Monthly Archives: February 2025

Mkuze Game Reserve – Masinga hide

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There are five hides in the Mkuze game reserve. I have four posts about the Malibala hide and this one is about the second largest hide, Masinga. Nsumo Pan is the best place to look for water birds and waders. Its northern bank is lined with yellowy-green fever trees and has two hides named, Nkwazi and Imvubu, looking out over this large expanse of water.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us” ~ Anonymous

Helen and I visited the Masinga hide on four separate occasions. The main roads around the Mkuze Game reserve are tarred and in good condition. On the tar road just before the turn off to the Masinga hide we found this Black-crowned tchagra eating an insect at the edge of the road. You can frequently hear tchagras as they have a distinctive and charming call but they are difficult to see because they are usually hopping around in the centre of thick bushes. It had been raining and this Black-crowned tchagra looked a bit bedraggled.

Shortly after seeing the wet Black-crowned tchagra we turned onto a gravel road and found this very wet Burchell’s coucal standing preening itself in the road. We spent around 10 minutes watching this character tidying up after getting properly wet. The Burchell’s coucal, also known as the rain bird as its often calls before, during or after rain. The Burchell’s coucal’s call has the quality of the “rainbird’s liquid note”. This so aptly describes the sound made by this species which sounds remarkably similar to water being poured from a narrow-necked bottle, and is believed to signal the onset of rain. This is due to the bird’s tendency for bursting into song during periods of high humidity, before during and after rain.

Eventually this coucal walked across the road and climbed onto a fallen tree trunk and began looking for insects. This is a carnivorous bird which eats a wide variety of prey, including insects, reptiles, amphibians and small bird and mammals. It will also feed on eggs, fruit, berries, and sometimes small quantities of fruit.

This species is a member of cuckoo family but is not a parasitic breeder. This species has relatively laboured flight but prefers to skulk through the understory clambering about in rank vegetation or walking on the ground foraging for insects or small vertebrates.

On several occasions we watched a herd of Wildebeest coming down to drink at the water hole. This waterhole is known to be busy at times with giraffe, warthog and white rhino also coming down to drink.

“The best way to experience the world is by going outside and exploring it” ~ Anonymous

The Blue wildebeest did not mill around the waterhole. They drank and left.

The wildebeest were soon followed by a family herd of Burchell’s zebra. They also did not hang around the waterhole probably because of the threat of predators in the fairly thick bush 40 metres away surrounding the waterhole.

There was a lot more interaction between the zebras than the wildebeest. For some reason the stallion was chasing the foal. Thankfully we did not see the stallion injure the youngster.

The waterhole was home to numerous Hinged terrapins which would swim close to the hide and peer up at us with just snout and eyes visible. It had been cold and wet during the four days we were in Mkuze game reserve so any opportunity these terrapins got to warm up they would climb onto a rock next to the water’s edge to get out of the cold water.

“Adventure doesn’t come to you, you have to go out and find it.” ~ Unknown

September is spring time in South Africa and so the mating season began. The cloacal kiss performed by a pair of Egyptian geese.

The mating process looked rough with the female bearing all the weight of the male on top of her. On occasions the male pushed the female’s head under the water and even stood on top of her back for a short while.

A female Nyala and her calf came down to the waterhole to drink. They were part of a small breeding herd. The calf was still suckling. The vegetation in Mkuze is ideal for Nyala which prefer dense woodlands and thickets along permanent water. It is very secretive and is a non-territorial antelope.

Springtime was the time for many species of wildlife to start breeding. This pair of Three-banded plovers were also seen mating at the edge of the waterhole.

During one session at the Masinga hide it poured with rain. All this Woolly-necked stork could do was endure. It had puffed up its feathers to keep warm as it was quite cold. Something we did not expect in Mkuze because is known to be hot in spring and summer.

“Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it within us or we will find it not” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Once the wind and rain had stopped one of the three Woolly-necked stocks flew onto of a broken tree trunk to shake all the water off its feathers.

A Yellow-bellied bulbul or Greenbul at the water’s edge. It has a brighter yellow underparts and a red eye which differentiates it from the Sombre bulbul.

This Yellow-bellied bulbul was quite wary at the edge of the water probably because of all the wildlife activity and it looked to be an ideal place for a Gabar goshawk or Little sparrowhawk to be hunting.

It is always a thrill to see Crested guineafowl albeit from quite a distance. There was a small flock of about seven individuals foraging on the ground about 60 metres from the hide. Crested guineafowl forage for fruit, berries and insects. They can sometimes be found scratching around in elephant or rhino dung looking for insects. We waited with great anticipation thinking they might come down to the water hole to drink but no such luck.

“Nature doesn’t need people…people need nature” – Unknown

Four Crested spurfowl came close to the hide foraging for seeds and insects. They had also been drenched by the rain and also looked somewhat bedraggled.

You can imagine with all the birdlife around the hide there was a symphony of bird calls which at times made me put my camera down and just look and listen and appreciate what was around me.

There were two large trees in front of the hide, on the other side of the water hole. They provided a wonderful stage for a pair of Paradise flycatchers to dance among the branches.

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” ~ Miriam Beard

The female Paradise flycatcher was easier to photograph as she flew around the periphery of the branches and not in amongst them like the male.

I was so impressed with the Masinga hide. It was in excellent condition. It was west facing so ideal for morning photography with the sun behind rising from the east. What was also perfect was the surround of the waterhole. It had a clear sandy apron of about 30 to 40 metres which was prefect for wildlife photography providing unimpeded views with clean backgrounds.

“Adventure is the bridge between dreams and reality. When we walk across that bridge, we can explore the unknown and uncover hidden wonders. With every step, we move closer to our ambitions, passions, and goals. Adventure gives us the courage to take risks and make bold decisions – decisions that help shape our destiny.” – Unknown

We did not see the main large mammals possibly because of the rain, wind and cold but the birdlife, despite the conditions, was remarkable. We will definitely return to Mkuze Game Reserve and I am sure warmer sunny weather will bring out much more wildlife and many more of the 460 recorded birds in this area.

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun, Mike

Malibala hide-don’t miss the small things!

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So often when wildlife enthusiasts go to a hide, they go to see mainly animals and the larger birds. You can see so much more if time is invested in those quiet spells just looking out for the smaller birds at the edge of the waterhole. You will marvel at the abundance and their wonderfully varied plumage.

“There is a way that nature speaks – that land speaks – most of the time we are simply not patient enough – quiet enough – to pay attention to the story” ~ Linda Hogan

A Golden breasted bunting came down for a drink of water. The male has this golden breast plumage and all buntings have the black head with white eye stripes.

We saw many Sombre bulbuls. They usually came down to drink at the water’s edge singly. The olive-green plumage seemed to vary somewhat from a lighter green to almost grey in different individuals. That creamy-white eye is unmistakable and diagnostic.

A Jameson’s firefinch with its vivid crimson front and face. It looks very similar to the Red-billed firefinch but is more vivid in colour and has a black upper mandible and light grey lower mandible.

“Enjoy the little things in life because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.” – Kurt Vonnegut

A female Three-banded plover with her two young chicks. The chicks are born precocial, meaning they can fend for themselves soon after being born. They do on occasions go and tuck under their mother’s wings for warmth and protection. These chicks were tiny, probably only 40 mm in length.

A Common sandpiper foraging along the water’s edge looking for small insects and invertebrates. Its diagnostic white pectoral region above the folded wing was clearly visible.

“Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and just listen. No more is needed. Being still, looking, and listening activates the non-conceptual intelligence within you. Let stillness direct your words and actions.”
~ Eckhart Tolle

A male Orange-breasted bush shrike in a hook thorn on the other side of the waterhole. It had its back to us so you cannot see the orange breast but the vivid yellow underparts and primaries helped the identification. The male has the black eye band but the female does not.

A lone Hammerkop parked on a rock next to the water’s edge to roost and watch all the goings on around the waterhole. Before resting it had been very busy looking for frogs and insects around the waterhole.

“Stillness is what aims the archer’s arrow. It inspires new ideas. It sharpens perspective and illuminates connections.”
~ Ryan Holiday

A Three-banded plover chick looking for edibles in the well trodden mud around the waterhole. As I mentioned earlier the two chicks were very small being around 40mm in length and when they stopped moving were very well camouflaged against the broken mud and soil.

Often looking at the grass near the water’s edge can reveal small insectivores such as this Rattling cisticola. It was picking small insects off the grass stems.

“The earth has its music for those who will listen.” ~ Reginald Holmes

We saw many Yellow-fronted canaries which usually came down to drink in small groups. This small canary has a grey crown and nape and black facial markings and its under parts are a bright yellow. They did not drink for long but flew down to drink frequently.

A Blue waxbill. We saw many, and like the canaries they drink a little often and then fly off into the bush to forage.

A male and female Jameson’s firefinch. The female is noticeably paler and more peach coloured. Both sexes have similar coloured upper tail coverts and rectrices.

A noisy gathering of mainly Black-headed bulbuls with a single Blue waxbill and a pair of Yellow-fronted canaries. This type of gathering is useful to see the relative sizes of the different species.

“We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed to us.” –Albert Einstein

An Emerald-spotted wood-dove. It has the two distinctive sets of emerald green wing spots. Doves and pigeons are the only birds that suck water into their mouths when they drink. This species of dove has such a sad sounding call.

A Black flycatcher keeping an eye on the waterhole from its perch in a dead tree at the edge of the tree line around the waterhole. This species can often be seen catching insects above the water but that morning it was too cold and windy for hunting .

“If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” ~ Vincent van Gogh

A solitary Purple-crested turaco came down to drink and was joined by a Black-headed bulbul. We only saw this species once in the four days we visited this hide.

Another smaller gathering. The different species do not seem to mind each other at all. The two Black-headed bulbuls were joined by a Cape Glossy starling and a Black-collared barbet. I did see an Acacia Pied barbet but it was too quick for me to get a decent image.

“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” ~ E.B.White

A pair of Water Thick-knees brought their two drinks down to the edge of the waterhole. I did not see any of the family drink any water. The two chicks were incredibly well camouflaged among the small stones around the edge of the waterhole.

On our way out of the hide at the first gate along the walkway to the hide we saw this White-browed scrub robin. It was unafraid of us and we watched it call and display for about ten minutes.

These few images give you a sense of the abundance of small bird species around the waterhole. They are fascinating to watch and their plumage is vividly coloured. If you are only looking for the big things and leave once the mammals and large birds have left the waterhole you would miss all these small avian jewels.

“Slow down, be quiet, be patient and in that stillness nature will reveal things to you way beyond your expectations.” ~ Mike Haworth

Explore, seek to understand, marvel at its interconnectedness and let it be.

Have fun, Mike