 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
Shorter Tours - Western Cape Area 2-day Agulhas Plains (Overberg) Birding Trip
This trip forms part of the 8-day Western Cape Birding Tour. This is a trip in which a disproportional number of large and spectacular birds are encountered. We bird the stronghold of the world’s Blue Crane (South Africa’s national bird) population and should see many hundred individuals of this species (sometimes with youngsters in early summer). The Agulhas Plains are one of the few areas where Denham’s Bustard and Secretarybird are still common. Hundreds of White Stork visit in summer. The stunning, endangered, endemic Black Harrier quarters low over the plains. The endemic Jackal Buzzard is common, along with many other raptors that sometimes include Lanner Falcon and Amur Falcon. The rolling hills and flat plains are also home to two extremely localized lark species – i.e. Agulhas Clapper Lark (with its bizarre breeding display) and Agulhas Long-billed Lark. Other slightly more widespread (but still endemic to southern Africa) larks such as Southern Large-billed Lark also abound. We will bird the de Hoop Nature Reserve for Cape Vulture, the rare Knysna Woodpecker, Southern Tchagra, a host of waterbirds (including Maccoa Duck other difficult species) and shorebirds, Grey-wing Francolin, Cape Francolin, African Hoopoe and a host of others. Big mammals such as Bontebok, Springbok, the neat Cape Mountain Zebra and close inshore Southern Right Whale (seasonal) also occur. Overnight accommodation can be at the Buchu Bush Camp or Potteberg Guest House. Potteberg is slightly more budget, but hosts resident Barn Owl and Spotted Eagle Owl plus Secretarybird nests. The more luxurious Buchu Bush Camp has become one of the best-known sites for Hottentot Buttonquail and Striped Flufftail, but both species need lots of luck. Time permitting, we can also visit de Mond Nature Reserve for the endangered endemic Damara Tern, a tiny and beautiful species. At this pleasant site we should also find several other species not yet encountered. We can add a third day to this trip, which will allow us to spend a night at Grootvadersbosch Forest at the base of the Langeberg Mountains, which form the inland backdrop to the Agulhas Plains. Here we can find good numbers of forest and forest edge endemics and other desirable species. The exciting list includes Forest Canary, Swee Waxbill, Cape Siskin, Victorin’s Warbler, Olive Woodpecker (also Knysna Woodpecker but we may have already found this on the Agulhas Plains), Buff-spotted Flufftail, Narina Trogon, up to three different honeyguide species, Olive Bush-shrike, Yellow-fronted Woodland Warbler, the endangered Knysna Warbler, and many others. We spend the night at the beautiful Honeywood Farm cottages.
|
Itinerary: Duration: 2 days Limit: 2-12 Date: as required Start: Cape Town End: Cape Town Price: on request Price_Includes: Meals Accommodation Entrance fees Guiding fees Vehicle hire and fuel Price_Excludes: International & domestic flights Personal Insurance Alcoholic Beverages Gratuities Laundry Service Personal expenses such as gifts
|
||||||
|
© 2008-2010 Birding Ecotours · www.birdingecotours.co.za was updated March 2010 |
||||||||
