A return to the Cape - November 2023

[michael-ibk]

Indeed, especially love the Harrier.

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful house, beautiful scenery, beautiful photos!

Bar-throated Batis?  

[Soukous]

2 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Bar-throated Batis?  

 

Just a typo I'm sure

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

 

Just a typo I'm sure

Occasionally, I throw in a name like Red-eyed whatever, to test the readers attention . Now I can change it back to Apalis.

[xelas]

5 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Beautiful house, beautiful scenery, beautiful photos!

Thanks, Peter. It is indeed a fantastic place for a week or so of relaxed holidays. 

[xelas]

On the third day of our stay, we joined the rest for a brunch at Prince Albert, a small quaint town on the other side of the Swartberg Pass. It was a perfect sunny day, and the driver over the pass was as scenic if not more as we have remembered it from our last visit 5 years ago: same gravel road, same fantastic views on both side of the pass. Only birds were different.

 

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Black-headed Canary

 

Cape Canary

 

Orange-breasted Sunbird female

 

Malachite Sunbird male

[xelas]

Prince Albert is a very small and very lovely town. The Coffee Shop, where we have had our brunch, is part of the lovingly restored Swartberg Hotel. After the brunch, and a lazy stroll along thge main road / Kerk Street, we have also visited our favorite ice cream shop in South Africa, the Lazy Lizard. Its ice cream is still superb!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

On the way back we made took the longer route around the mountains through Outdshoorn. There we have made another stop at a local vineyard. Wine tasting was a bit disappointing, according to our wine connoisseur.

 

 

 

 

 

While the rest of the group rested after the long day, the birders (Martin, Zvezda and I) went back up the hill in an effort to find the male Orange-breasted Sunbird. No luck this time despite our best efforts.

 

 

 

 

We did get back with a few keepers:

 

Cape Grassbird

 

Karoo Girdled Lizard (?)

 

Blue Crane

 

 

Next day we left Martin and his group; it was a perfect stay being surrounded by beautiful nature and fantastic friends. 

[Soukous]

28 minutes ago, xelas said:

Next day we left Martin and his group; it was a perfect stay being surrounded by beautiful nature and fantastic friends. 

 

Too kind. All the better for your company

[PeterHG]

Certainly looks like you had a great time over there! The Swartberg pass has been on our wishlist for some time and the ‘Lazy Lizard’ seems like a place to keep in mind! And some beautiful birds, too. The black- headed canary would have been a lifer.

[Soukous]

Just now, PeterHG said:

The black- headed canary would have been a lifer.

 

Yes, I wish I had seen it. 

[xelas]

49 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

Certainly looks like you had a great time over there! The Swartberg pass has been on our wishlist for some time and the ‘Lazy Lizard’ seems like a place to keep in mind! And some beautiful birds, too. The black- headed canary would have been a lifer.

Do not hesitate to contact Martin beforehand. Then you could go searching for the Black-headed Canary together.

[Soukous]

59 minutes ago, xelas said:

Do not hesitate to contact Martin beforehand. Then you could go searching for the Black-headed Canary together.

 

[xelas]

6 minutes ago, Soukous said:

 

And the Orange-breasted Sunbird! 

[Peter Connan]

The Swartberg is still my favorite mountain pass. Those are about the closest we flatlanders get to real mountains.

And I have a lot of wonderful memories of Prins Albert. My grandparents resided there when I was a kid. We spent many hours playing in the water troughs along the roads, and even some uncomfortable hours in that beautiful church.

[xelas]

4 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

And I have a lot of wonderful memories of Prins Albert.

 

If having a chance, I would opted to live in that part of your country. There are so many small towns, more like villages, with so much of a character. As ofr a short term visit to the place of your childhood, I am sure Martin has an answer that you might like.

[Soukous]

20 hours ago, xelas said:

And the Orange-breasted Sunbird! 

 

no need to keep rubbing it in

[Soukous]

4 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

The Swartberg is still my favorite mountain pass.

 

It is spectacular, but personally I prefer the Sani pass. The birding is much better.

[xelas]

VILLIERSDORP

 

 

About a year ago I have posted on Safaritalk about our plans to return to Western Cape, and received a message from @Kalaharikind, a fellow Safaritalker. She invited us to stay an overnight at her home, and if not having time, to at least stop for a coffee and a chat. By now, many already learned that I can always find time to accept such a kind invitation! Hanneke and Johan are such a friendly couple. Both very much into outdoor staff, he a passionate fisherman and she an aspiring wildlife photographer. they have their own roof-top 4x4 cabbie and their preferred destination is Namibia. so we have a lot to talk about! It was another fantastic time spent with fellow Safaritalkers! Thank you for all, the bed, the breakfasts, the dinners and above all, the friendship, Hanneke and Johan.

 

 

Back on the road again, another 400 kms aka 4 hrs of driving. We took the R62, and until Montagu the scenery is very nice. In Barrydale we stopped for a coffee break; I was impressed by how many coffee shops and other tourism related places this small village has. After Montagu, the landscape flattens, and before Ashton we have experienced our only "rush hour" outside of Cape Town area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johan and the dinner

 

 

Two ladies discussing ... whatever ladies do discuss

 

 

[xelas]

Our last full day in Western Cape, Hanneke recommended a birding trip to coastal town of Stanford, with a boat tour in the afternoon. Driving early morning through golden fields was amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Stanford we have tried to bird in the hide and in the picnic place opposite of the hide but birding was just not good. Thus the only photo is this one:

 

 

 

As it was a market day, ladies spent some time to search for a nice gift, while my eyes were more connected to my belly who announced regularly it was time for a lunch. Nobody goes on the water with an empty stomach!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19 by xelas

[Soukous]

Alex, if you ever get tired of photographing birds you can always revert to being a food blogger. Think of all the free meals 

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

Think of all the free meals 

No thank you. Already without free meals I can not wear slim fit shirts .

[xelas]

The last chapter of our trip and also of this trip report was a boat ride on Klein River. On our previous visit, we have use the smaller boat through Rat River Cruises. After the floods, this boat was out of operation. Therefore we went on a bigger boat, owned by Lady Stanford River Cruise. This boat has two decks and offered a bit different perspective on both the river, the shores and the birds.

 

It was an afternoon cruise while the previous one was a morning cruise. Both cruises were good, yet if asked, I prefer the smaller boat (since we were the only passengers) and the morning time.

 

The River Rat waiting to be repaired

 

Lady Stanford and its captain, who is also a good birder.

 

 

A few sights from the cruise

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

The birding itself was good, and we even managed to score a new click for the Big Year! 

 

Red and Yellow Bishops were plentiful in the reeds along the river banks.

 

 

 

On the water, ducks were the most prominent species. Red-billed, Yellow-billed and African Black.

 

 

 

A few larger birds were flying above the water, here are African Sacred Ibis and Egyptian Goose.

 

 

On the banks of the river, Blacksmith Plover with youngster, a well hidden Water Thick-knee and a juvenile Southern Fiscal

 

 

 

 

That's it, folks! We loved our trip, and hopefully you like our trip report. See you soon in a completely different environment.

 

 

 

 

[Atravelynn]

Great bird photos continue.  That artistic garbage can is intriguing as well.  Those Eggs Benedict or a version of look heavenly.