A day at Ngwenya

27 August 2022 - Ngwenya Lodge; Day 2

We slept well with the sound of the Crocodile River lulling us to sleep. The dawn chorus in the lowveld is just wonderful and before sunrise I was awoken by the resident and raucous Natal Spurfowl along with the duetting and melodious White-browed Robin-Chat's.

I was up and out of the chalet just as the sun rose and over coffee enjoyed the view across the river with the low mist in between the trees

Ngwenya dawn

I then had an enjoyable 3-hour walk around the Lodge grounds which has varied habitat. I located the White-browed Robin-Chat at the hide next to our chalet as it continued with its morning vocals

White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)

I headed back to Reception and missed a Tambourine Dove, but found the pair of African Firefinch which were just as skittish as they were yesterday

African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata)

I connected with Orange-breasted Bushshrike, but it didnt show itself well

Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus)

But, then I spent some time with a small flock of foraging Terrestrial Brownbul's

Terrestrial Brownbul (Phyllastrephus terrestris)

Whilst a Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird called from the tree above

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus)

Along with White-browed Scrub Robin. I was just loving the continuation of the birds calling as it slowly warmed up - summer is on it's way for sure

White-browed Scrub Robin (Cercotrichas leucophrys)

In the scrub below, I caught some movement and found a Brown-crowned Tchagra as it went on its way looking for breakfast

Brown-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis)

I made my way back down to the river and found a quiet area where I heard Red-faced Cisticola calling. This bird has eluded my camera for the last 3 visits and with patience and sitting quietly I finally had decent views and was able to point my camera at this skulky and unobtrusive LBJ. I was more than pleased.....

Red-faced Cisticola (Cisticola erythrops)

In the gardens behind me, a male Spectacled Weaver was having a busy time shredding a palm for delicate strands for it's nest. With a slow shutter, I was able to get some creative images of the head shake when pulling the strand loose

Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis)

Whilst a Village Weaver was sat quietly enjoying the early morning sun

Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)

I walked slowly back along the main entrance road, adding an early Klaas's Cuckoo

Klaas's Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas)

and then made my way to the noisy Lesser Masked Weaver colony. The males were flying back and forth to the field next to the Lodge and shredding the young Sugar Cane plants for their nests

Lesser Masked Weaver (Ploceus intermedius)

Walking back to our chalet, I added Kurrichane Thrush

Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus)

a female Cardinal Woodpecker

Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)

and a Scarlet-Chested Sunbird pair near the restaurant which also has a great view over the river

Female Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis)

Male Scarlet-chested Sunbird (Chalcomitra senegalensis)

At noon we drove to Komatiepoort for our traditional annual lunch at Tamborina, a great little Portuguese restaurant with character. We didnt hold back; snails, prawns, 2M, Casal Garcia - finger licking delicious......

Back at our chalet later in the afternoon, we relaxed on the patio just soaking up the tranquility in the heat of the afternoon. Once it cooled down, I had ventured out to walk off the lunch and found a pair of Senegal Lapwing's in the adjacent sugar cane field near the Reception - this was the closest I had ever seen them in my visits to Ngwenya. Even though they were close, they were still pretty cryptic on the dark soil between the new sugar cane leaves

Senegal Lapwing (Vanellus lugubris)

Of course during all my walks, I am always on the lookout for invertebrates and managed to find good numbers of South African Caper White

Southern African Caper White (Belenois c. severina)

A couple Zebra Blues, but not sure of the species - perhaps Common to be on the safe side

Possible Common Zebra Blue (Leptotes p. pirithous)

An unidentified Moth

Moth sp.

and a Dragonfly in low light

Dragonfly sp.

It was then back to the chalet to enjoy the sunset with a sundowner - and why not. Little Swifts were feeding in front of our chalet in the last light, followed not long after by the Bats