BirdLife KZN Midlands

I am very pleased that I don’t have to write stuff for a living as I sit here on a very cold and wet midlands day thinking of something to say!

One consolation is that despite the miserable weather, there are always birds to be spotted – gazing out the window at a juvenile Malachite Sunbird checking out our aloe. Hopefully the weather will improve and we can get down to some serious birding over the weekend. Birding possibilities was not one of the reasons we decided to retire to the Midlands but as I very happily have discovered, KZN is one of the best regions for a large variety of birds. My life list plus knowledge of birds has improved substantially since becoming involved with the Midlands Bird Club and the Greater Ambers Natural Resources Club in Howick and am astounded at the birding knowledge and expertise located in the Midlands and the wonderful people here.

I am greatly enjoying going to new places and meeting new people whilst out birding and find that one learns something new about birds and birding with every outing. So, to those out there who haven’t yet been on a club outing for a while, I strongly urge you to join in with a club outing wherever you are – you might be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy it!

Sean Glynn Chairperson BirdLife KZN Midlands

Ladysmith Birders

Autumn is a relatively quiet time for birding in the Ladysmith district, but this has not stopped the activities of members. Over 515 species were recorded by members locally and during trips through southern Africa, with nearly six and a half thousand birds recorded on BirdLasser during the two autumn months, April and May.

The most species recorded by an individual during this period was 272 by Rob Irons, followed closely by Carina Pienaar from BLSA who spotted 268 species. Members traveled the southern Cape, Kruger, the Kalahari, Mozambique and

Zululand, and saw more than 50% of the birds recorded in South Africa.

The seasonal challenges have helped members maintain a focus on birds and allows those left in the dry grasslands to experience the sightings of scarce species in South Africa. BirdLasser has certainly changed birding for the members. Members have also recorded 372 species, over 16 thousand sightings within 50 km of Ladysmith since July last year. Ladysmith Birders run an annual local count from July to June, allowing a comparison between years. This is an effective monitoring tool showing the changes in local species over time. The winter challenge is running from May to August and has already served to record a high number of birds.

Alert members have recorded a few new species in the area, including Purple Crested Turaco. While a common bird along the coastal areas, this has not been seen in Ladysmith. Local birding spots, including Malandeni (aka the Ladysmith sewage works) Ingula and the two local reserves, Weenen and Spionkop, have contributed significantly to the local list. Attendees to the KZN Forum in March had the opportunity to bird in these areas and contributed to the annual Ladysmith 50 km list. Everyone is welcome to join this challenge and contribute to this record. Contact Peter at the email below.

The Ladysmith Birders have two key objectives, to promote birding in the district, and to promote the district for birding. We are hopefully achieving these drivers, while serving as a forum for local birders to share the fun around birds. Anyone wanting more details on our small club is welcome to contact me on email nelson@bergmail.co.za, and to join us for a lark!

Peter Nelson Chairperson Ladysmith Birders