Past Club Events
Past Club Outings
Outing August 2026 – Delheim Estate
Saturday August 15 – We enjoyed another wonderful visit to this historic wine estate and and as usual were warmly welcomed. After coffee in the restaurant we meandered through the pine forests and vineyards enjoying the peacefulness, views and birdlife. Sightings (34 species in total) included Neddicky, Giant Kingfisher, Karoo Prinia, Southern Boubou, Bar- throated Apalis, Cape grassbird, Brown-backed Honeybird, and African Black Swift. After the walk many of us stayed for a delicious lunch. Pictures in the next Batis edition.
Outing July 2026 – Spier Estate
Saturday July 20 – we had a great turnout despite a cold cloudy morning and all enjoyed the walk and the birding. Pictures in next Batis.
Outing June 2026 – Harold Porter Garden / Rooiels
On Saturday June 20 we visted Harold Porter Botanical Gardens in Bettys Bay, Rooiels, and the penguin colony at Bettys Bay.
What a trip, beautiful winter and great spots. Check the next Batis (August) for pictures.
Outing May 2026 – Majik Forest
Saturday May 16th – we arrived at Tygerberg Nature Reserve to find there was a charity event taking place and it was very busy, so we decided to divert to Majik Forest in the Durbanville area, an oasis in the city. We had a very pleasant walk there around the dam, in beautiful weather. More info in the next Batis magazine.
Outing April 2026 – Steenbras
A stunning trip was enjoyed on 18th April around Steenbras dam. We were privileged to be allowed access, with CoCT guide Sandiso Ziduli, to areas that are usually not accessible.
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Outing March 2026 – Kirstenbosch
Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town is one of our regular outings, it is a beautiful and interesting place for everyone who enjoys birds, trees and plants.
A group of about 15 enjoyed lovely weather and 28 species were sighted.
More information and photos in the next Batis (May 2026).
Outing February 2026 – Karwyderskraal / Swartriver
A change of plan: Instead of Van der Stel Pass, the outing switched to Karwyderskraal and Swartriver Roads. Both are farm roads in the Overberg (about 1 hour drive from Somerset West). We had a great turn out with nine cars in the convoy.
The group enjoyed great weather, not too hot, and 36 species were seen including Fish Eagle, Booted Eagle, Denham’s Bustard and over 40 Blue Cranes including families. More photos in the next Batis magazine.
Photo credit: Willem Botes.
CWAC Count February 2026 – meet at Paardevlei
Bird Watch / Count
This month we used the time to take part in the CWAC count (Coordinated Waterbird Count) adding vital data on waterbird numbers and distribution to national databases.
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Outing January 2026 – Strandfontein
Our first outing of the year on the 17 January saw a great turnout, fabulous weather and two beautiful destinations, what a brilliant start to the year!
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Year End Function
Our Year End function was held at Kilberry Terrace, Helderberg Village, Friday 28 November 2025at 17:00.
Many thanks to Vic Smith for securing the venue and everyone who came along and made this a very enjoyable social evening, including the braai-ers!
Happy Festive Season to all our members.
Past Club Meetings
Monthly Meeting August 2026 – David Morris, Paardevlei Reserve Manager
At our August meeting David Morris, Reserve Manager at Paardevlei Nature Reserve, updated us on the latest plans for the area. It was a wide ranging talk including the history of the area, the challenges as well as the hopes for the future of this important newly-proclaimed reserve, which forms part of a vital ‘green chain’ across the Helderberg and Cape Town.
Monthly Meeting July 2026 – Western Cape Estuaries
At our July meeting Ernita Flynn and Philip Grundlingh from BirdLife South Africa spoke to us about the Western Cape Estuaries. They thoroughly enjoyed the interactions with SWBC members and we were so impressed that the room was filled, despite the weather.
The link where the public can follow the migration/tracking of the curlews: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb87JULJENxwyTIvXu3e
Monthly Meeting June 2026 – CWAC Count Presentation
Unfortunately our planned speaker had to cancel. Instead, we showed a BirdLife SA presentation about Citizen Science CWAC (Coordinated Waterbird Counts), which was shown as part of their Conservation Conversations in April. The next CWAC count is in July so this is a good introduction to how the Count works and its importance.
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Monthly Meeting May 2026 – Yellow-billed Oxpecker
On May 7th, Guy Hausler, on video link from Kruger Park, gave an enlighting talk on the Yellow-billed Oxpecker, which he has studied for his Masters. The species was extinct in South Africa for a time, and Guy explained why they had fared differently from their cousins the Red-Billed Oxpecker, along with a lot more information about them. Who would have thought that elephant dung could be so important…
Full write-up in the next Batis magazine (July).
Monthly Meeting April 2026 – Sunbird migration in the Cape
On Thursday 2 April the club enjoyed an absorbing and enlightening talk from speaker Muneeba Lamera whose Masters thesis focuses on sunbird routes in the Cape, and how they are impacted by human factors such as development.
The project looked at the movement of sunbirds, sugarbirds and others in their search for food (nectar). The detailed and comprehensive work that Muneeba and her assistants have carried out to understand the behaviour was astonising and ultimately it is a heart warming story of involving communities, especially younger members, in providing oases of nourishment to allow the birds to thrive.
Muneeba’s passion, commitment and wide knowledge was evident and the number of questions showed how interesting the audience found her talk.
More in the next edition of the Batis, in the meantime read more and support the project here. https://ingcungcu.org/
Monthly Meeting March 2026 – Kogelberg Wildlife Rescue Centre
Our speaker for March was Michelle Watson from the Kogelberg Wildlife Rescue and Training Centre.
Full write up in the next Batis edition (May 2026).
You can find out more about the Centre on their website. https://kogelbergbiosphere.org.za/wildlife-rescue/
Monthly Meeting February 2026 – AGM / Tankwa Karoo
February 2026 Meeting
After the official business of the Club AGM we welcomed Albert Van Reenen to talk to us about Tankwa Karoo National Park.
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Refreshments available, car park attendant on duty.
Visitors very welcome.
Monthly Meeting January 2026 – Quiz Evening
Join the fun at our Annual Quiz Evening!
Thursday 8 January, 6:30 for 7pm
Somerset West Library Hall
Visitors welcome
Refreshments available, car guard on duty.
Monthly Meeting December 2025 – Photography Evening
Our December meeting was the ever popular Photography Evening when we enjoy photos taken throughout the year by our members.
It was great to see photos from some of our newer members this year. Thank you to Keith, Johan, Ockert, Rachel and Riel for your lovely photos and the stories and sentiments behind them.
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Monthly Meeting November 2025 – Feathers, Forests and the Fight for Ecuador’s Future – Katherine Wiid
It’s always a pleasure when one of our members presents at our meetings, so we were very pleased to welcome Katherine Wiid and her friend Jackie Stone to our November meeting to transport us for a short time to Ecuador, ‘Land of the Equator’.
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