This was our second visit to South Africa so we had no need to rush around and see as many birds as possible. This meant that we could enjoy the birding at a relaxing pace and concentrate on seeing the birds we missed on our previous visit.
We took direct flights from Heathrow to Cape Town and returned Cape Town to Heathrow. All our accommodation and car hire was booked over the Internet before we left.
Places we stayed:
Hildesheim Guest House at Hoekwil - 6 nights
This was an ideal place to stay to bird the three lakes at Wilderness and the forest walks at the Big Tree at Woodville. Also the Ebb and Flow campsite and various trails leading from there at Wilderness.
Cottage at Karoo National Park - 4 nights
This was a good place to stay to see a good selection of Karoo species. Unfortunately during our stay the Klipspringer Pass was closed for three days for road repairs. This meant we had to concentrate on probable less productive areas, however it did produce our only Kori Bustard. When the pass reopened we had one good day’s birding there and saw a lot of birds.
Cliffhanger Cottage at Rheenendal near Knysna - 2 nights
We stayed here as a stopover to break up our journey from the Karoo but there was also some good birding. This was the only place we saw African Olive Pigeon, which was found just outside our cottage.
Hilltop Country Retreat at Swellendam 2 nights
This was a good stopover spot to visit Cape Agulhas and to see Damara Tern at Struisbaai Plaat. Also along the R319 between Cape Agulhas and Bredasdorp is a very good place to see Blue Cranes. We saw a group of 42 birds just off the edge of the road.
Vandenberg’s Guest House, Betty’s Bay - 3 nights
We stayed here especially to visit Rooiels to try and see Cape Rockjumper (which we failed to see on our previous visit to South Africa). We were really pleased to see 5 birds this time round. There was also good birding at Harold Porter Gardens and at the Penguin colony at Stony Point.
African Penguin Very common Stony Point, Betty’s Bay.
White-breasted Cormorant Common along the coast.
Bank Cormorant Only 2 seen at Stony Point, Betty’s Bay, 20-11-15
Cape Cormorant Very common along the coast.
Reed Cormorant Common on inland lakes at Wilderness
African Sacred Ibis Fairly common seen most days
Hadeda Ibis Very common and very vocal.
Glossy Ibis A few seen along the R319 between Bredasdorp and Cape Agulhas 17-11
Purple Heron 1 noted Wilderness 05-11
Black-capped Heron Common first noted Woodville, 07-11
Little Egret Common
Cattle Egret Extremely common
White Stork Large flock overhead Wilderness, 05-11 only birds noted
Great Crested Grebe Common on the lakes at Wilderness
Little Grebe Common
Spur-winged Goose Common often seen when driving
Egyptian Goose Extremely common
South African Shelduck First noted Karoo National Park, 10-11
Yellow-billed Duck First noted Wilderness 06-11, common
Southern Potchard Common on the lakes at Wilderness
Red-billed Teal First noted Woodville 07-11
African Fish Eagle First noted Wilderness, 09-11
Verreaux’s Eagle 2 Birds seen Karoo National Park 11-11
Yellow-billed Kite Common around Swellendam and surrounding area 17-11
Jackal Buzzard Common around Wilderness area
Steppe Buzzard Very common
Black Harrier 1 near Bredasdorp 17-11
Black-shouldered Kite First noted Hoekwil 08-11
Pale-chanting Goshawk Karoo National Park 13-11
Rock Kestral Betty’s Bay 20-11
Common Ostrich Common Karoo National Park
Helmeted Guineafowl Very common everywhere
Grey-winged Francolin 2 birds noted Karoo National Park 13-11
Cape Spurfowl Very common at Betty’s Bay
Red-necked Spurfowl 1 noted at Big Tree approach road, Woodville 7-11
Red-knobbed Coot Very common
Moorhen First noted Woodville area 07-11
Blue Crane First noted driving to Wilderness 4-11, a flock of 42 seen off the 319 between Struis Bay and Bredasdorp 17-11
Kori Bustard 1 Karoo National Park 10-11
Pied Avocet A few noted off 319 between Struis Bay and Bredasdorp 17-11
African Oystercatcher First noted Wilderness 6-11. Easily seen at Cape Agulhas 17-11
Spotted Thick-knee 1 in middle of road at Hoekwil 9-11
Water Thick-knee 2, Betty’s Bay 20-11 (1 of them in the road)
Blacksmith Plover First noted Swellendam 16-11. Often noted in this area
Crowned Plover Birds noted Struis Bay 17-11
White-fronted Plover 2, Cape Agulhas 17-11
Three-banded Plover A resident pair at the bird hide pool Karoo National Park
Kelp Gull Very common on the coast
Grey-headed Gull A few noted Hermanus 20-11
Hartlaub’s Gull Common on the coast
Swift Tern Very common Cape Agulhas 17-11
Damara Tern 5, Struisbaai Plaat 17-11
Namaqua Sandgrouse 2 at bird hide pool, Karoo National Park 12-11
Speckled Pigeon Common
African Olive Pigeon Common at Cliffhanger Cottages, Rheenendal during our stay
Feral Pigeon Common
Cape Turtle Dove Very Common and vocal
Laughing Dove Easily seen outside our cottage at Karoo National Park
Knysna Turaco Noted at Hoekwil, Wilderness and at Rheenendal
Dideric Cuckoo 1 at picnic site, Karoo National Park 11-11
Fiery-necked Nightjar 1, Hoekwil 7-11
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar Many calling Karoo National Park, but not seen
Alpine Swift Fairly common Rooiels 19-11
Little Swift First noted Hoekwil 5-11
White-rumped Swift First noted Woodville 7-11, very common Karoo National Park
Speckled Mousebird Common
White-backed Mousebird First noted Karoo National Park
Red-faced Mousebird Common at Karoo National Park – the only place seen
Pied Kingfisher 1 at Wilderness 5-11
Brown-hooded Kingfisher First seen by the river at De Rust
European Bee-eater 1 at Karoo National Park 10-11
African Hoopoe Seen regularly at Hoekwil and elsewhere
Acacia Pied Barbet 1 at the picnic site, Karoo National Park 11-11
Cardinal Woodpecker 1, Swartberg Pass 14-11
Red-capped Lark 1 along the 319 to Bredasdorp 17-11
Large-billed Lark 1 along road to Proten 18-11
Agulhas Long-billed Lark 1 along the road to Proten 18-11
White-throated Swallow Very common. First noted Wilderness 5-11
Greater-striped Swallow First noted Hoekwil 4-11. Very common
Black Saw-wing Common around Hoekwil and Wilderness area
Brown-throated Martin First noted Wilderness 8-11. Common Karoo National Park
Rock Martin Easily seen Wilderness 8-11
Fork-trailed Drongo A very common bird
Grey Cuckooshrike Only 1 seen at Ebb & Flow campsite, Wilderness 8-11
Black-headed Oriole 1 Hoekwil 07-11
White-necked Raven Common. Often seen when driving
Pied Crow Common. Also often seen when driving
Cape Crow Another common corvus
Cape Bulbul Common. Seen most days
African Red-eyed Bulbul Only seen at Karoo National Park. Quite common there
Sombre Greenbul Common at Wilderness and surrounding area
Olive Thrush First noted Karoo National Park 11-11
Cape Rock-Thrush Noted on both visits to Rooiels
Short-toed Rock Thrush 2, Karoo National Park
Cape Rockjumper 5 at Rooiels 20-11
Familiar Chat Very common at Karoo National Park
Sickle-winged Chat 1 Karoo National Park 13-11
Ant-eating Chat 1 Karoo National Park 13-11
Mountain Wheatear Common Karoo National Park
Capped Wheatear First noted Cape Agulhas 17-11, fairly common in the Swellendam area
African Stonechat Seen at most places visited
Karoo Scrub Robin Very common at Karoo National Park
Chorister Robin-Chat First seen Hoekwil 9-11. Noted a few times in that area
Cape Robin-Chat Common, seen all over
Cape Grassbird 1 seen at Swellendam 18-11. A hard bird to see
Yellow-bellied Eremomela 1 at Karoo National Park 13-11
Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler 2 at Karoo National Park
Little Rush Warbler Common in the reeds at the Lakes at Wilderness, but difficult to see
Knysna Warbler 1, seen very well at the The Big Tree, Woodville 6-11
Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler Birds noted at the Ebb and Flow campsite, Wilderness 9-11
Zitting Cisticola Often heard calling overhead in suitable habitats
Neddicky Common. First noted Hoekwil 5-11
Levaillant’s Cisticola Common around the lakes at Wilderness. First noted 6-11
Karoo Prinia Common in all suitable habitats
Namaqua Warbler 1, Karoo National Park 12-11
Rufous-eared Warbler 1, Karoo National Park 10-11
Bar-throated Apalis Common in woodlands. First noted at the Big Tree, Woodville, 6-11
Fiscal Flycatcher Common. Seen at most places visited
African Dusky Flycatcher Often noted in woodlands in the Wilderness area
African Paradise Flycatcher 1 at Harold Porter Gardens 21-11
Fairy Flycatcher 4 at Karoo National Park. First noted at the picnic site 11-11
Cape Batis First noted at Big Tree Woodville 6-11
Cape White-eye Common. Seen most days
Cape Wagtail Very common
Long-billed Pipit 1 at Karoo National Park 13-11
Common Fiscal Common. Often seen while driving.
Southern Boubou 1 at Wilderness 8-11
Bokmakierie 2 at Karoo National Park 13-11. 1 at Swellendam 18-11 Black-bellied Starling 1 at Wilderness 4-11
Pied Starling First noted Oudshoorn 10-11. Common inland
Red-winged Starling First noted 4-11. Common
Pale-winged Starling First noted Karoo National Park 12-11. Common
Common Starling Common
Cape Sugarbird First noted Rooiels 19-11. Common around Betty’s Bay.
Malachite Sunbird First noted at the picnic site, Karoo National Park. Common there
Orange-breasted Sunbird Noted at Rooiels 19-11. Common at Harold Porter Gardens
Amethyst Sunbird First seen Hoekwil 4-11. Common here
Greater Double-collared Sunbird First noted Hoekwil 5-11. Common
Southern Double-collared Sunbird First noted Ebb and Flow campsite 8-11. Fairly common
Dusky Sunbird Only seen at the picnic site, Karoo National Park 11-11. Easily seen there
Cape Sparrow Very common. Karoo National Park
House Sparrow Common everywhere
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow First noted at The Big Tree, Woodville 7-11
Cape Weaver Common along the Garden Route
Southern Masked Weaver Common everywhere
Red-billed Quelea Only seen by the river at De Rust 14-11
Southern Red Bishop Very Common Karoo National Park
Yellow Bishop First noted Wilderness 7-11. Quite Common
Pin-tailed Whydah Common everywhere
Common Waxbill Common. Especially at Karoo National Park
Swee Waxbill 2, Rheenendal 16-11. The only birds seen
White-throated Canary 1, Karoo National Park 12-11
Streaky-headed Seedeater 1, Rheenendal 15-11
Brimstone Canary Common at Ebb and Flow campsite, Wilderness. Also common at Harold Porter Gardens
Yellow-fronted Canary First seen at The Big Tree, Woodville 6-11
Yellow Canary Common. First noted Hoekwil 6-11
Cape Canary Very common along the Garden Route
Forest Canary Common at The Big Tree, Woodville on all visits
Black-headed Canary Common along the Klipspringer Pass
Cape Siskin First noted on route from the airport. Common
Lark-like Bunting Birds noted on the edge, Karoo National Park 12-11
Cape Bunting Common at Karoo National Park and Rooiels
Mammals
Vlie Rat 1 Ebb and Flow campsite, Wilderness 09-11
Four-striped Grass Mouse Common at Karoo National Park feeding on food put out for the birds outside our cottage
Rock Hyrax Common especially at Stony Point and Betty’s Bay.
Cape Mountain Zebra Common at Karoo National Park
Burchell’s Zebra Also common at Karoo National Park
Red Hartebeest Common at Karoo National Park
Springbok Regularly came across at Karoo National Park
Klipspringer 1, Rooiels 19-11
Steenbok Seen occasionally around Karoo National Park
Kudo Common at Karoo National Park
Black-backed Jackal 1, Karoo National Park 11-11
Large-grey Mongoose First noted at The Big Tree, Woodville 7-11
Chacma Baboon Common first noted on route to our first stopover at Hoekwil 04-11
Vervet Monkey A large troop noted Woodville 07-11 the only ones seen.
Southern Right Whale 2, Cape Agulhas 17-11
Reptiles
Western-rock Skink Often seen at Hoekwil
Leopard Tortoise Common at Karoo National Park.
Bowsprit Tortoise Common at Harold Porter Gardens and Betty’s Bay.