Western Cape: Hottentots Holland Trip Report - 21 December 2015
Highlights included: a family group of Cape Rockjumpers at Rooi Els; Cape Siskin, Cape Grassbird, Ground Woodpecker and Victorin's Warbler at Harold Porter; and all four species of coastal cormorant at the Stoney Point African Penguin colony.
Pat, George and I made an early start east towards the Hottentots Holland mountain range and the small town of Rooi Els, nestled between mountain and sea. En route we stopped to look at a flock of birds feeding offshore, which included a few Cape Gannets in addition to Swift and Sandwich Terns. The birding started off a little slowly, but we picked up Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Siskin and a female Cape Rock-Thrush close to the houses. A Neddicky called from high up-slope and we had decent scope views of this cute cisticola. A Familiar Chat perched on a nearby boulder, and while we were watching it a male Cape Rockjumper unexpectedly popped out from behind it. Before long it became clear that we were in the company of a family group consisting of a pair, a male helper, and a juvenile bird. We had excellent scope views as they hopped around, foraged, and called intermittently. There was some rain about, and as it seemed to be closing in, we decided to head back to the car.
At the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens the rain had begun and seemed to be setting in, so we decided to wait the worst of it out in the restaurant. We were to endure intermittent squalls for the rest of the morning's birding, but it was worth it. We had good sightings of Cape Batis, Swee Waxbill, Bar-throated Apalis, Malachite Sunbird, Speckled Mousebird, African Paradise-Flycatcher, displaying Yellow Bishop, better sightings of Cape Siskin, and then some of the trickier species: Cape Grassbird, distant Ground Woodpecker, and Victorin's Warbler.
Stoney Point had the usual crowd of African Penguins, now in various stages of moult. A Southern Boubou called from atop a bush, and the resident Rock Hyrax and Cape Girdled Lizards lounged about on the rocks. We found Cape, White-breasted and Bank Cormorants without difficulty, but struggled for the last of Stoney Point's cormorants. After having almost given up, George spotted a distant cormorant sitting apart from the others, and upon closer inspection it turned out to be exactly what we were searching for - a Crowned Cormorant. Nearby, a pair of African Black Oystercatcher foraged in the tidal pools.
We popped in again at Rooi Els on the way back to search for some birds missed earlier, and managed to find a male Cape Rock-Thrush as well as Cape Bunting. The day was notable for its complete lack of raptors, but we had good sightings of all the Cape specials usually seen on this trip.
A Birding Africa Trip Report by Tour Leader Seth Musker.
For a full list of species from this trip, please
contact us.
Many of the birding sites on this trip are described in detail
in the Southern African
Birdfinder which is widely available in South African bookshops
and on the internet. (e.g., www.netbooks.co.za
or www.wildsounds.co.uk). However
you're always welcome to contact
us if you're interested in a guided trip in this area.
Practical
tour information: Cape Day Trips and Western Cape Tours
Please click this link for more
detailed information about our upcoming
Cape Tours.
Focus
Our Cape tours and day trips are aimed at keen birders and
nature enthusiasts. They have been designed to see as many endemic
birds as possible. While on the walks, we spend a lot of time
looking for other aspects of wildlife such as mammals, chameleons,
geckos, butterflies and interesting plants. We can also customise
any itinerary to suit to the keen birder, the wildlife enthusiast
or both.
Photography
Many participants on our tours and day trips are amateur wildlife
photographers. And when we get excellent views of a bird or
mammal, some time is usually spent watching and photographing
it. However, this is not a photographic tour and once the majority
of the people have felt that they have absorbed the animal or
bird to their satisfaction, then we move on in search of the
next encounter. Thus, while the photographic
opportunities are very good, the group will only occasionally
wait for somebody who wants to spend even longer getting better
photos.
Fitness
Only a low level of fitness is required.
Timing
Throughout the year.
Climate
Moderate; can be warm in summer and chilly in winter.
Comfort
A good standard of accommodation in guest houses, lodges and
small hotels.
Birding Africa is a specialist birding
tour company customising tours for both world listers and more relaxed
holiday birders. We combine interests in mammals, butterflies,
dragonflies, botany and other natural history aspects and will guide
you to Africa's and Madagascar's most diverse birding destinations.
Our guides' knowledge of African
birds and birding areas is our greatest strength and together we
have rediscovered species, shared exciting observations with the
birding community and had a fun time exploring our home continent.
We've even written two acclaimed guide
books on where to find Southern Africa's and Madagascar's best
birds. Birding is more than our passion, it's our lifestyle, and
we are dedicated to making professional, best value trips filled
with endemic species and unique wildlife experiences. Since 1997,
we've run bird watching tours
in South Africa and further into Africa for individual birders,
small birding groups and top international tour companies. We've
run Conservation Tours
in association with the African Bird Club and work with and consult
for a number of other top international tour companies and the BBC
Natural History Unit.
