Early on Saturday morning, Mariana Delport and I headed out to Arabella Golf Estate (just before Kleinmond) along with her Danish friend, Gurlie and Megan who lives in the area. We drove through this very plush estate to the end where the Bot River Estuary is situated to count the water birds there. This lagoon is linked to the ocean by a mouth that is open and closed at various times. The water level was exceptionally low due to the fact that that mouth was artrificially opened earlier last year and then, after it was again artificially closed, it naturally opened due to the heavy rains we had last winter. This second opening only a few months after the first opening has resulted in the water level falling drastically. The mouth then naturally closed in December and since then we haven't had any rain to refill the lagoon. All this resulted in there being very few birds for us to count compared to the large numbers usually encountered there. We did find 2 large groups though. We counted 105 white storks and approximately 100 pelicans. There were also many Hartlaubs Gulls and of course, lots of little waders and other odds and ends. We were fortuante enough to see a pair of African Marsh Harriers (previously known as Gymnogene's), 6 different African Fish Eagles, 4 Pied Kingfishers and 1 Giant Kingfisher, a number of Steppe Buzzards and Jackal Buzzards and on the ground we saw White-fronted Plovers (and what we think was their eggs), a Common Whimbrel (which was lifer for me) and a lovely little Bar Throated Apalis in the trees. In total we spotted 65 different species of birds which was quite a good count for one area.
Later in the morning we visited Rooisand area and the new bird hide that the Cape Bird Club has had constructed. It is a beautiful big hide and excellently situated. As it is mid-summer, there is no water around it at the moment but in winter it should be a great place to bird and I hope we will be able to make it down there for a a club outing. By the way, the hide was apparently designed by Vernon Head whom we met at Paarl Bird Sactuary who is an architect.
Don't forget to join us for our monthly meeting this Wednesday at 7.00pm and BRING YOUR BINOCULARS along. You are welcome to bring friends along too. We will be hearing all about birding in the Okavango with lots of good pictures. See you there!
Early on Saturday morning, Mariana Delport and I headed out to Arabella Golf Estate (just before Kleinmond) along with her Danish friend, Gurlie and Megan who lives in the area. We drove through this very plush estate to the end where the Bot River Estuary is situated to count the water birds there. This lagoon is linked to the ocean by a mouth that is open and closed at various times. The water level was exceptionally low due to the fact that that mouth was artrificially opened earlier last year and then, after it was again artificially closed, it naturally opened due to the heavy rains we had last winter. This second opening only a few months after the first opening has resulted in the water level falling drastically. The mouth then naturally closed in December and since then we haven't had any rain to refill the lagoon. All this resulted in there being very few birds for us to count compared to the large numbers usually encountered there. We did find 2 large groups though. We counted 105 white storks and approximately 100 pelicans. There were also many Hartlaubs Gulls and of course, lots of little waders and other odds and ends. We were fortuante enough to see a pair of African Marsh Harriers (previously known as Gymnogene's), 6 different African Fish Eagles, 4 Pied Kingfishers and 1 Giant Kingfisher, a number of Steppe Buzzards and Jackal Buzzards and on the ground we saw White-fronted Plovers (and what we think was their eggs), a Common Whimbrel (which was lifer for me) and a lovely little Bar Throated Apalis in the trees. In total we spotted 65 different species of birds which was quite a good count for one area. 
Later in the morning we visited Rooisand area and the new bird hide that the Cape Bird Club has had constructed. It is a beautiful big hide and excellently situated. As it is mid-summer, there is no water around it at the moment but in winter it should be a great place to bird and I hope we will be able to make it down there for a a club outing. By the way, the hide was apparently designed by Vernon Head whom we met at Paarl Bird Sactuary who is an architect.
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