Zest for Birds have designed a number of land based day trip itineraries aimed at giving the visiting birder access to as many of the Cape's endemics and near endemics as possible. While these focus on the important bird species, the leaders pride themselves in a broad knowledge of the natural history of the region, and will give attention to all other forms of fauna wherever possible, including whales, dolphins, other mammals, reptiles and frogs.
A visit to the extensive Strandfontein Sewage Works will offer a large number of marine and fresh water species, and will be complemented, if necessary, by a visit to the nearby Rondevlei Nature Reserve. During our sojourn at the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, in the shadow of Table Mountain, we will stroll through the vast manicured fynbos gardens with their generous attendance of endemic species, and through the damp forests on the precipitous slopes of the mountain.
Endemics and near Endemics: Jackass Penguin, Cape Gannet, Bank, Cape & Crowned Cormorants, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveller, Forest & Jackal Buzzard, Greywing & Cape Francolin, African Black Oystercatcher, Hartlaubs Gull, Antarctic Tern (winter), Burchell's Coucal, Ground Woodpecker, Clapper Lark, Greater striped Swallow, Cape Bulbul, Cape Rock Thrush, Knysna Warbler, Grassbird, Grey backed Cisticola, Spotted Prinia, Fiscal Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Orange throated Longclaw, Southern Boubou, Bokmakierie, Cape Sugarbird, Orangebreasted & Lesser double collared Sunbird, Cape White Eye, Cape Sparrow, Cape Weaver, Forest Canary, Cape Siskin, Cape Bunting.
The Hottentots Holland Mountains and their surrounds on the eastern side of the Cape Flats provide relatively easy access to a number of species that are difficult to find on, or are entirely absent from the Cape Peninsula. This day trip focusses on finding such species. We will visit the mountain fynbos and gorges of the beautiful Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, the lofty ridges of the summit of Sir Lowry's Pass, the popular Helderberg Nature Reserve with it's sprawling mature fynbos, and time permitting, will also visit the Paarl Mountain Reserve and the Paarl Bird Sanctuary. This tour will take us through the heart of the Western Capes winelands, with their picturesque setting and their plentiful culinary distractions and offers many good birds.
Targetted Species:
A day trip along the south coast of the Western Cape brings one into the range of many species not available closer to Cape Town, in particular in the indigenous forests and coastal scrub forests of the area. We will visit the extensive Grootvadersbosch indigenous forest east of Swellendam, and will explore the farming areas on the approaches to this marvellous nature reserve. We will also visit the De Hoop Nature Reserve and search its scrub forest and coastal fynbos for exclusive species such as Southern Tchagra and Knysna Woodpecker. A visit to the nearby Potberg Nature Reserve should provide views of the endangered Cape Vulture at its southern most breeding colony, and in summer we will conclude with a visit to the De Mond Nature Reserve to look for the Damara Tern at its breeding site in the coastal dunes.
Endemics and near Endemics: South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveller, Cape Vulture, Forest Buzzard, Jackal Buzzard, Greywing & Cape Francolin, Blue Crane, Karoo Korhaan, Southern Black Korhaan, African Black Oystercatcher, Hartlaub's Gull, Damara Tern, White backed Mousebird, Acacia Pied Barbet, Knysna Woodpecker, Clapper, Karoo, Agulhas Long billed & Thick billed Larks, Grey backed finch Lark, Greater striped Swallow, Cape Bulbul, Karoo Robin, Knysna Warbler, Victorin's Warbler, Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Grey backed Cisticola, Fiscal Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Orange throated Longclaw, Southern Boubou, Southern Tchagra, Bokmakierie, Olive Bush Shrike, Pied Starling, Cape Sugarbird, Orange breasted, Lesser & Greater double collared Sunbirds, Cape White Eye, Cape Sparrow, Cape Weaver, Swee Waxbill, Forest Canary, Cape Siskin, Yellow Canary, White throated Canary
This day trip takes us up the west coast of the Western Cape and exposes us to the many species available in the short scrubby strandveld vegetation and the mudflats, pans and saltmarsh of the West Coast National Park and its environs. We will begin the journey with a visit to strandveld vegetation at Silverstroomstrand, some 40 km north of Cape Town, and will follow this with a look in at Tienie Versveld Nature Reserve where one is exposed to a number of species typical of the West Coast farmlands. From here we will move on to the excellent West Coast National Park for further strandveld birding as well as wader watching and a leisurely stroll to hides overlooking large expanses of saltmarsh. We will then visit the vast mudflats (tide permitting) and salt pans at the mouth of the Berg River at Velddrif, and will take a last look at the larks, chats and other 'little brown jobs' characteristic of the area as we drive down to Paternoster and the Ultra Salt Works, just north of Saldanha Bay.
Endemics and near Endemics: Cape Gannet, Cape & Crowned Cormorant, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveller, Jackal Buzzard, Black Harrier, Greywing & Cape Francolin, Blue Crane, Southern Black Korhaan, African Black Oystercatcher, Hartlaub's Gull, White backed Mousebird, Acacia Pied Barbet, Karoo, Thick billed & Cape Long billed Lark, Grey backed Finch Lark, Greater striped Swallow, Southern Grey Tit, Cape Penduline Tit, Cape Bulbul, Sicklewinged & Ant eating Chat, Karoo Robin, Layard's & Common Tit Babbler, Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Grey Backed Cisticola, Fiscal Flycatcher, Orange throated Longclaw, Bokmakierie, Pied Starling, Lesser double collared Sunbird, Cape White Eye, Cape Sparrow, Cape Weaver, Yellow Canary, White throated Canary
Endemics and near Endemics: South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveller, Jackal Buzzard, Pale chanting Goshawk, Southern Black & Karoo Korhaan, Namaqua Sandgrouse, White backed Mousebird, Acacia Pied Barbet, Ground Woodpecker, Clapper, Karoo, Thick billed, Cape Long billed & Spike heeled Lark, Grey backed & Black eared Finch Lark, Greater Striped Swallow, Southern Grey Tit, Cape Penduline Tit(?), Cape Bulbul, Mountain, Tractrac, Karoo & Ant eating Chat, Cape Rockjumper, Karoo Robin, Layard's & Common Tit Babbler, Victorin's Warbler, Karoo Eremomela, Cinnamon breasted Warbler, Grassbird, Spotted & Namaqua Prinia, Grey backed Cisticola, Rufous eared Warbler, Pririt Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Bokmakierie, Pied Starling, Pale winged Starling, Cape Sugarbird, Orange breasted & Lesser double collared Sunbird, Cape White Eye, Cape Sparrow, Cape Weaver, Yellow Canary, White throated Canary, Black headed Canary