Karoo Desert Botanical Garden in Worcester

Saturday the 20th of Aug was a beautiful sunny and hot day which followed and preceded very rainy weather so it was fortuitous when that date was chosen some 3 months ago for this outing, by the Tygerberg Bird Club.

Ten BBB club members met up at 7.15am and traveled together to Worcester, with one group taking the shorter  High-way route in order to pick up Johann on the way.  The rest of us took the scenic route over the Franschhoek Pass and through Villiersdorp.  The mist was thick on the ground most of the way, making for very beautiful scenery.

On arriving at the garden, the TBC had already started their walk so we looked around the car park and the planted gardens and almost immediately spotted the White-backed Mousebirds.  Quite a few of them around and one looked like he'd just had a bath. We were trying to spot the colourful back in this pic but I love the scraggly look as he tries to dry off in the sun.

We also spotted Speckled Mousebirds and Red-faced Mousebirds.  Just a bit further on we were treated to nice sightings of a pair of Chestnut Vented Tit-babblers.  House and Cape Sparrows were abundant in the area and some juveniles were also seen.

Pat and John Ruane

The garden was literally packed with Southern Double-collared Sunbirds and they were seen around every corner.  Such beautiful birds, we didn't mind looking at them every time.

Male Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Common Fiscals (Shrikes) were also seen often and we took time to distinguish between the male and female.

Common Fiscal

We came across this example of a Khoi San "kook skerm" (cooking shelter) and popped in for a group pic... pity no tea was on offer.

back l-r:  Mike, Kobus, Andrea, John - Middle l-r:  Estelle, Diana, Robyn, Pat - Front l-r:  Adel, Joahnn

Karoo Scrub-robin

We had then caught up with the group from the TBC at the Shale Trail who told us about the Karoo Scrub-robins at the top of the hill who were nesting.  We all took on the very steep walk up the hill and enjoyed excellent views of the two birds carrying nesting material back and forth.  The scenic views from the top of the hill were excellent too.

The flowers in the garden were at their best, with this week being the height of the Karoo flower season.  We all admired the Chinese Lantern bush (also known as the Karoo Lantern).

Chinese/Karoo Lanter (Klapperbos) Nymania Capensis

The various coloured daisies were gorgeous.

The aloes were also in full bloom and looking wonderful.  Many of the birds were feeding on the blooms and their faces were covered in red pollen.

   

And  we cannot leave out the lovely succulents that also had a few flowers sprouting.

At the end of the walk, we joined the TBC for our picnic lunch and enjoyed soaking up the sun.  A really lovely outing and hopefully we will be back next year.

Saturday Outing to Worcester

This Saturday we will join the Tygerberg Bird Club on their outing to the Karoo Desert Botanical Garden in Worcester.  We will meet at the NG Church parking lot in the Main rd at 7.15am to car-pool.  Those who have bigger cars, please take someone else with you and lets keep our carbon-footprint as low as possible.

Please take entrance fee money (R30.00 per adult, may be less for pensioners).  

Also take: good walking shoes - this is a botanical garden so it should be nice easy walking

Sun hat and sun screen

Water for while walking

Tea / coffee and your snacks / lunch for when we are finished.

Camping chair

Binoculars, camera and bird book if you like.

We will sit with the TBC at the end of the outing to have our lunch and draw up a bird list for the day.

See you there!

Jackal Buzzard visit

Jean Birrell sent through this lovely pic of a Jackal Buzzard that visited her garden yesterday.

Sweet Swees

Little Swee Waxbill's are really pretty and although they are common in Franschhoek, they are so small that they are often missed.  Jean Birrell didn't have that problem today when a little Swee visited her bird feeder.

Lovely!

Check out my personal blog for news of the first ringing session in the Franschhoek Wild Flower Garden yesterday... click here. 

Ringing and upcoming meetings

I will be ringing in the Franschhoek Wild Flower Garden behind the Huguenot Memorial Museum tomorrow morning, Saturday 6th of Aug 2011, from 7.00am.  I will be there till about midday so feel free to pop by anytime you like to have a look and see how its done.

I will also be ringing in Andrea Desmond-Smith's garden in 2 weeks time.

Our monthly club meeting takes place next week Saturday, the 13th of August 2011 at 2.00pm, Otter's Bend, Dassenberg Rd.  Hope to see you all there!  Remember your R5.00 for members and R20.00 for visitors for the lucky draw.  I will be giving a talk on the birds of Franschhoek.  Bring along any questions you have or photos of strange birds seen in the village and we will have a look at them together.

Our next outing is to the Karoo Desert Botanical Garden in Worcester on the 20th of August.  Please meet at the NG Church parking lot in the main road at 8.00am.  We can car-pool and travel there together.  Please let me know if you are coming so that we know who to wait for.

The Fish Eagles were seen on the nest this week so please keep a look out when you go that way and let us know if you see them and what they are doing.  Date and time of sighting will also be useful.

I had a fantastic visit by the local Gymnogene this week.  He landed across the road from me on the roof of the Orpen's house and then proceeded to visit my garden, jumping from tree to tree in search of a tasty morsel.  

Isn't it beautiful?  I love the dark grey plumage.  Do watch out for it around town, it is flying low over the house most days.