Highlights: Cape Rockjumper, Cape Sugarbird, Victorin's Warbler, 3 species of Sunbirds, Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher, Southern Gray-headed Sparrow, African Penguins, Maccoa Duck, a Spotted Eagle Owl and an African Fish Eagle.
After picking up Tony from his accommodation in Hout Bay, we headed due east towards the Hottentot Hollands. A Hamerkop en route was a nice start to the day.
Our first stop was Rooi Els for the infamous Cape Rockjumpers. Despite the winds, we were still able to get excellent views of a pair as a couple others called from the slopes above. Other birds of interest include Victorin's Warbler, Cape Grassbird, Orange-breasted, Malachite and Southern Double-collared Sunbirds, Cape Sugarbirds, Cape Bunting, Rock Kestrel and our first mammal a Klipspringer.
African Penguin
Our next stop was the Stoney Point penguin colony. Here we enjoyed up close views of African Penguins along with White-breasted, Cape and Bank Cormorants, as well as an African Black Oystercatcher.
Before lunch we walked the trails at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens. This offered a great mix of species including a stunning Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher, a Cape Batis pair, several groups of Swee Waxbills, a very tame family group of African Dusky Flycatchers and an unexpected Southern Gray-headed Sparrow, among others.
Spotted Eagle Owl
After lunch we headed for the Strandfontein Water Works which gave our day list a big boost. Highlights here included Spotted Eagle-Owl, White-faced Duck, several Maccoa Ducks, African Marsh-Harriers, African Fish-Eagle, a calling Burchell's Coucal, and the usual myriad of herons, egrets, flamingos, pelicans, and so on.
Another mammal seen was Rock Hyrax or Dassie.
A Birding Africa Trip Report by Tour Leader Ethan Kistler.
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.
About Birding Africa 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.
