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From: Self <MUSEUM/WVADER>
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Subject: african impressions: tsitsikamma
Cc:
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 08:19:24 -0200
FOREST HUT 18, TSITSIKAMMA NP
At the Storm River Mouth rest camp in Tsitsikamma NP, W. Cape, one
lives close to a most impressive Indian Ocean, and the drone of the
waves is always there, even in the forest huts, that are tucked away
in a thicket of coastal woodland. Kelp Gulls ceaselessly patrol the
shore and the camping sites, and Cape Wagtails are all over the
place. I also found a Common Sandpiper in a small pol above high
water, and of course there are cormorants galore on the offshore
rocks.
No Rock Pigeons nesting on our hut this time, but we still had an
active bird nest, as a pair of Dusky Flycatchers was feeding small
young in a net on the back of the hut, quite unconcerned by our
presence. It gave me a great chance to admire their very
professional-looking, unhurried style of fly-catching::..look around,
fly up, snap!, and compare this to the frenetic scrambles of the
Lesser Double-collared Sunbirds that also were hawking for insects in
the clearing behind the hut.
Also around forest hut nr 18 Willie the Sombre Bulbul was
omnipresent, while small roving bands of Cape Whiteeyes came through
frequently. Early one morning I heard the unmistakable raucous voice
of the knysna Lourie, and later that day a Diederik Cuckoo called
from "our trees". Olive Thrushes scratched in the fallen leaves, and
Bar-throated Apalises sounded off in the shrubeery.
But for me this will always remain the Chorister Robin place! While
I sat still in a chair in the clearing behind our hut, watching the
flycatchers, a male Chorister Robin flew in and perched on a dead
stick out in the open, less than 6 ft away. Here he proceeded to
compose his varied song phrases. I use the word "compose" advisedly
(though no doubt biologically quite incorrectly), as that was so
absolutely the impression I got. The bird sat absolutely still, and
"tried out" a new phrase sotto voce: the bill remained closed, but
one coukld see the throat-feathers move slightly. He then repeated
this phrase a few times, with very minor variations, before switching
to an entirely different, often amazingly different, motive. Every
now and then a phrase "met with the composer's approval", and he
would sing it out loud a few times, before trying out another one..I
heard at least 10-15 entirely different phrases in this half hour
of private concerto. It was one of those magical moments that happen
so rarely, and it made forest hut nr 18, Tsitsikamma for ever
synonymous with the Chorister Robin for me.
And also it made me dislike the Afrikaans name Lawaaimaker Jan
Frederik as quite misleading, however much I in general prefer the
pithy and descriptive Afrikaans names to the "designed by a
committee"-feeling English names of many South African birds.
Wim Vader, co South African
Museum
Cape Town,
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