Welcome to Somerset West Bird Club
Upcoming Events
Monthly Meeting August 2026 – David Morris, Paardevlei Reserve Manager
Our August meeting is on Thursday August 6. Our speaker is David Morris, Reserve Manager at Paardevlei Nature Reserve, a place dear to many of our hearts. David will update us on the latest plans for the area.
18:30 for 19:00, Somerset West Library Hall.
Please wear your badge.
Visitors welcome, R10 charge for viistors, which goes toward our PA system.
Refreshments and raffle available for small fee.
Car park attendant on duty.
Bird Watch / Count August 2026 – Paardevlei
Bird Watch / Count
Saturday August 8: Meet at 15:00: Paardevlei
Every month we welcome anyone who would like to join a birding walk at one of our local spots. We also count and record birds, but if you just want to join and enjoy the birds, that’s fine! We alternate between Dick Dent Sanctuary and Paardevlei.
Birdwatching / Counting at Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary and Paardevlei – April till September at 15h00; October till March at 16h00.
Dick Dent – park at the church, c/o Woltemade and Jennings Streets, Strand.
Paardevlei – park at Cheetah Sanctuary [34.091037°S, 18.813905°E]. Meet at the gate to the vlei adjacent to Lorenzo Marx coffee shop.
Outing August 2026 – Delheim Estate
Saturday August 15 – we will visit Delheim Estate. It’s a walk, through parts of the estate not usually accessible to the public. You can visit the cellar and restuarent afterwards, there is good birding to be had around the restaurant areas as well.
Meet at Habitat Centre, 07:30 to leave at 07:45. Please wear your badge and it is a good idea to write contact and medical details on the back of the card.
Bird of the Year 2026
BirdLife South Africa announced that the Black Harrier is Bird of the Year 2026.
This is great news for us as its core range is in the Western Cape, and it is the most threatened near-endemic raptor in the country. As Bird of the Year we should see a focus on preserving this magnificent bird.
Click on the title to learn more.
Garden Birds Project
The purpose of the Garden Birds Project is to keep track of the birds we’re seeing in our gardens in and around the Helderberg Basin.
Click here for more information and to get involved.
Injured Birds
It’s always distressing when you find an injured bird – fortunately, there are some folks who are able and willing to assist.
Click here for more information.