First outing for 2011 - Harold Porter

Our newly metamorphosised club had its first outing for the year today to Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in Betty's Bay and then Stony Point.  It was very well attended with 13 members and 3 visitors (who will be members soon, we hope).

We started the morning off at 7.00am, meeting at the big church in Franschhoek's Main Rd.  After arranging car-pooling we were off at 7.15am.  We took a slow drive up the Franschhoek Mountain pass as it was thick with mist and visibility was poor.  We took the route around Theewaterskloof Dam, the R45 to the N2 and then on to Botriver.  There were plenty of Steppe Buzzards on the road and just before turning off to the N2, we stopped to have a look at 2 Blue Cranes with 2 tiny chicks, not more than a few days old.

We arrived at Harold Porter Botanical Gardens at 9.00am and our first bird of the day was a Reed Cormorant at the pool close to the entrance.  A beautiful Orange Breasted Sunbird and a Cape Batis kept us entertained for a while and we continued our walk up towards the waterfall.  On the bridge we spotted a whole family of Karoo Prinia's with chick fluttering their wings and being fed by dotting parents.

Karoo Prinia below the bridge

While walking along the river, we spotted Black Sawwing, African Black Duck, Fiscal Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher and heard the Giant Kingfisher.  

Dusky Flycatcher

We arrived at the waterfall and were thrilled to find the rare Disa was in full bloom with many of the beautiful, delicate flowers appearing on the cliff face opposite us, very high up.  Couldn't get a really good pic but this is the best one I have.

 Disa Uniflora

It was lovely being at the waterfall and if it was a hotter day, we may have been tempted to jump into the dark Brak water but it was a bit chilly for that.

On the way back, the weather must have been warming up somewhat and we eventually found the Sombre Greenbull calling "Willie" at us.  We also found Lesser Double Collared Sunbird, Cape Robin-chat, Cape Sugarbird and another beautiful pair of Orange Breasted Sunbirds displaying for us very considerately.

Orange Breasted Sunbird

We stopped at the restaurant for a cup of tea and coffee after our 2 hour walk and caught up on some socialising.

While on our walk, we had of course seen many beautiful plant species and Andrea was kind enough to impart some of her local knowledge to us with their identification.  Here are some of the best ones we found.

Brunia stokei - the only red Brunia sp.

Helichrysum vestitum

Erica mammosa

Fan Aloe (Aloe plicatilis)

Mimetes hirtus - endemic to area - headed for extinction

Crassula coccinea

After tea, we left the garden and headed out to Stony Point to see the penguins.  The first birds we spotted there were Cape Wagtails and hundreds of Hartlaubs Gulls.  

Stony point, Betty's Bay

Hartlaubs Gull

There were also Kelp Gulls and Grey-headed gulls, Cape and Bank Cormorants and of course, the African Penguins and their neighbours, the ever-present Rock Hyrax (common Dassies, to you and me).

Rock Hyrax (Dassies)

African Penguin - escapee from the colony looking for somewhere to hide

After our visit to the penguins, we had a quick picnic lunch and then everyone made their way home.  Thanks so much to all of you who attended.  It was a very successful outing and we look forward to the next one in February.  See you at the next meeting.

PS Adel and I did some more birding after this and you can see what we saw, something really exciting, on my personal bird blog - click here.

2011 AGM

The Birdlife Berg River bird club is undergoing big changes in 2011. 

You are hereby invited to attend our annual AGM to find out about our expansion into other wildlife areas, not only birds and contribute towards how the club goes forward in the new year.  We would love to see you there and hear what you have to say.  We promise a short AGM with minimal speeches but also the opportunity to find out where the club is headed in the new year.  Do come and bring any friends who are nature lovers.

DATE:  Saturday 15th of January 2011

TIME:  2.00pm

VENUE:  Otter's Bend, Dassenberg Rd, Franschhoek

FOR MORE INFO: Contact Robyn at franschhoekbirdclub@gmail.com

RSVP as soon as you can

Little Stone Cottage - a Trogon paradise

Birdlife Berg River have had their first weekend outing to Little Stone Cottage on the Robinson Pass between Mosselbay and Oudshoorn.  What a wonderfully relaxing, tranquil weekend it was, filled with good company, good food and great birding.

We left from Franschhoek on Friday morning and stopped to collect an adequate supply of fresh mountain water from our special mountain-side spring before starting the long trek.

We took the route over the Franschhoek Pass, onto the N2 and before long we were in Crane Country.

After a while we took a break to stretch our legs and came across this lovely raptor feeding in a field.  It seemed to be a juvenile of some sort but we are still unsure of what it is.  Anyone have any suggestions?

Update: - I have been told by a very realiable source that this lovely raptor is a juvenile Jackal Buzzard.  I'll take your word for it, Callan, thanks.

Juvenile Jackal Buzzard ?

We were on our way in good spirits, making good time when suddenly we came across a line of cars... well let me say that again, a very long line of cars, hundreds of cars to be exact.  

 There were 2 stop and go's on the way and we were in the que, adding at least an hour and a half to our journey.  Of course, being birders, we jump at any opportunity to look for birds and we were able to while away the time easily enough.

It took quite a long time but eventually we arrived at Mosselbay where stopped off to eat "Mossels" at the sea food restuarant on the beach... what a treat.  We then headed off to our final stop and reached Little Stone Cottage past 5pm.  It is such a wonderful little place and our club where immediately enchanted with it.  Before long the tents were up for Cecile and Cynthia who had opted to camp outside.

As it was quite late, we put the fire on and got ourselves organised.  Cynthia (from the USA) had brought along the makings of her favourite camp-snack , Smores - melt marshmellows, put block of chocolate onto Gram Crackers (or equivelant found in SA like Marie biscuits) and put melted marshy onto the choccy and close with another biccy and squash together.... eat and enjoy and careful of the mess.

The next morning I took a walk early on but didn't see too much so waited for the group before heading off on the walk along the stream and the forest looking for the elusive Narina Trogon, the bird we all wanted to see.  Of course, there were plenty of Knysa Loeries to make our hearts glad.

We had a lot of fun in the forest and even managed to have a swing Tarzan style... well the boys did anyway....

After the "Big Tree" there is a large Yellowwood that had a Scaly-throated Honeyguide hiding in its branches.  We went back 3 times to have a look for it and heard it calling incessently but to no avail, it never showed itself to us and we moved on, all dejected.

At the end of the beautiful forest path we found this lovely raptor sitting peacefully in a large tree.  We think it is a Forest Buzzard.

Back at the cottage, we had put out food for the local birds and pretty soon the Cape Robin-chat and Olive thrush were flitting in and out grabbing cheese and bread.

 The fork-tailed drongos were out in force and were not at all shy of flying around us.

We are always happy to find our club logo bird, the Cape Rock Thrush and there were quite a few around.

We found many other wonderful birds and thoroughly enjoyed the lovely walks all around the cottage, up the hill, down the river and through the forest.  We enjoyed each others company and one of our members Johann, made a fantastic lamb potjie for us for Saturday night dinner.  We spent the night indoors as it had got quite chilly and played charades, screeching with laughter and having a great time. 

And the high-light?  Well of course, it could only be one thing!  The bird we had wanted to see above all others.... the Narina Trogon, the shy elusive bird found in only a handful of places and not one we would get to see again for quite a while.  Joeline and Marius are firm friends with their local celebrity and knew exactly where to find them and how to call them out.  And... success!!!!  We found our prize.  A beautiful light emerald green back and shocking red front with bright yellow bill was sitting in full view on a bare branch, being very obliging and allowing us to have a great look before it disappeared into the forest.  We were so pleased!  I was so excited at seeing it that I forgot to take a pic so I went back later and with Marius's help, found it again and managed to snap this little pic before it flitted deeper into the thick foilage.

What a gorgeous bird and it is a HUGE tick on my life list.  Just then, my camera batteries went flat!  Thank heavens not before I managed to get this pic.

We left LSC after another long walk at 11am on Sunday morning and went via Oudshoorn and the R62 to avoid the stop and go's.  We went through the Robinson Pass, the Huis Rivier Pass and the beautiful Tradouw Pass before eventually getting to the Franschhoek Pass and home.

The end of a wonderful weekend, emensely enjoyed by all who joined us.  Hopefully another good one will be coming up soon.  Join us!