By Alyssa Aldridge
We departed from Vergelegen Plein at 7:00 AM on a cloudy day, with a group of 13 heading towards Van Der Stel Pass. As we traveled through Elgin and into Grabouw, we spotted a fish eagle and saw 20 Guinea fowl amidst the stunning scenery on our way to Villiersdorp. We passed the beginning of the Tweewaterskloof Dam, which was full, and travelled through Vyeboom which is a farming community known for its Secretarybirds.
The strong winds did not hinder our birdwatching; we observed Starlings, a Southern Masked Weaver, and doves. Continuing for 15km through Van Der Stel Pass, we encountered a variety of birds, including a striking Black Harrier. The highlight was spotting two Brown Hooded Kingfishers, a male and female, in a valley lined with peach blossoms.
We stopped at a barn where we saw a Western Barn Owl, with the countryside around us adorned with beautiful canola fields. We then travelled on Route 343 towards Botrivier, passing Lucerne fields on the right and turning onto the N2 between Botrivier and Caledon.
Despite our efforts, we were unable to find Blue Cranes or Secretarybirds, but we concluded the day with a wealth of bird sightings and a very satisfying experience.
Full report and bird list published in the Batis, our quarterly magazine.