Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Grey-headed Bush-Shrike

This is the 31st in an ongoing series that highlights the riches of Pigeon Valley, the urban nature reserve in the heart of Glenwood. The focus of this article will be on the Grey-headed Bush-Shrike.

While some birds move long distances in remarkably consistent ways (for example, the Yellow-billed Kite has just made its early August movement back into South Africa), other movements can be less obvious or even completely unpredictable.

Winter in Pigeon Valley is a time when there are many visits from birds that live not so far away. In the past I have heard an Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike calling, and even a Gorgeous Bush-Shrike is possible at this time of year, while Olive Bush-Shrikes visit more frequently. The easiest of this family to notice, though, is the Grey-headed making an infrequent visit, not least because of its mournful call, that gives it the Afrikaans name Spookvoël. It is also the biggest of these, making it conspicuous in the canopy.

ALSO READ: Exploring Pigeon Valley: The Side-striped Jackal

While its presence is thus clearly marked by its call and size, it also makes a snip-snip sound as it moves through the foliage, its otherwise yellow underbelly suffused with orange around its neck. These are though likely to be not the only sounds, as its presence frequently attracts the hostile attention of other birds that mob it, unsurprisingly, as with its powerful bill it can and does catch and crush young birds.

The anxiety of birds is though often the opportunity for birdwatchers. One told me how a bird party recently formed around a Grey-headed Bush-Shrike in the central clearing of the reserve, and he counted 33 species in the same area. We are not the only watchers fascinated by this species.

Crispin Hemson chairs the Friends of Pigeon Valley, a group that undertakes clearing of alien plants, keeps records of bird and mammal sightings and alerts management to any problems.

The Friends have a monthly walk at 7.30am on the second Saturday of each month. Email: friendsofpigeonvalley1@gmail.com.

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