SOUTH AFRICA

Birds and flowers of the Cape

21st August to 2nd September 2005

This photo was taken from a cage by P. Palmer. Views from the surface are more spectacular and photographs less shakey!

Spring in South Africa is a wonderful time. Unquestionably this is high season for all the Cape endemics and is reflected in the super abundance of conspicuous display behaviour. Plants bursting into bloom providing a profusion of colour throughout this unique floral kingdom at the right time to provide an excellent combination.

Our tour takes us to the west coast with hundreds of waders including the sought after Black Oystercatcher and Chestnut-banded Plover, the arid Karoo with its Black Harriers and Bustards, the lowlands with its Cape Vultures and beautiful Blue Cranes, and to the Cape itself full of exotic birds that occur nowhere else.

Here a strange combination allows exotic Sugarbirds, Sunbirds, and Rockjumpers to be seen within view of Penguins and Southern Right Whales! This is also prime time for viewing pelagic birds like albatross's, petrels, shearwaters and the Great White Sharks that gather offshore.

We realize that not everyone has sealegs, so our two pelagic trips for seabirds, whales and Great White Sharks are offered as an additional extension. In recognition of these seasonal peaks, the timing and itinerary of this tour has been tailored to encompass the best of birding, botanical and mammal sighting opportunities.

Many birders visit South Africa concentrating solely on one of the highlights listed. It would be madness to ignore one in favour of another and so we do all four! We have also reduced the typical amount of traveling time and numerous hotel changes that can make this an endurance rather than a holiday. This means that we have more time to enjoy the wildlife on this South Africa tour.

Black Oystercatchers are found on the shore near the Cape. Phil Palmer

ITINERARY

The Cape

After flying direct to Cape Town and settling in at Simon's Town, we spend our first days visiting the Atlantic seaboard for Bank, Cape, White-breasted and Crowned Cormorants. Other sightings along the rocky shore include Crested and Antarctic Terns, African Black Oystercatcher, White-fronted Plover, Pied Kingfisher and Little Egret.

Heading towards Cape Point through the scenically delightful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Francolin and Rock Kestrel. Once in the reserve our attention will switch to the special fynbos specialists. Malachite, Lesser-double Collared and Orange-breasted Sunbirds, Cape Sugarbird, Cape Bunting, Cape White-eye and Red-winged Starling may be found under the shadow of the Jackal Buzzard. This will place many of the Cape endemics under the belt on the first day as well as the chance of Southern Right Whales and passing pelagic seabirds.

Within site of Table Mountain, the famous Boulders Beach Park provides delightful close up views of Jackass Penguins coming ashore to delight photographers . At a recently restored wetland, we can search for Yellow-billed Duck, Silver Gull, Grey-headed Gull, Spotted Dikkop, Purple, Grey and Black-crowned Night Heron, Egyptian Goose, Hadeda Ibis, Cape Canary, Black-shouldered Kite and Painted Snipe depending on water levels.

A leisurely walk through fynbos below the Peninsula could add Neddicky, Southern Boubou and Cape Rock Thrush if you are not distracted by the incredible botanical interest. One day we have an early start in search of Olive Pigeon, African Goshawk, Cape Batis, Forest Canary, Sombre Bulbul, Knysna Scrub Warbler, Forest Buzzard, Cape Robin Chat, Olive Thrush and African Black Swift. Later visits to a number of wetlands give us the chance to find Southern Pochard, South African Shelduck, Red-billed Teal, Maccoa and White-backed Duck, Cape Shoveller and Greater Flamingo.

The difficult LBJs include a string of cisticolas, larks, warblers, weavers and bishop birds and our guides are up to the challenge of these difficult birds. We target Cape specialities such as Cape Rockjumper, Cape Siskin and Victorin's Warbler before heading back to Simon's Town for the night.

Langebaan and the West Coast

Across the Peninsula at Strandveld on the West Coast, we search for the stunning Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, Grey Winged Francolin, Southern Grey and Penduline Tits, Clapper, Long-billed, Red-capped and Thick-billed Larks, Wattled and Pied Starlings, Tit-babbler, Karoo Robin, White- throated Canary, Fiscal Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Widow and Cape Weaver.

A host of waders in the Langebaan Lagoon and the estuaries and salt pans further up the coast should include the delightful Chestnut-banded Plover. We overnight on the coast in a delightful fishing village.

The Tanqua Karoo

Heading inland we cut through the Cedarberg mountains into the rain shadow of the great Karoo in search of Ludwig's Bustard, Karoo Korhaan, Burchell's Courser, Trac Trac and Karoo Chats. A landscape of red sand and boulders should be a riot of colour in the 'thirstland' at this time.

The famous Black Eagle and many Chanting Goshawks hunt for some of the 35 Southern Africa endemic birds found here. We are in the ancestral home of the lark. Numerous species include Karoo and the soldier-like Spike-heeled Larks. Layard's Tit-babbler, Pirit Batis, Fairy Flycatcher and Namaqua Warbler can be secretive, while the unique rock-nesting Ground Woodpecker would be a highlight here. Mountain Wheatear, Red-faced Mousebird, Karoo Eremomela and Rufous-eared Warbler are other prime targets for our two day stay.

Blue Cranes can be found near Swellendam. Phil Palmer

Swellendam

Our journey takes us further east through the spectacular Cape Folded mountains flanking the Southern Cape. Here in pockets of relic forest we will search for Forest Buzzard, Grey-Cuckoo Shrike, Olive Woodpecker, Black Saw-wing Swallow, Dusky Flycatcher, Swee Waxbill, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Yellow-throated Warbler, Terrestrial Bulbul and possibly the elusive Narina Trogon.

Moving away from the moist mountain slopes takes us into the semi-arid coastal plain where we expect to find Blue Crane, Clapper and Long-billed Larks, Crowned Lapwing, Capped Wheatear, Jackal Buzzard, Secretarybird and Cape Vulture. Along the drainage lines we will search for Southern Tchagra, Knysna Woodpecker, Klaas' Cuckoo and Rufous-cheeked Nightjar towards dusk.

On day 12, we wend our way back to Cape Town along the Whale Route stopping here and there to prospect for birds missed earlier as well as one or two highly localized species and maybe another Right Whale arriving back in good time to connect with the direct flight home.

Albatross and Shark Extension 1st to 5th September

The mix and sheer numbers of seabirds peak at this time as most of the southern pelagic birds reach the apex point of their northerly migration before heading south for the Antarctic summer in late October. This is unquestionably the best time to try for five or more species of Albatross in a day, complemented by the early arrival of pelagic migrants from the northern hemisphere. The Cape is one of the best places in the world to see seabirds.

Great White Sharks are also attracted to boats and we take a trip to see them at VERY close range. Viewing from our small boat is superb and it may be possible to see them from an underwater cage if you are brave enough? Any pelagic trip is weather dependent and adds increased expense, so we are offering these two boat trips as an extension rather than part of the main tour. If the boats are cancelled, we will do some land-based birdwatching.

For seabirds we head towards the deep sea trawling grounds off Cape Point. On the way out we will encounter White-chinned Petrel, Sooty Shearwater, Cape Gannet soon after leaving the shelter of the Peninsula followed by first sightings of Shy Albatross and either of the two Yellow-nosed Albatross. Crossing birds could include various Prions, Soft-plumaged and Great-winged Petrels. All being well the sighting of an active trawler will add Black-browed Albatross, Northern & Southern Giant and Pintado Petrels, Great Shearwater, Wilson's Storm Petrel and possibly Southern Fulmar, Spectacled Petrel, Black-bellied Storm Petrel, Royal and even Wandering Albatross to the list. Dolphins, Whales, Turtle and the odd Sunfish sighting could add to the excitement of the day.

Our second boat trip is a Shark special in calmer waters where we concentrate solely on finding the Great White. There are only a few birds on this trip, which is one of the greatest adrenaline rushes of the natural world when conditions are right.

Local Guide - Patrick Cardwell

Flights leave London c.19.00 & arrives London 08.00 next day. Leaving Cape Town 19.00 it arrives London 07.00

Price - £2390

Extension Price - £490

Includes pelagic trips, return flight, accommodation, food, soft drinks at meal times, reserve entry fees, transport, local guide costs.

Accommodation - On this tour, we will be in small friendly farmhouse and guesthouse accommodation.

HOME

Day 1 (Sun 21st) Depart London, overnight flight

Day 2 - 4 Cape Town/ False Bay/Peninsula (3 nights)

Day 5 - 6 West Coast (2 nights)

Day 7 - 8 Karoo ( 2 nights)

Day 9 - 11 Southern Cape/Swellendam (3 nights)

Day 12 (Thurs 1st Sept) Drive back to CT. Fly to London.

Day 13 (Fri 2nd Sept) arrive London

Extension Thursday - Day 12 - 3 nights in Cape Town

Day 13 Sharks pelagic

Day 14 Seabird pelagic

Sunday Day 15 - spare in case weather is bad & we have to re-do a cancelled pelagic - flight home in evening

Monday Day 16 - arrive UK