I met up with Jannie and Jacolin for a day of birding around the Cape Peninsula. Fairly new to birding both were keen to see as many of the Cape endemics within Cape Town, as possible. An early start at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens was very fruitful and provided them with the opportunity to see and photograph Cape endemics like Cape Sugarbird, Cape Spurfowl, Cape Bulbul and Orange-breasted Sunbird. Forested patches on the edge of the gardens were typically fruitful for a number of species including Forest Canary, Cape Batis, African Dusky Flycatcher, African Olive Pigeon and Sombre Greenbul. Overhead a number of raptor species were seen including one low flying Forest Buzzard.
Later in the day, Strandfontein sewage works provided typically great wetland birding and we were able to to spend time with large flocks of Greater Flamingo, Great White Pelicans, Cape Teals, Southern Pochards and Black-necked and Little Grebes. Some of the smaller pans yielded smaller wader species like Black Winged Stilt, Pied Avocet and Common Ringed Plovers. Interestingly, we also saw the African Jacana (a rarity in the Western Cape) which had been in the area for a few months. Overhead, Brown-throated Martins and Barn and White-throated Swallows made repeated appearances with a single African Marsh Harrier also seen flying over the reed beds.
Opting to do additional wetland birding over the typical coastal birding at Kommetjie, we headed to Raapenberg Bird Sanctuary where we enjoyed great views of other water specialists like Red Billed Teals, Glossy Ibises, Cape Shovelers and Black-crowned Night Herons. All in all, it was a great day to be out birding.
A Birding Africa Trip Report by Tour Leader Nick Fordyce.
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.
