Birds

Birds encountered on Table Mountain and in the Western Cape in general. I am not much of a “twitcher”, and you can well imagine I do not like to remain still for long. But sometimes curiosity gets the better of me, and I need to put a name to a LBJ.

African Black Oystercatcher

Haematopus moquini

Sightings: Robberg [March]; Nature’s Valley Beach [September]

Blue Crane

Anthropoides paradisea

This elegant bird is the national bird of South Africa. I spotted a flock in some farmlands near Greyton. They were incredibly skittish, and I couldn’t get within 100m of them.

Sightings: Greyton

Cape Francolin

Francolinus capensis

Spotted this one on the beach at Kraalbaai in the West Coast National Park where he seemed quite out-of-place!

Sightings: West Coast Nature Reserve

Cape Rock Thrush

Monticola rupestris

Sightings: Genadendal Hiking Trail [June]

Cape Sugarbird

Promerops cafer

You will see these little guys flitting from protea to protea using their long curved beaks to get to the nectar. The tail of the male bird can reach 3 times its body length, the tail of the female is shorter.

Sightings: Silvermine; Pipe-track; Greyton Nature Reserve

Chorister Robin-Chat

Cossypha dichroa

This gorgeous guy came to visit us on the deck of our Forest Hut at De Vasselot Rest Camp in Nature’s Valley.

Sighting: De Vasselot Rest Camp, Nature’s Valley [September]

Kelp Gull

Larus dominicanus

Common scavengers on the coast of South Africa.

Kynsna Loerie

Tauraco corythaix

We were welcomed to our Forest Hut at De Vasselot Rest Camp, Nature’s Valley by a couple of Loeries. Unfortunately, they would not play along, and I only managed a shot of one of them hiding in the upper branches of the tree next to the hut.

These beautiful birds are most striking in flight when the crimson outer primary feathers under their wings catch the sunlight. They make a surprisingly loud and not particularly beautiful “ko-ko-ko-ko” sound.

Sighting: De Vasselot Rest Camp, Nature’s Valley [September]

Orangebreasted Sunbird

These colorful little guys can be seen sipping nectar from proteas and pincushions. Their wings make a distinctive “whirring” sound, and you will often hear them in the fynbos before you see them.

Sightings: Silvermine East; Pipe-track.

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Red-winged Starlings are to be found everywhere on the Peninsula. They are noisy, cheeky birds. They are almost entirely glossy black, with the exceptions of the chestnut flight feathers.

Southern Boubou Shrike

Laniarius ferrugineus

Sighting: Bontebok National Park

Speckled Pigeon

Columba guinea

These large pigeons are a common sight in suburban areas.

Sightings: Cape Peninsula suburbia [October]

Whitebreasted Cormorant

Phalacrocorax africanus

Spotted this fellow alongside the walkway between Muizenberg and St. James.

Unidentified

More often than not I am unable to name the birds I see. I have a VERY outdated bird book; looks like I may have to go and purchase a new one!

Here is a photo of a raptor that I saw on the dunes near the parking lot at Noordhoek Beach. The bird seemed a bit out-of-place, and I would love to know what it is.