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South Africa 2009: Day by Day Itinerary: More Exciting Birding Detail
Malachite Sunbird.
Photo by W. Tarboton
Photo by W. Tarboton
Cape Sugarbird.
White-fronted Bee-Eater.
Photo by W. Tarboton
Photo by W. Tarboton
Cape Rock-Jumper.
Back to Main
South Africa
trip page,
or check out a
trip list of
endemic and
near endemic
bird species
(and also a list
of mammals).
South Africa
trip page,
or check out a
trip list of
endemic and
near endemic
bird species
(and also a list
of mammals).
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2009: Kruger National Park Extension Friday, November 13: Wilderness to Kruger Park From Johannesburg, participants may choose to return home, but we suspect most will sign up for the Kruger National Park extension. For those planning on the extension trip, we will then transfer for a flight to Nelspruit from Johannesburg. On arrival at Nelspruit (we hope just afternoon if flight scheduling goes well), we will pick up our minibus and depart for Kruger National Park. Kruger details should by Labor Day (or the week before). |
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2008: Itinerary Tuesday, November 3, 2009: Cape Town Link up with our local representative and travel through to Simon’s Town. After checking in, we cross the Cape peninsula to check out the Atlantic seaboard with opportunities to see Bank Cormorant, Cape Cormorant, White-breasted (Great) Cormorant, and Crowned Cormorant. Other good sightings along the rocky shore include African Black Oystercatcher, White-fronted Plover, Pied Kingfisher and Little Egret. Heading towards Cape Point through the scenic Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, we will search for Grassbird, Spotted Prinia, Gray-backed Cisticola, Cape Bulbul, Familiar Chat, Cape Francolin and Rock (Common) Kestrel. Taking a side route to the coast, we will search for Cape Sugarbird, Jackal Buzzard, Cape Bunting, Cape White-eye, and Red-winged Starling. From the heights above Cape Point, we will scan for Peregrine Falcon and Cape Siskin as well as continuing our search for a few more pelagic seabirds. Nest stop will be the famous Boulder’s Coastal Park where we will enjoy close up views of African Penguin coming ashore in the late afternoon. Overnight in Simon’s Town. Wednesday, November 4: Pelagic Trip Given adequate weather, our pelagic trip starts at 7 AM, as we head towards the deep sea trawling grounds about 35 nautical miles southwest of Cape Point. On the way out, we will encounter Cape Gannet, White-chinned Petrel, and Sooty Shearwater. Soon after rounding spectacular Cape point, we can expect our first sighting of Shy Albatross and either of the two Yellow-nosed Albatross (Atlantic or Indian). Crossing birds could include Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Cory Shearwater, Arctic Skua, Sabine’s Gull, Arctic Tern, Wilson’s Storm Petral, and European Storm Petrel. All being well, the sighting of an active trawler or pole boat could add Black-browed Albatross, Northern & Southern Giant Petrel, and the rare Spectacled Petrel to the pelagic list. Other possibilities for October include Great-winged Petrel, Great Shearwater, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Sub-Antarctic Skua, Pomerine Skua and Black-bellied Storm Petrel on northbound migration at this time of year. We may also see several species of dolphins and whales, and Cape Fur Seal. The odd Sunfish could add a further dimension of excitement to the day. Overnight in Simon’s town. Thursday, November 5: Cape Peninsula Birding commences with an early start for Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in search of Southern Boubou Shrike, Cape Batis, Black Sawwing Swallow, African Goshawk, Black Goshawk, Olive Thrush, Sombre Bulbul, Cape Robin Chat, Forest and Cape Canary, Knysna Scrub Warbler, African Black & Alpine Swift, Cape White-eye, Olive Pigeon, and Spotted Eagle Owl. Later in the morning, we will visit the number of wetlands and settling ponds that constitute clutch sighting opportunities. |
MORE DETAILS COMING
SOON AND LIKELY ON
SEPTEMBER 16, 2007.
SOON AND LIKELY ON
SEPTEMBER 16, 2007.
Photo by W. Tarboton
Crested Barbet.
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2008: Itinerary Continued Friday, November 6: West Coast Our route north along the Atlantic Coastline takes us across the foreshore of Cape Town to the Strandveld, as the dune vegetation is known, to the West Coast Park in search of Black Harrier, Southern Black Korhaan, Grey-winged Francolin, Southern Grey Tit, the diminutive Cape Penduline Tit, Red-capped Lark, Large-billed (Thick-billed) Lark, Gray-backed Sparrow Lark, Wattled Starling, Pied Starling, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Chestnut-vented Titbabbler, Karoo Scrub Robin, Cape Sparrow, White-throated Canary, Yellow Canary, Orange-throated Longclaw, Fiscal Flycatcher, Cloud Cisticola, Gray-backed Cisticola, and Spotted Prinia. Adjacent wetlands should produce sightings of Black Crake, and Lesser Swamp (Cape Reed) Warbler. Time spent scanning the exposed tidal flats of the Langebaan Lagoon should deliver good views of Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, Turnstone, Little Stint, Red Knot, and Common Ringed Plover. From a hide towards the head of the lagoon, we hope to find Little Tern and can enjoy views of the spectacular Greater Flamingo wading along the shoreline. With luck, we may even locate a Eurasian Curlew before moving off. Later, we will traverse across a series of fields looking for Ant-eating Chat and Sickle-winged Chat before checking into a guest house in a scenic and delightful fishing village for the night. Saturday, November 7: Berg River to the Tankwa Karoo After breakfast, we will bird the hills above Saint Helena Bay looking for Cape Clapper Lark, Karoo Lark, Cape Long- billed Lark, Southern Masked Weaver, Red-faced Mousebird, Spotted Thicknee, and Crowned Lapwing. Next, we drop down to the Berg River estuary to look for Chestnut-banded Sand Plover and Lesser Flamingo within the matrix of salt pans near the town of Veldrift. From here, we will head due east for the rain shadow beyond the distant Cedarberg Mountains. On the way, we might find Secretarybird and Blue Crane (South Africa's national bird) in areas of open wheat fields. Our route through the mountains follows a series of rugged passes that eventually end at Karoo Poort on the edge of the arid Tankwa Karoo. Although seemingly dry and deserted, this vast expanse along with its rocky ridge lines to the west holds a representative selection of sought after species some of which are nomadic and others resident. Over what remains of the day, we will systematically search for Karoo Chat, Familiar Chat, Mountain Wheatear, Ground Woodpecker, White-backed Mousebird, Fairy Flycatcher, and Pale Chanting Goshawk. We overnight in a game lodge under a superb night sky complete with all the principal summer constellations. Sunday, November 8: Tankwa Karoo After an early breakfast, we set off on a circular route in search of Ludwig’s Bustard, Karoo Korhaan, Trac Trac Chat, Greater Kestrel, Verreaux’s Eagle, Booted Eagle, Spike-heeled Lark, Pale-winged Starling, Layard’s Titbabbler, Yellow Canary, Chestnut-vented Titbabbler, Fairy Flycatcher, Acacia Pied Barbet, Namaqua Prinia, Rufous-eared Warbler, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Karoo Green Eremomela, Pririt Batis, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, and Karoo Thrush. Overnight back at the Game Lodge. Monday, November 9: Tankwa Karoo to the Agulhas Plain Our journey takes us further east across the succulent Little Karoo and through the spectacular Cape Folded Mountains and sweet-thorn choked drainage lines to the Agulhas Coastal Plain with its sprawling fields and rolling pastures. We will scan for Blue Crane, Denham’s Bustard, Agulhas Long-billed Lark, Eastern Clapper Lark, Capped Wheatear, Karoo Korhaan, African Pipit, Plain-backed Pipit, Red-capped Lark, Jackal Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard, Lesser Kestrel, Hamerkop, Cape Rook (Black Crow), Black Harrier and Secretarybird. After checking in, we will bird the immediate area in search of Orange-breasted Sunbird, Lesser Double-collared Sunbird, and Bokmakierie. At dusk, we look for the Fiery-necked Nightjar. We will spend the night in a bush camp situated on a ridgeline in pristine mountain fynbos. Tuesday, November 10: Agulhas Plain to Grootvadersbosch Forest Reserve Before breakfast, we head into the reserve to search for Southern Tchagra, African Hoopoe, Southern Boubou Shrike, Greater Striped Swallow, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Water Thicknee (Dikkop), Spotted Thicknee (Dikkop) and Bar- throated Apalis. Aside from the bird life, we can expect to see several endangered and interesting mammals, including Bontebok, the comical Gray Rhebok, Burchell’s Zebra, and the Eland (Africa’s largest antelope). After breakfast, we will travel east across the De Hoop reserve to look for Cape Vulture above Potberg Mountain. Then we cross the Breede River and arrive at Grootvadersbosch Forest Reserve. On the way, we will check a lily covered dam for White-faced Whistling Duck and White-backed Duck and then check a wooded water-course for Olive Bush Shrike and Tambourine Dove. In the late afternoon we will work the riverine bush along the main drainage line in search of Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Amethyst Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Hamerkop, Paradise Flycatcher and Olive Pigeon. After dinner, we try for Wood Owl in the adjacent woodland. Overnight in farmhouse lodgings close to the main forest. Wednesday, November 11: Grootvadersbosch Forest to Garden Route An early start to the day, we allow us to look for a few key species before we enjoy a picnic brunch overlooking the forest canopy below. Target birds include Forest Buzzard, Olive Pigeon, Gray Cuckoo Shrike, Forest Canary, Brimstone (Bully) Canary, Cape Batis, Terrestrial Bulbul, Swee Waxbill, African Goshawk, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Knysna Scrub Warbler, and Olive Woodpecker. With some luck, we may find the extremely difficult to find Knysna Woodpecker. We then head further east to the Garden Route and bird a number of forest trails. We will also visit two strategically placed hides on the edge of one of the larger lakes in the district. On the way to our evening lodging, we will stop to check for African Black Duck and Half-collared Kingfisher on a tidal creek. For the night's lodging, we will stay at a guest house on the edge of the coastal forest. Thursday, November 12: Wilderness and the Lake District We will spend a full day exploring the forests and wetlands in the Wilderness and the Lake District area with the following target species in mind: Red-necked Francolin, Eastern Black-headed Oriole, Burchell’s Coucal, Lesser Honeyguide, Knysna Turaco, Narina Trogon, Chorister Robin, Starred Robin, Black-bellied Starling, Knysna Scrub Warbler, Black-backed Puffback Shrike, Streaky-headed Canary, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Terrestrial Bulbul, Green Wood Hoopoe, Tanbourine Dove, and Lemon (Cinnamon) Dove. If crakes are calling, we could attempt to call up the shy and extremely secretive Buff-spotted Flufftail with its "foghorn-like" call. Visits to the hides on the edge of the lake system can reward the group with views of Black Crake, Malachite Kingfisher, Great Crested Grebe, Southern Pochard, African Fish Eagle, Osprey, Lesser Swamp Warbler, and African Reed (Marsh) Warbler and possibly Red-chested Flufftail. For those not extending the trip to Kruger National Park, flights return from George that night to Johannesburg. For those extending the trip to Kruger National Par, flights return from George to Johannesburg with morning flights to Nelspurit. |
African Penquin.
| Nestling Tour's Itinerary for South Africa in 2009: Few Notes
|