Green Barbets in the mist at Ongoye Forest

Floral detail in the grassland at Ongoye Forest

Ongoye Forest, set in the hills between Mtunzini and Richards bay, was shrouded in mist when we arrived at dawn for this morning's target bird, the highly localised Green Barbet. In Southern Africa these birds are only found in this large remnant patch of coastal forest which is some 3900 ha in extent. The other known location for Green Barbets is in Tanzania!

Once you have made your way to Ongoye it should not be a challenge to see the barbets, except in the mist and rain, so I was mildly panicky at the thought of not seeing the birds.

So a good responce to panic is to make coffee, have an early breakfast and wait for the sun to burn off the thick mist.

The collage of photos below show the 4x4 access trail to the 'mouth' of the forest.

When we ventured into the forest Jotham had no problem in locating the barbets for us with their distinctive 'quop, quop, quop' call and we could just make out the detail of the yellow patch behind its eye. They stayed high up in the canopy and with the mist, the conditions weren't good for photography.

I am sitting on the bed in our room at the Eshowe B&B, there is thunder outside and its threatening to rain. I not sure how I am feeling about this being the eve of the last day of the Big Birding Year, there is a part of me that is absolutely done but I am also certain that this iconic year is an inflection point in my life. I am hopeful to still get in a last day of birding with Junior Gabela at Amatikulu.

There will be time for reflection when I get back home.....