7 – 14 OCTOBER 2024
By Joshua Olszewski
Overview
This short Cape birding tour was designed to take in some of the Cape’s best birding (targeting just about all of the Cape’s endemics) and included a couple of days in the semi-desert plains of the Tankwa Karoo, while we also enjoyed some fantastic scenery.
Cape Rockjumpers are always a major highlight of our Cape birding tours.
The tour started with some time in Cape Town where we undertook day trips, before making our way up the west coast to Langebaan and inland through the Cederberg Mountains into the Tankwa Karoo, where we searched for many South African dry country specials. We ended the tour back in beautiful Cape Town where we targeted a few missing species. The trip also included a pelagic trip out of Cape Town, where we got to grips with an array of seabird species, including some rare specials.
Over our week and a bit of Cape birding, we managed an impressive 241 bird species which included many of the Cape’s endemics and specials. Some of our highlights were Grey-winged Francolin, Karoo and Southern Black Korhaans, Namaqua Sandgrouse, African Penguin, Bank, Cape and Crowned Cormorants, Black Harrier, Ground Woodpecker, Cape Rockjumper, Fairy Flycatcher, Grey Tit, Cape Penduline Tit, nine lark species (including many Black-eared Sparrow-Larks), Fairy Flycatcher, Rufous-eared, Cinnamon-breasted and Layard’s Warblers, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted and Dusky Sunbirds and Protea, Forest and Black-headed Canaries.
We had many sightings of nomadic Black-eared Sparrow-Larks in the Tankwa Karoo.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 07th October 2024. Arrival in Cape Town and Kirstenbosch birding
After meeting up with the group at our Cape Town accommodation in the early afternoon, we took a short drive across to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. We first had lunch, trying not to get distracted by the tame Ring-necked Doves, Cape Robin-Chats, Cape White-eyes, Cape Bulbuls and Southern Double-collared Sunbirds that were foraging around the tables. After lunch, we took a long but leisurely stroll around the gardens, picking up Cape Sugarbird, Malachite and Amethyst Sunbirds, Cape Batis, Southern Boubou, Sombre Greenbul, African Olive Pigeon, Helmeted Guineafowl, Hadada Ibis, African Paradise Flycatcher, Common Buzzard, Yellow-billed Kite, Black Saw-wing, African Dusky Flycatcher, Speckled Mousebird, Karoo Prinia, Red-winged Starling, Olive Thrush, Cape and Forest Canary and the noisy Cape Spurfowl. A displaying Brown-backed Honeybird was a definite, albeit drab, highlight. Non-avian highlights included a sunbathing Black Girdled Lizard, a highly localized species only found on the Cape Peninsula. We then finished up with point blank views of the resident pair of Spotted Eagle-Owls on a nest, before heading off to dinner. Our final stop for the day was in the suburban greenbelts south of our accommodation, where we were treated to gorgeous views of a vocal African Wood Owl. We also heard a Buff-spotted Flufftail hooting from a nearby thicket, but true to form, it remained invisible to us.
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens is always a reliable spot for Forest Canary..
Day 2, 08th October 2024. Rooi-els and Betty’s Bay
We made an early start this morning and headed towards the eastern side of False Bay. En route, we stopped at a roadside gas station which hosted a large breeding colony of bright Southern Red Bishops in the adjacent reedbed. These were accompanied by smaller numbers of both Cape and Southern Masked Weavers, and Glossy Ibis, Blacksmith Lapwing, Laughing and Red-eyed Doves, Speckled Pigeons, and Cape Wagtails were also in evidence. We then pushed on, heading south along the beautiful Clarence Drive which meanders along False Bay’s east coast. We eventually reached our first stop, a boggy mountain stream north of Pringle Bay, by 8am. Here, we hoped to connect with the elusive Striped Flufftail. Sadly, like the Buff-spotted Flufftail from the previous night, it was not meant to be. However, a welcome consolation find was a vocal Burchell’s Coucal bubbling away alongside the creek.
We then backtracked slightly to the neighboring town of Rooi-els, spending a good amount of time birding the scenic Porter Drive. This short gravel road provides brilliant vistas over both False Bay and the surrounding mountains. We soon connected with our main target, the iconic Cape Rockjumper; seeing two males at point blank range was quite a memorable sight. We were also treated to the full suite of mountain fynbos species including Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Siskin, Cape Bunting, Grey-backed Cisticola, Cape Sugarbird, Yellow Bishop, Karoo Prinia, Cape Rock-Thrush, Familiar Chat and Cape Grassbird (including an incredibly curious fledgling). Flybys from White-necked Ravens and a Rock Kestrel were also welcomed, as were the Afro-Australasian Fur Seals lounging on the nearby promontory.
Many exquisitely colored Orange-breasted Sunbirds were seen well in mountain fynbos areas.
A brief coffee stop was made in Rooi-els (where we were entertained by a cheeky Chacma Baboon) before heading over to the Stony Point Penguin Colony in Betty’s Bay. Here we got to witness large numbers of African Penguins, of various ages,resting on the rocks around the coast. These spectacular birds are listed as Endangered by the IUCN, so seeing large numbers of them at the colony is always a treat. The very tip of the promontory plays host to a large cormorant colony, made up mostly of Cape Cormorants in their hundreds. There were also smaller numbers of Crowned, White-breasted and the endangered Bank Cormorant. Other interesting birds seen around the point included Greater Crested, Sandwich and Common Terns, African Oystercatcher, Alpine Swift, a near-shore Northern Giant Petrel and a single Grey-headed Gull loafing with the more common Hartlaub’s and Kelp Gulls. Apart from the birds, the rocks around the promontory were also home to family groups of the peculiar Rock Hyrax, as well as two colorful lizard species: Cape Girdled Lizard and Southern Rock Agama.
Our last stop of the day was the picturesque Harold Porter Botanical Gardens on the east side of Betty’s Bay. Like Kirstenbosch, this reserve consists of manicured floral gardens set at the foothills of dramatic, fynbos-covered mountains. A slow walk around the gardens gave us improved looks at many species we’d seen earlier on, as well as new additions such as Brimstone Canary, Streaky-headed Seedeater, Greater Striped Swallow, Yellow-billed Duck, Neddicky, Swee Waxbill and two high-flying raptors: Jackal Buzzard and Verreaux’s Eagle (the latter being incessantly mobbed by White-necked Ravens). We concluded our time at the gardens with multiple male African Paradise Flycatchers showing off their long, orange tails, before making our way back to Cape Town.
The handsome African Oystercatcher was seen well at Stony Point.
Day 3, 09th October 2024. Pelagic birding off Cape Town
We left our accommodation early, armed with breakfast packs, and met our pelagic guide, Dom, as well as our skipper, Anees, who briefed us on the boat trip ahead and what to expect. As we left Simon’s Town harbor, we saw common coastal species such as Crowned and Cape Cormorants, Greater Crested, Sandwich and Common Terns and Cape Gannet. Thankfully the seas were not too heavy today, and the boat ride was not too uncomfortable (as it often can be). As we rounded Cape Point (enjoying obligatory shots of this scenic spot) the seas became a little choppier and it’s here that we found our first few ‘true pelagic’ species such as Sooty Shearwater, White-chinned Petrel and Shy Albatross.
The word soon came through that a trawler was within reach and so we kept heading southwest towards the trawling grounds where the birds awaited us. From a distance we could see the large numbers of birds swelling behind the trawler and we quickly started picking out further new species such as Sabine’s Gull, Pintado Petrel and Black-browed Albatross. As this trawler was the only fishing vessel within reach today, we decided to stay behind the vessel and simply work through the huge numbers of mostly White-chinned Petrels and various albatrosses.
The large “white-back” albatrosses, such as this Northern Royal Albatross, are always a highlight.
We stuck with the trawler for a good couple of hours and during this time we further added Brown Skua, Parasitic Jaeger (brief views), Atlantic and Indian Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Northern Giant Petrel and Great Shearwater. The two stars of the day, however, arrived just before heading back to land and included Southern Fulmar and Northern Royal Albatross which both showed incredibly well for a prolonged period. It was then the long haul back towards Simon’s Town.
Once back in False Bay we stopped to enjoy the nesting group of Bank Cormorants and also had good looks at foraging African Penguins before we returned to the harbor after a highly successful day out at sea.
The silvery-white Southern Fulmar was another standout pelagic species.
Day 4, 10th October 2023. Cape Peninsula birding & transfer to Langebaan
After an early checkout from our Cape Town accommodation, we decided to bird some local spots along the Cape Peninsula before heading north along the west coast. Our first port of call was to the nearby Newlands Forest, right next to Kirstenbosch and also set against the moist, forested, eastern slope of Table Mountain. Three notable additions to the trip list here were Lemon Dove, Olive Woodpecker and a soaring Forest Buzzard (the latter is rare and unreliable around Cape Town). We also spotted a displaying African Goshawk flying high overhead and connected with the local introduced population of Eurasian Chaffinch. After Newlands, we popped in at the Rondebosch Common: a public park surrounded by bustling main roads. However, this park has hosted a breeding pair of Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawks for many years now, and we took no time in connecting with the showy male. We also got great views of Zitting Cisticola and our first Southern Fiscal of the trip. Traveling south, we had split-second views of a Peregrine Falcon shooting over the road before arriving at the Tokai pine forest, yet another public park. This one hosted a breeding pair of Black Sparrowhawks, and the adult female and one of her newly fledged offspring were quite obliging and showed very well. A singing Lesser Honeyguide was also a great find here.
The showy pair of Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawks gave us excellent looks near Cape Town.
After a quick park-side breakfast, we started journeying north towards the west coast, making quite a few birding stops as we went. We first paid a visit to some roadside wetlands just north of Cape Town. Between a number of these, we connected with an array of waterbirds including Great Crested and Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa Duck, White-backed Duck, Cape Shoveler, Red-billed Teal, Cape Teal, Southern Pochard, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Little Egret, Reed Cormorant, Whiskered and Caspian Tern, Red-knobbed Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Grey Heron, Common Greenshank and African Jacana (a local rarity). Other new birds seen around these wetlands included White-backed Mousebird, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Lesser Swamp Warbler, White-throated Swallow, Brown-throated Martin, and Common Waxbill. We then continued northwards, stopping at a nearby eucalyptus plantation that delivered a male Greater Honeyguide. We then connected with our first Blue Crane strutting through a roadside farm field. This field also gave us our first views of Red-capped Lark and African Pipit for the trip.
Once we made it into the rolling, scrubby dunes of the west coast strandveld, we started looking for a host of new species that had become available to us. A number of roadside stops in this habitat produced Pearl-breasted Swallow, Bokmakierie, Bar-throated Apalis, Karoo Scrub Robin, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Cape Sparrow, African Hoopoe, Capped Wheatear, Cloud Cisticola (which showed unusually well), a stunning male Southern Black Korhaan and a number of raptor species: Black-winged Kite, Rock Kestrel, Jackal Buzzard, Booted Eagle, African Marsh Harrier and a striking Black Harrier! After checking in and having a great dinner in the coastal town of Langebaan, we made a brief stop outside of town where we found a male Fiery-necked Nightjar singing away (and flying within inches of our faces!).
Day 5: 11th October 2023. Birding the west coast and transfer to the Tankwa Karoo
Our first birding stop of the morning was the Langebaan Country Estate, which, in spite of its lavish housing complex, contains some well-preserved strandveld which delivered a number of our target species. Cape Clapper Larks displayed all over the grassy hillside, and a Cape Long-billed Lark treated us to its nose-dive display, before perching proudly for us to enjoy. A pair of Grey-winged Francolins with a tiny chick were also a great find, as were a number of Banded Martins flying around with the more common Greater Striped Swallows and Large Rock Martins. Our first looks at Yellow and White-throated Canary, Karoo Scrub Robin, African Stonechat, Large-billed Lark and African Black Swift were also had at the estate. We also had more Southern Black Korhaans for some extra eye-candy.
Venturing from the estate into the renowned West Coast National Park, we first stopped at the Seeberg bird hide near the northern entrance gate. The high tide at the time allowed for great views and photographic opportunities of the coastal birds that were roosting and feeding along the beach here. These included large numbers of Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls, White-breasted, Crowned and Cape Cormorants, African Oystercatchers, Sanderlings, Eurasian Whimbrels, Bar-tailed Godwits, Common and Sandwich Terns and Greater and Lesser Flamingos. From these, we picked out smaller numbers of Grey, White-fronted, Common Ringed and Kittlitz’s Plovers, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Greater Crested and Caspian Tern, Common Greenshank and singletons of Eurasian Curlew and Little Tern. The scrub surrounding the hide was also quite productive and gave us Grey Tit, Cape Penduline-Tit, Red-faced Mousebird, Malachite Sunbird, Cape Bunting, Chestnut-vented Warbler, European Bee-eater, Cape Grassbird and Pearl-breasted Swallow.
From Seeberg we drove south through the park, spotting Common Ostrich and multiple African Marsh Harriers as we went (including one having an altercation with a Black Harrier). We then arrived at the Geelbek manor house at the southern tip of the Langebaan lagoon. The trees around the house produced Pied Starling, Southern Grey-headed Sparrows, a confiding Rock Kestrel and the diminutive Cardinal Woodpecker, while the saltmarsh surrounding the lagoon delivered a lot of the afore-mentioned waterbirds, with the addition of Marsh Sandpiper. The nearby Abramskraal waterhole was also very enjoyable for us. Here we enjoyed large numbers of Cape Weavers and Namaqua Doves, a showy African Spoonbill, skulking Lesser Swamp Warblers and a brief Black Crake. After exiting the park, we made one last stop at the Langebaan Quarry to enjoy the local pair of Verreaux’s Eagles that breed here, while also connecting with our first Three-banded Plovers.
After enjoying the birding on the west coast, we made our way east, crossing vast tracks of farmland and scenic mountain passes before entering into the Karoo around dusk. We then turned in early and awaited the next full day of birding this dry desert region of western South Africa.
Day 6, 12th October 2023. Tankwa Karoo birding
We had the full day to explore the dry gorges and plains of the Tankwa Karoo today and had a long list of target birds to aim for. We started the day by birding around our guest farm and the nearby Skitterykloof which added many of our dry country targets, the first of which included Karoo Lark, Rufous-eared Warbler, Mountain Wheatear, Layard’s Warbler, Pririt Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Karoo Chat, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Lark-like Bunting, Dusky Sunbird, and White-throated, Yellow and Black-headed Canary. Some interesting extras seen around here included Common Reed Warbler, Long-billed Crombec, Common Waxbill and another pair of Grey-winged Francolins with chicks.
The tiny Fairy Flycatcher is commonly found in the Tankwa Karoo.
We then headed back towards the main Tankwa-Ceres road, crossing a narrow riverbed that, surprisingly, was holding water! As a result, we were treated to small numbers of Namaqua Sangrouse coming down to drink, and also had great looks at White-throated Canary, Lark-like Bunting, Familiar Chat, Chestnut-vented Warbler and a soaring Booted Eagle. Heading north along the main road, we managed to pick up Tractrac Chats and a Lanner Falcon on roadside fenceposts, as well as Namaqua Warbler in the riverbed north of the Tankwa Padstal. We then returned to our lodge to relax and kill the heat of the day.
Once the temperature had started to lower, we ventured out for a late afternoon drive, spotting another Black Harrier as we left the lodge premises. Once again heading north, we pushed on passed the padstal and scanned the barren plains along the roadside. This turned out to be quite productive, and over the next few hours we managed to connect with small numbers of Large-billed, Red-capped and Spike-heeled Larks, as well as the nomadic Black-eared Sparrow-Lark. The males of these small larks are quite noticeable in flight with their jet-black plumage and were a real highlight of the day. Another was a small group of Karoo Eremomelas at one of the arbitrary picnic tables along this road. We were also fortunate enough to bump into not just one, but two groups of Karoo Korhaans, the later group being particularly close to us, and with a young chick in tow! A final pop-in at Skitterykloof before dinnertime gave us Pale-winged Starlings, improved views of Black-headed Canary and an Ant-eating Chat outside our accommodation. A final surprise for the day was a Frecked Nightjar that flushed from next to one of the client’s chalets, as well as a Cape Genet perched on the rocks above said chalet.
Karoo Korhaans gave us lovely looks in the Tankwa Karoo.
Day 7, 13th October 2024. Tankwa karoo birding and transfer to Cape Town
This morning saw us make a final attempt at Skitterykloof for one of our major Karoo targets that had been evading us. Eventually, they gave themselves us: a pair of Cinnamon-breasted Warblers mutually preening each other low down on the roadside slope! We also had our best views of Black Harrier here, with one providing prolonged soaring views low overhead. The other individual, presumably the male, entertained us with his noisy fluttering display flight nearby. With all the main targets secured, we decided to venture further west along the Skitterykloof road. As the pass winds on towards the mountains, the vegetation rapidly changes from normal Karoo scrub to transitional Karroid Fynbos. This was reflected by the sudden appearance of Southern Black Korhaans and Cape Clapper Larks displaying along the road, as well as protea bushes. These bushes delivered Cape Sugarbirds and, soon after, an obliging Protea Canary, another fynbos endemic and a major target for this tour!
The often-tricky Protea Canary played along for us this time round.
After the success with the canary, we made our way east again, down the Skitterykloof pass and south along the main Tankwa road towards Ceres. We did some light Karoo birding in the plains along the road, stopping briefly to scan the immense dam just south of Eierkop. Here we once again found massive numbers of waterbirds, which included thousands of Greater Flamingos, Red-knobbed Coots and Black-necked Grebes. Small groups of Glossy Ibis, White-faced Whistling Ducks and the handsome South African Shelduck were welcome new trip additions, as were an obliging pair of Sickle-winged Chats. The adorable Brants’ Whistling Rat was also great to see (and not just hear, for a change!). Seeing flocks of Whiskered Terns flying around in the middle of a desert was also quite strange!
One Booted Eagle and another Black Harrier later, we were back in Ceres, where we fueled up and started on the long drive back towards Cape Town. We made a few stops as we went, which got us some new species like African Black Duck, Spotted Thick-knee, African Darter, Acacia Pied Barbet and Pin-tailed Whydah. A distant Cape Rockjumper near Paarl and a family of Blue Cranes with chicks were welcome surprises. Venturing towards False Bay, we managed to find a group of European Bee-eaters that provided excellent photographic opportunities right next to the road. After which, we arrived at the famous Standfontein Sewage Works. This, one of the most popular birding sites in the Western Cape, is a mecca for waterbirds, and we took the time to enjoy the hundreds of gulls, ducks, flamingos, coots, ibis and herons that live here. Species-wise, we added Little Rush Warbler and Black-crowned Night Heron, as well as the vagrant Franklin’s Gull that had been hanging around this spot for the previous week. A small group of Marsh Sandpipers was another notable find here. We then returned to Fernwood Manor and enjoyed a hearty dinner in town, reflecting on the incredible week of birding we had just completed.
Day 8, 14th October 2024. Cape Town birding and departure
Today was simply a travel day, as most of the clients were flying out in the evening or the following day.
This ended a highly successful and thoroughly enjoyable week’s birding in the Cape. Thanks everybody for making it such a fun trip.
Bird List – Following IOC (September 2024)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, birds seen by the guide only are marked with a (G) after the common name, all other species were seen both by clients and guide.
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International. EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near-Threatened.
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Ostriches (Struthionidae) | |
| Common Ostrich | Struthio camelus |
| Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) | |
| White-faced Whistling Duck | Dendrocygna viduata |
| White-backed Duck | Thalassornis leuconotus |
| Spur-winged Goose | Plectropterus gambensis |
| Egyptian Goose | Alopochen aegyptiaca |
| South African Shelduck | Tadorna cana |
| Cape Shoveler | Spatula smithii |
| African Black Duck | Anas sparsa |
| Yellow-billed Duck | Anas undulata |
| Cape Teal | Anas capensis |
| Red-billed Teal | Anas erythrorhyncha |
| Southern Pochard | Netta erythrophthalma |
| Maccoa Duck – EN | Oxyura maccoa |
| Guineafowl (Numididae) | |
| Helmeted Guineafowl | Numida meleagris |
| Pheasants & Allies (Phasianidae) | |
| Grey-winged Francolin | Scleroptila afra |
| Common Quail (H) | Coturnix coturnix |
| Cape Spurfowl | Pternistis capensis |
| Nightjars (Caprimulgidae) | |
| Fiery-necked Nightjar | Caprimulgus pectoralis |
| Freckled Nightjar | Caprimulgus tristigma |
| Swifts (Apodidae) | |
| Alpine Swift | Tachymarptis melba |
| African Black Swift | Apus barbatus |
| Little Swift | Apus affinis |
| White-rumped Swift | Apus caffer |
| Bustards (Otididae) | |
| Karoo Korhaan | Heterotetrax vigorsii |
| Southern Black Korhaan – VU | Afrotis afra |
| Cuckoos (Cuculidae) | |
| Burchell’s Coucal | Centropus burchellii |
| Klaas’s Cuckoo | Chrysococcyx klaas |
| Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) | |
| Namaqua Sandgrouse | Pterocles namaqua |
| Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae) | |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia |
| African Olive Pigeon | Columba arquatrix |
| Speckled Pigeon | Columba guinea |
| Lemon Dove | Columba larvata |
| Red-eyed Dove | Streptopelia semitorquata |
| Ring-necked Dove | Streptopelia capicola |
| Laughing Dove | Spilopelia senegalensis |
| Namaqua Dove | Oena capensis |
| Flufftails & Forest Rails (Sarothruridae) | |
| Buff-spotted Flufftail (H) | Sarothrura elegans |
| Red-chested Flufftail (H) | Sarothrura rufa |
| Rails, Crakes & Coots (Rallidae) | |
| African Rail (H) | Rallus caerulescens |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus |
| Red-knobbed Coot | Fulica cristata |
| African Swamphen | Porphyrio madagascariensis |
| Black Crake | Zapornia flavirostra |
| Cranes (Gruidae) | |
| Blue Crane – VU | Grus paradisea |
| Grebes (Podicipedidae) | |
| Little Grebe | Tachybaptus ruficollis |
| Great Crested Grebe | Podiceps cristatus |
| Black-necked Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis |
| Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) | |
| Greater Flamingo | Phoenicopterus roseus |
| Lesser Flamingo | Phoeniconaias minor |
| Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae) | |
| Spotted Thick-knee | Burhinus capensis |
| Water Thick-knee (H) | Burhinus vermiculatus |
| Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) | |
| African Oystercatcher | Haematopus moquini |
| Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae) | |
| Black-winged Stilt | Himantopus himantopus |
| Pied Avocet | Recurvirostra avosetta |
| Plovers (Charadriidae) | |
| Blacksmith Lapwing | Vanellus armatus |
| Crowned Lapwing | Vanellus coronatus |
| Grey Plover | Pluvialis squatarola |
| Common Ringed Plover | Charadrius hiaticula |
| Kittlitz’s Plover | Charadrius pecuarius |
| Three-banded Plover | Charadrius tricollaris |
| White-fronted Plover | Charadrius marginatus |
| Jacanas (Jacanidae) | |
| African Jacana | Actophilornis africanus |
| Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae) | |
| Eurasian Whimbrel | Numenius phaeopus |
| Eurassian Curlew | Numenius arquata |
| Bar-tailed Godwit | Limosa lapponica |
| Curlew Sandpiper | Calidris ferruginea |
| Sanderling | Calidris alba |
| Little Stint | Calidris minuta |
| Marsh Sandpiper | Tringa stagnatilis |
| Common Greenshank | Tringa nebularia |
| Gulls, Terns, Skimmers (Laridae) | |
| Little Tern | Sternula albifrons |
| Caspian Tern | Hydroprogne caspia |
| Whiskered Tern | Chlidonias hybrida |
| Common Tern | Sterna hirundo |
| Sandwich Tern | Thalasseus sandvicensis |
| Greater Crested Tern | Thalasseus bergii |
| Sabine’s Gull | Xema sabini |
| Grey-headed Gull | Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus |
| Hartlaub’s Gull | Chroicocephalus hartlaubii |
| Franklin’s Gull | Leucophaeus pipixcan |
| Kelp Gull | Larus dominicanus |
| Skuas (Stercorariidae) | |
| Parasitic Jaeger | Stercorarius parasiticus |
| Brown Skua | Stercorarius antarcticus |
| Penguins (Spheniscidae) | |
| African Penguin – EN | Spheniscus demersus |
| Austral Storm Petrels (Oceanitidae) | |
| Wilson’s Storm Petrel | Oceanites oceanicus |
| Albatrosses (Diomedeidae) | |
| Northern Royal Albatross – EN | Diomedea sanfordi |
| Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross – EN | Thalassarche chlororhynchos |
| Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross – EN | Thalassarche carteri |
| Shy Albatross | Thalassarche cauta |
| Black-browed Albatross – EN | Thalassarche melanophris |
| Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels (Procellariidae) | |
| Northern Giant Petrel | Macronectes halli |
| White-chinned Petrel – VU | Procellaria aequinoctialis |
| Southern Fulmar | Fulmarus glacialoides |
| Cape Petrel | Daption capense |
| Sooty Shearwater | Ardenna grisea |
| Great Shearwater | Ardenna gravis |
| Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae) | |
| Cape Gannet – EN | Morus capensis |
| Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae) | |
| African Darter | Anhinga rufa |
| Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) | |
| Reed Cormorant | Microcarbo africanus |
| Crowned Cormorant | Microcarbo coronatus |
| Bank Cormorant – EN | Phalacrocorax neglectus |
| Cape Cormorant – EN | Phalacrocorax capensis |
| White-breasted Cormorant | Phalacrocorax lucidus |
| Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) | |
| African Sacred Ibis | Threskiornis aethiopicus |
| Hadada Ibis | Bostrychia hagedash |
| Glossy Ibis | Plegadis falcinellus |
| African Spoonbill | Platalea alba |
| Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae) | |
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta |
| Western Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis |
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea |
| Black-headed Heron | Ardea melanocephala |
| Pelicans (Pelecanidae) | |
| Great White Pelican | Pelecanus onocrotalus |
| Kites, Hawks, Eagles (Accipitridae) | |
| Black-winged Kite | Elanus caeruleus |
| Martial Eagle – EN | Polemaetus bellicosus |
| Booted Eagle | Hieraaetus pennatus |
| Verreaux’s Eagle | Aquila verreauxii |
| Pale Chanting Goshawk | Melierax canorus |
| African Goshawk | Accipiter tachiro |
| Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk | Accipiter rufiventris |
| Black Sparrowhawk | Accipiter melanoleucus |
| African Marsh Harrier | Circus ranivorus |
| Black Harrier – EN | Circus maurus |
| Yellow-billed Kite | Milvus aegyptius |
| Jackal Buzzard | Buteo rufofuscus |
| Forest Buzzard | Buteo trizonatus |
| Owls (Strigidae) | |
| Spotted Eagle-Owl | Bubo africanus |
| African Wood Owl | Strix woodfordii |
| Mousebirds (Coliidae) | |
| Speckled Mousebird | Colius striatus |
| White-backed Mousebird | Colius colius |
| Red-faced Mousebird | Urocolius indicus |
| Hoopoes (Upupidae) | |
| African Hoopoe | Upupa africana |
| Bee-eaters (Meropidae) | |
| European Bee-eater | Merops apiaster |
| Honeyguides (Indicatoridae) | |
| Brown-backed Honeybird | Prodotiscus regulus |
| Lesser Honeyguide | Indicator minor |
| Greater Honeyguide | Indicator indicator |
| African Barbets (Lybiidae) | |
| Acacia Pied Barbet | Tricholaema leucomelas |
| Woodpeckers (Picidae) | |
| Ground Woodpecker | Geocolaptes olivaceus |
| Cardinal Woodpecker | Dendropicos fuscescens |
| Olive Woodpecker | Dendropicos griseocephalus |
| Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae) | |
| Rock Kestrel | Falco rupicolus |
| Lanner Falcon | Falco biarmicus |
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus |
| Wattle-eyes, Batises (Platysteiridae) | |
| Cape Batis | Batis capensis |
| Pririt Batis | Batis pririt |
| Bushshrikes (Malaconotidae) | |
| Bokmakierie | Telophorus zeylonus |
| Southern Boubou | Laniarius ferrugineus |
| Drongos (Dicruridae) | |
| Fork-tailed Drongo | Dicrurus adsimilis |
| Monarchs (Monarchidae) | |
| African Paradise Flycatcher | Terpsiphone viridis |
| Shrikes (Laniidae) | |
| Southern Fiscal | Lanius collaris |
| Crows, Jays (Corvidae) | |
| Pied Crow | Corvus albus |
| White-necked Raven | Corvus albicollis |
| Rockjumpers (Chaetopidae) | |
| Cape Rockjumper | Chaetops frenatus |
| Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae) | |
| Fairy Flycatcher | Stenostira scita |
| Tits, Chickadees (Paridae) | |
| Grey Tit | Melaniparus afer |
| Penduline Tits (Remizidae) | |
| Cape Penduline Tit | Anthoscopus minutus |
| Larks (Alaudidae) | |
| Spike-heeled Lark | Chersomanes albofasciata |
| Cape Long-billed Lark | Certhilauda curvirostris |
| Black-eared Sparrow-Lark | Eremopterix australis |
| Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark | Eremopterix verticalis |
| Karoo Lark | Calendulauda albescens |
| Cape Clapper Lark | Mirafra apiata |
| Large-billed Lark | Galerida magnirostris |
| Red-capped Lark | Calandrella cinerea |
| Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) | |
| Sombre Greenbul | Andropadus importunus |
| Cape Bulbul | Pycnonotus capensis |
| Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae) | |
| Black Saw-wing | Psalidoprocne pristoptera |
| Banded Martin | Neophedina cincta |
| Brown-throated Martin | Riparia paludicola |
| Large Rock Martin | Ptyonoprogne fuligula |
| Pearl-breasted Swallow | Hirundo dimidiata |
| White-throated Swallow | Hirundo albigularis |
| Greater Striped Swallow | Cecropis cucullata |
| Crombecs, African Warblers (Macrosphenidae) | |
| Cape Grassbird | Sphenoeacus afer |
| Long-billed Crombec | Sylvietta rufescens |
| Reed Warblers & Allies (Acrocephalidae) | |
| Lesser Swamp Warbler | Acrocephalus gracilirostris |
| Common Reed Warbler | Acrocephalus scirpaceus |
| Grassbirds & Allies (Locustellidae) | |
| Little Rush Warbler | Bradypterus baboecala |
| Cisticolas & Allies (Cisticolidae) | |
| Grey-backed Cisticola | Cisticola subruficapilla |
| Levaillant’s Cisticola | Cisticola tinniens |
| Neddicky | Cisticola fulvicapilla |
| Zitting Cisticola | Cisticola juncidis |
| Cloud Cisticola | Cisticola textrix |
| Karoo Prinia | Prinia maculosa |
| Namaqua Warbler | Phragmacia substriata |
| Bar-throated Apalis | Apalis thoracica |
| Rufous-eared Warbler | Malcorus pectoralis |
| Cinnamon-breasted Warbler | Euryptila subcinnamomea |
| Karoo Eremomela | Eremomela gregalis |
| Sylviid Babblers (Sylviidae) | |
| Layard’s Warbler | Curruca layardi |
| Chestnut-vented Warbler | Curruca subcoerulea |
| White-eyes (Zosteropidae) | |
| Cape White-eye | Zosterops virens |
| Sugarbirds (Promeropidae) | |
| Cape Sugarbird | Promerops cafer |
| Starlings, Rhabdornises (Sturnidae) | |
| Common Starling | Sturnus vulgaris |
| Pied Starling | Lamprotornis bicolor |
| Red-winged Starling | Onychognathus morio |
| Pale-winged Starling | Onychognathus nabouroup |
| Thrushes (Turdidae) | |
| Olive Thrush | Turdus olivaceus |
| Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) | |
| Karoo Scrub Robin | Cercotrichas coryphoeus |
| Fiscal Flycatcher | Sigelus silens |
| African Dusky Flycatcher | Muscicapa adusta |
| Cape Robin-Chat | Dessonornis caffer |
| Cape Rock Thrush | Monticola rupestris |
| African Stonechat | Saxicola torquatus |
| Sickle-winged Chat | Emarginata sinuata |
| Karoo Chat | Emarginata schlegelii |
| Tractrac Chat | Emarginata tractrac |
| Ant-eating Chat | Myrmecocichla formicivora |
| Mountain Chat | Myrmecocichla monticola |
| Capped Wheatear | Oenanthe pileata |
| Familiar Chat | Oenanthe familiaris |
| Sunbirds (Nectariniidae) | |
| Orange-breasted Sunbird | Anthobaphes violacea |
| Amethyst Sunbird | Chalcomitra amethystina |
| Malachite Sunbird | Nectarinia famosa |
| Southern Double-collared Sunbird | Cinnyris chalybeus |
| Dusky Sunbird | Cinnyris fuscus |
| Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae) | |
| Cape Sparrow | Passer melanurus |
| Southern Grey-headed Sparrow | Passer diffusus |
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus |
| Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae) | |
| Cape Weaver | Ploceus capensis |
| Southern Masked Weaver | Ploceus velatus |
| Southern Red Bishop | Euplectes orix |
| Yellow Bishop | Euplectes capensis |
| Waxbills, Munias & Allies (Estrildidae) | |
| Swee Waxbill | Coccopygia melanotis |
| Common Waxbill | Estrilda astrild |
| Indigobirds, Whydahs (Viduidae) | |
| Pin-tailed Whydah | Vidua macroura |
| Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae) | |
| Cape Wagtail | Motacilla capensis |
| African Pipit | Anthus cinnamomeus |
| Nicholson’s Pipit | Anthus nicholsoni |
| Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae) | |
| Eurasian Chaffinch | Fringilla coelebs |
| Forest Canary | Crithagra scotops |
| Cape Siskin | Crithagra totta |
| Yellow Canary | Crithagra flaviventris |
| Brimstone Canary | Crithagra sulphurata |
| Streaky-headed Seedeater | Crithagra gularis |
| White-throated Canary | Crithagra albogularis |
| Protea Canary – NT | Crithagra leucoptera |
| Cape Canary | Serinus canicollis |
| Black-headed Canary | Serinus alario |
| Buntings (Emberizidae) | |
| Lark-like Bunting | Emberiza impetuani |
| Cape Bunting | Emberiza capensis |
| Species Seen | 241 |
| Species heard only | 5 |
| Total species recorded | 246 |
Mammal List
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
| Hyraxes (Procaviidae) | |
| Rock Hyrax | Procavia capensis |
| Rabbits and Hares (Leporidae) | |
| Scrub Hare | Lepus saxatilis |
| African Molerats (Bathyergidae) | |
| Cape Dune Mole-rat | Bathyergus suillus |
| Squirrels and Relatives (Sciuridae) | |
| Eastern Grey Squirrel | Sciurus carolinensis |
| Old World Mice, Rats and Gerbils (Muridae) | |
| Four-striped Grass Rat | Rhabdomys sp. |
| Karoo Vlei Rat | Otomys unisulcatus |
| Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae) | |
| Chacma Baboon | Papio ursinus |
| Eared Seals (Otariidae) | |
| Afro-Australian Fur Seal | Arctocephalus pusillus |
| Mongooses and Fossa (Herpestidae) | |
| Cape Grey Mongoose | Herpestes pulverulentus |
| Civets, Genets, & Oyans (Viverridae) | |
| Cape Genet | Genetta tigrina |
| Bovids (Bovidae) | |
| Blesbok (Bontebok) | Damaliscus pygargus |
| Steenbok | Raphicerus campestris |
| Common Eland | Tragelaphus oryx |
| Total species seen: | 13 |
This is a sample trip report. Please email us ([email protected]) for more trip reports from this destination.
