Western Cape: Hottentots Holland Trip Report - 30 January 2018
Highlights included: Ground Woodpecker, Cape Rockjumper, Cape Rock Thrush, Victorin's Warbler, Blue-Mantled Crested Flycatcher, all four species of marine cormorant and Long-beaked Common Dolphin
We picked up John and Vicky from their hotel and headed straight to the beautiful Clarence Drive and the small town at its end - Rooiels. Not long after we reached the coast, we spotted a large pod of dolphins swimming just offshore and stopped for some good views of what turned out to be Long-beaked Common Dolphins with some Cape Fur Seals mixed in. We also picked up a Cape Rock Thrush in a nearby garden.
As we approached Rooiels we noticed a large group of terns and gulls roosting on the beach and picked out Common, Sandwich and Swift Terns as well as many Hartlaub's and Kelp Gulls. As we were watching the birds, the drizzle became a bit worse and we decided to carry on to the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and return to Rooiels on the way back. The weather seemed to follow us however, and it was still drizzling on and off at the gardens. Despite this we still had some good bird sightings, finding Amethyst, Orange Breasted and Southern Double Collared Sunbirds, Swee Waxbills, Speckled Mousebirds and - a surprise! - a Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher in the main garden area. Raptors seemed to be enjoying the rain as we saw a Peregrine Falcon and both Steppe and Jackal Buzzards overhead.
We then went on the short Disa trail getting a nice view of a perched Black Saw-wing. We spotted some Red Disas flowering in the gorge and were entertained by a pair of Cape Batis as they foraged right next to the walkway. We had been hearing Victorin's Warbler calling across the river the whole way without spotting it and decided to walk a little way to the top of the gardens to see if we could see one at another spot. After some patience we had great views of this skulking bird as it flew across the path in front of us. By this time we were all soaked and the rain did not show any sign of stopping so we opted for an early lunch to wait out the rain. After some nice toasted sandwiches and still no sign of sunshine, we headed on to the penguin colony at Stony Point.
The weather held nicely for us at Stony Point and we had wonderful views of the African Penguins including two with the uncommon double chest band. We soon picked up on all four of the coastal cormorants, namely Cape, Crowned, White-breasted and Bank Cormorant, including good views of a Bank cormorant displaying. We also managed to pick out a few Grey Headed Gulls among the many Hartlaub's Gulls and were lucky to have an African Black Oystercatcher on the beach.
Cape Rockjumper
The next stop was the long awaited Rockjumper spot near Rooiels. We were welcomed to the short walk by a pair of Rock Kestrels that were hovering over the slopes and hung around for most of our stay. After walking a short distance with nothing much to be seen, we spotted some movement up the slope that turned out to be a group of Klipspringers! While we got the scope onto them we noticed some movement on the rocks and got our first views of a pair of Cape Rockjumpers as well.
We carried on alongside the coastal path which seemed very quiet except for a few Cape Buntings. On the way back along the path however we heard some commotion up the slope and spotted a group of 5 Cape Rockjumpers! We watched them for a while as they moved down the slope while foraging and two of the juveniles eventually came fairly close-by, giving excellent views. We had heard some Ground Woodpeckers a little further along the path and after the rockjumpers had moved off, we carried on to find them. As we were walking, looking up and down the slope, we spotted a bird right next to the path with just its head sticking out behind a rock; it was a Ground Woodpecker. We watched a group of four as they flew from rock to rock, calling to each other and then dropping down onto termite mounds to feed. As we were watching one pair up the slope, the other pair of birds flew behind us, across the path and landed on a rock just a few metres from us, perching in full view and excellent light! Unperturbed, they continued to forage right in front of us and we watched as they jabbed their beaks into the termite mounds and then probed them with their long tongues for a tasty meal. After unbeatable views of these gorgeous endemics and good views of our other target birds despite the bad weather, we headed back to the hotel.
A Birding Africa Trip Report by trainee guide Mayur Prag with 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.
