Black Harriers, West Coast National Park, Cape Towm

 Our bird of the trip without doubt !

WOWSERS !!

Our recent trip to Cape Town, South Africa

We have just had an amazing two weeks in Cape Town, birding and also to see the flowers in the Postberg Section of West Coast National Park. A privately owned part of the park renowned for it's spring flowers that is only open to the public for a few weeks a year. Oh my, it certainly hot the wow factor and we only saw the flowers when they were past their prime. It was sensational !

We stayed at the Panorama Guest House in Newlands. Very reasonably priced, clean and with a view to die for. We looked out onto Cape Town from our balcony but also had a few trees to the side for birds. It ticked every box. Would definately recommend. 

The food was so very cheap in South Africa, in the two weeks we were there we only spent around £500 and we ate out every single day. £200 of that was spent on admissions to the parks which is a cost we don't incur here in the UK so be warned of that. But no complaints whatsoever !  The food was as fresh and fresh and just to give you some idea of price an average fish and chip, sit down with drink for 2 people was £10 and it was delicious.  I have put a few food pics and you can see what we ate......fish and steak !!

Steak at the Foresters Arms (the pub closest to our accomodation). Downhill all the way but we really couldn't have walked back as our hotel was at the top of a serious hill that cars struggled to get up. Plus we were warned about the safety issue and were advised to always take an Uber (about £2). 

The view of Cape Town from our balcony, it was spectacular

Good morning Cape Town. What a view while we drink our morning cuppa

A short rain shower of biblical proportions !!

Foresters Arms car park, covered in solar panels.......why don't we do that ??

Cheers !  Slipped down a treat and after 4 we thought we had best beat a retreat xx

Hake and chips at the local pub, fresh, flaky and delicious

I am not too sure where we were here but the pic below was the view from our table. Stunning view with freshly caught fish.....OMG I was in heaven !  As you can see, we ate alot of fish !

Would we go back.......yes !!

Our bird tally was 200 species with over 80 lifers. 

Black Harriers, West Coast National Park

 

The Black Harriers in West Coast were simply stunning, beautiful birds but afraid, critically endangered.

African Shelduck

Jackel Buzzard

Malachite Sunbird on beautiful flowers

More from West Coast National Park, Cape Town

African Shell Duck

Steenbok with missing antler

Jackel Buzzard

Little Grebe

Malachite Sunbird

Sacred Ibis and African Shell Duck. There was just one rock in this water and they literally formed a que to stand on it !

 

Cottages that can be rented via Sanparks

The coastline was spectacular

Lagoons that were covered in birds, could have spent hours and hours here

The wind was relentless one day, it was bitter even with thermals on and then the next day it was in the 30's. A holiday of very mixed weather.

West Coast National Park, Cape Town

It is our last full day in Cape Town so we decided to make a further trip into West Coast National Park. The park is vast and we thought it would be a nice relaxing end to the trip to just drive and bird and see what came along. A lovely day where we stopped for our usual toasties and coffee at the cafe. The bird highlight of the day was a close fly over of a Black Harrier. We saw quite a few but usually they were distant.  A lovely end to our trip, loved it !

Klaas's Cuckoo

A few flowers from the reserve

and the views at the coast were simply beautiful

A distant cottage that can be rented surrounded by such beautiful scenery

Bird hide overlooking Langebarn Lagoon

Spurfowl seeing off an African Grey Mongoose

A very distant Orange-throated Longclaw

Ostrich !

White-throated Swallow

and a Black Harrier. These birds are so stunning they deserve a post of their own and yes, it was our bird of the trip !