An early start through the winelands of the Western Cape to Wellington and the foot of the impressive Bain's Kloof Pass marks the start of the day. Following the descent into the valley below the route to the arid Karoo passes through mixed habitat with the odd stop off for sightings along the way.
Pied Starlings give way to Pale-winged Starlings, Karoo Robins, Chanting Goshawks and Karoo Chats while the rocky hills are where Mountain Chats, Ground Woodpeckers, Layard's Titbabbler, Dusky Sunbirds and the elusive Cinnamon-breasted Warbler are to be found. Along the drainage lines Pririt Batis, Namaqua Prinia, Fairy Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and Titbabbler are found.
Scanning the open ' bossiesveld' should produce sightings of Karoo Korhaan and Ludwig's Bustard while a walk is likely to produce views of Spike-heeled Lark, Yellow canary, Black-headed Canary ( after the rains ), Rufous-eared Warbler, Karoo Eremomela, Grey-backed Cisticola, Namaqua Sandgrouse and Karoo Lark. Open stretches of water will attract Avocet and South African Shelduck while the adjacent reedbeds will accommodate Cape Weaver and African Marsh Warbler in summer. Raptors are well represented with both Booted and Black Eagles in the area.
One or Two nights in game lodge in the heart of the Tanqua Karoo constitutes the birding base whereafter we return to Cape Town via Du Toit's Kloof and the Hugenot tunnel.
|
