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Further to Otto Schmidt’s note on Friday about the immature Cape Gannet that was stuck in the mud at Strandfontein, he sent me some additional photos of a Ruff that was struggling with the same issue. Here is Otto’s photo and note below: Further to my comments about the feeding waders along the same stretch [...]

Following the previous note submitted by Per Holmen last week about the immature Cape Gannet at Strandfontein Sewage Works, Otto Schmidt sent me the following photo and note: Regarding the reported juvenile Cape Gannet in P2, there were in fact two birds there around lunch-time on 17 March, no doubt, as you suggest, taking a [...]

This last weekend was spent relaxing at John and Miranda Moodie’s Honeywood Farm, which is adjacent to Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve. The area has finally had a sprinkling of rain so it was back to its lush, green self. Not too much time was spent behind the camera or bins, but birds are difficult to avoid [...]

Per Holmen reports that the Yellow Wagtail was still present at Strandfontein Sewage Works yesterday. Below is his original note from Cape Birdnet and one of his cracking photos of the bird: I just got back from Caprivi (trip report will shortly follow) yesterday and realized I have a lot of Western Cape catching up [...]

Don’t forget to also look at some Strandveld birds this weekend if you’re heading to Langebaan for the rarities. I found the entrance road to Seeberg hide to be particularly productive last Sunday. All the usuals were in attendance, but I was especially pleased with two very confiding Cape Penduline Tits at the Seeberg car [...]

Hottentot Teal is by no means a rarity in the Western Cape, but I would say it’s certainly uncommon to rare. Numerous birders have been reporting good numbers of these teal from Strandfontein recently. I quickly snapped the photo below when I was looking for the Yellow Wagtail. For those not familiar with Strandfontein or [...]

Jane Angus found a European Oystercatcher at Bot River Lagoon last week, which was enough reason for Margaret Maciver to dash out from Cape Town on Saturday morning to try and catch-up with this bogey bird of 8 years! Below is a photo that Margaret snapped of the rarity: Here’s Margaret’s note from Cape Birdnet [...]

Even the most hardened wader-buff would have enjoyed Sunday’s flurry of rare shorebirds that Seeberg hide at Langebaan lagoon had to offer. Centre stage was dominated by the Hudsonian Godwit, but a single Broad-billed Sandpiper and two Lesser Sand Plovers also kept people on their toes. I arrived at Langebaan quite late (8h30) by “rare [...]

Below is the photo that Patrick Cardwell took of the Yellow Wagtail yesterday evening. There are many subspecies of Yellow Wagtail – Patrick thinks this bird is Motacilla flava beema. I unfortunately don’t have any books at hand, but Wiki has this to say: M. f. beema (Sykes, 1832) – Sykes’ Wagtail. Like flava but [...]

Patrick Cardwell posted a report on Cape Birdnet this morning about seeing a male Yellow Wagtail at Strandfontein yesterday afternoon. Here’s a snippet from his message: Male in breeding plumage on ash track between P1 & P2 at Strandfontein yesterday afternoon. Bird quite tame and most accommodating from a photographic point of view. I popped [...]