A 7am start ensured we were at Rooi Els nice and early,
and we were rewarded with great views of a 5-strong family group of Cape
Rockjumpers, a single Ground Woodpecker, and interestingly a pair of Long-billed
Pipits. The resident Black Eagle pair were actively adding to their eyrie,
and Southern double-collared, Orange-breasted and Malachite Sunbirds were
particularly active. We also had fleeting glimpses of a male Cape Sugarbird.
Stony Point was particularly good with the usual regiment
of African Penguins putting on a fine display, while both Bank and Crowned
Cormorants were actively building nests. It was interesting watching the
Bank Cormorants, with their white breeding rump patches, disappearing
on regular sorties to the ocean floor in search of fresh seaweed, an integral
nest component that is bound with guano. A surprise was a lone immature
African March Harrier (with distinctive breast band) that put in brief
appearance.
Harold Porter Botanical Gardens produced the usual array
of garden birds and the highlight was extended views of a bird party mobbing
a Boomslang (Tree Snake) in Disa Kloof. Numerous Cape White-eyes, Orange-breasted
and Southern Double-collared, Cape Batis, Swee Waxbill, Paradise Flycatcher
and Cape Bulbul put in an appearance.
After a quick lunch at “De Nice Deli” in
Betty’s Bay we made our way back towards Cape Town for an afternoon
of waterbirds at Strandfontein Sewage Works. All the usual suspects were
present as well as 6 Hottentot Teal, which was a nice surprise. Before
heading home we made a quick stop at Blouvlei Nature Reserve and were
very pleased to find a magnificent female Painted Snipe, an apt ending
to an excellent days birding!
