winged pytilia and dark capped bulbul. The pond is very close to the hide and very difficult to focus on a bird through all the foliage and without disturbing it but we got some good shots of this bathing blue waxbill

 

 

 

 

 

The entrance to the Fig Forest walk

 

 

The walk is just wonderfil and you cross two suuspension bridges

 

There is also an aerial boardwalk and the fig forest is a good place for the Pel's fishing owl

 

 

One of the huge Sycamore Fig trees. Some of them are 600 years old

 

 

A crested barbet

 

Patrick was our guide and he is excellent knowing all the bird calls. We heard a pink throated twinspot and scanned and followed but did not find it
Patrick told us that he heard the Pel's on the morning walk but the guests then were not keen birders. So for us we made a walk towrds where he had heard the call that morning and we thought we had the phantom when an owl flew out of a tree. It was an African Wood Owl, still a lifer but could not get a pic.

 

That afternoon at the Kumahlala Hide we found an African Goshawk

 

 

The vistas from the hide at Nsumo Pan

 

 

 

At times you can get the pan teeming with Pelicans and other waterbirds. We were here in Winter but still got Spoonbills

 

 

 

Great White Pelicans

 

 

This Kurricane Thrush was in fine song, very melodic and pleasing to the ear

 

and caught the attention of the brown hooded kingfisher which was perched in the same tree

 

African Openbill

[Peter Connan]

Really enyoing this report, and I hope I can see a few of these at Maphelane in December!

[Marks]

Really impressive sycamore fig! The forest walk looks like it has a great atmosphere in general.

[Panthera Pardus]

@@Marks. the forest walk has a wonderful sense of place and it was jut me, Sharifa and the guide on the walk.

[Panthera Pardus]

We get to the kuMasinga hide early in the morning. We can grt a whiff of a carcass but cannot see one and there is no predator around. We then see the tawny eagle feeding on the carcass.

 

 

 

Then the Cape, White Backed and White Faced Vultures homed in

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Panthera Pardus]

Still at the Kumasinga Hide we get a Nyala Family and a Warthog family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The young ones sparring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Panthera Pardus]

Still at the Kumasinga Hide we get a Nyala Family and a Warthog family

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The young ones sparring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

@@Panthera Pardus

Such a variety of birds - great pictures! I love the vultures lining up.

Also the nyala are beautiful

[Panthera Pardus]

@@TonyQ, I rate the KuMasinga hide as one of the best in South Africa. There is an endless stream of birds and mammals coming to the hide. It is well set out and is photographer friendly.

[Atravelynn]

You have to be thrilled with all your bird shots, in the air, sometimes double, in the trees, running across the water, eating insects...

 

The imprints of dangerous animals is very attention-getting. It makes an impression (ha ha). Good idea.

 

So much hide action! KuMasinga is a nice recommendations. Thanks!

[Marks]

Nyala males are so striking. Great photos of the vultures in flight, too.