Club Activities
Somerset West Bird Club is an active club which organises well-attended meetings, bird watching outings, bird counts and more. Read on for more information. Visitors are very welcome to attend a meeting to get an idea of what to expect. Just email us at somersetwestbirdclub@gmail.com
Monthly Meetings
Sharing the passion for birds and conservation – Visitors Welcomed
When : Meetings are held every first Thursday of the month at 18h30 for 19h00 (January meeting second Thursday)
Where : Somerset West Library Hall
What you can expect :
At our meetings you will be updated on upcoming outings and events arranged by the club. Any news on conservation will be shared and members have the opportunity of sharing their interesting or unusual observations.
Added to that, a guest speaker is invited to share with us their knowledge, research, conservation efforts and passion on any subject relating to birds or the natural world. They are always interesting and informative. After we have enjoyed the speaker, there is time for refreshments and socialising.
Each year we also host a photographic evening where we can enjoy members’ photographs taken during the year, and a fun quiz night.
We always have a car guard on duty throughout the evening.
Monthly Local Bird Watching / Counting
Enjoy birds in the Helderberg basin
When: Every second Saturday of the month. Meet at 3pm (winter months April to September) or 4pm (summer months October to March)
Where: We alternate between Dick Dent Bird Sanctuary and Paardevlei. Dick Dent – park at the church, c/o Woltemade and Jennings Streets, Strand. Paardevlei – park at Cheetah Sanctuary [34.091037°S, 18.813905°E]
Monthly Outing
A group outing to an area of interest in the Helderberg or further
When: Every third Saturday of the month. We usually meet between 6:30 and 7:00AM but this depends on the destination
Where: We have some regular spots we like to visit which include Strandfontein, Macassar, Sir Lowry’s Pass and various birding spots in the Overberg. Some months we will go somewhere with some historical or other general interest such as Vergelegen Estate, or take a trip up the West Coast to enjoy the flowers as well as the birds.
Depending on the direction we are heading, the group will meet at Vergelegen Plein shopping centre or the Habitat Centre at Somerset Mall and arrange car sharing.
Annual Weekend Away
Every year in October we arrange a weekend trip. Typical venues are a nature reserve or national park. Our weekend away is a great way to meet fellow members, perhaps visit an area you have not been to before and to socialise.
Year End Function
In December the club likes to get together to meet old friends, make new friends and of course to braai! The party will usually be on the first or second Saturday of the month.