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Our Mission and Values at GBT... Here at GBT we hope to foster an interest in all things birding, and in so doing, also create a deep and abiding respect for our natural environment. We do so without taking ourselves too serioulsy, but we do take the state of our environment very seriously. We share our knowledge and our passion for all things birding willingly and enthusiastically.

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#91 11-03-2010 10:13:51

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

The next morning early we left for Mosselbay, driving through place like Robertson where we stopped at the Klipdrift factory @ 8am!! lollol

We were greeted with friendliness one can only find in the Cape and trested to a welcome drink of Klippies and fruit juice... with eish of course! lollol

From here we made our way to Swellendam, but just outside Robertson my dad made me aware of the Blue Cranes next to the road and I pulled over to do further investigation.

http://i41.tinypic.com/35lsv3t.jpg

Altogether there were 22 birds!

As I snapped a few pics of them something else caught my eye and I noticed a very charming Karoo Scrub-Robin! I only managed a proof shot unfortunately.

http://i40.tinypic.com/slr1uw.jpg

Across the road, Large-billed Larks were calling their heads off, but I could not get close enough for a decent pic. I managed this proof shot of one which shows the yellow base on the bill.

http://i39.tinypic.com/vpyp2a.jpg

It was getting very hot and we needed to get a move on. A massive mountain fire was running lose in the Montagu area and we were just too happy to pass it. We stopped at a lovely cheese shop near Ladismith I really recommend this place for any cheese lover!

http://i40.tinypic.com/aetbts.jpg

We drove through the breathtakingly beautiful town of Swellendam. A place I am definitely going to visit again before the end of the year!

In Heidelberg we stopped for a wimpy breakfast and my word was it boiling hot outside! 44 degrees!

 

#92 11-03-2010 10:20:37

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Sounds amazing at the train ride, Imax!

Yes, I agree... sometimes people just rush off to get to their destinations.

It was nice to atlas a virgin pentad. I see someone else atlassed the mountain pentad at the exact same time I did! lollol

 

#93 11-03-2010 10:28:12

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Species logged in the Hex river valley:

Karoo Prinia
Giant Kingfisher
Black-headed Heron
Cape Turtle-Dove
Cape Francolin
Cape Canary
Speckled Pigeon
Cape White-Eye
Red-winged Starling
Lesser Double-collared Sunbird
Cape Rock-Thrush
Crowned Lapwing
Hadeda Ibis
Cape Sparrow
Common Waxbill
Egyptian Goose
Familiar Chat
African Stonechat
Karoo Thrush
Southern Masked Weaver
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Cape Wagtail
Laughing Dove
Barn Swallow
Malachite Sunbird
Cape Robin-Chat

26 species.

Last edited by wildtuinman (11-03-2010 13:55:26)

 

#94 11-03-2010 10:40:35

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

What is the easiest way to submit an atlas record, Imax?

 

#95 11-03-2010 10:57:18

Imax
Member

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Location:  : Randburg
Registered: 11-11-2008
Favourite Bird: Layard's Titbabbler

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Full protocall (2 hours) wait i am heading of to your valley, will pop in at your desk.

 

#96 11-03-2010 12:49:33

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Thanks Imax!

 

#97 11-03-2010 13:04:34

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Karoo Chat

http://i44.tinypic.com/2upxo5h.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/30bcys5.jpg

Larger Image

 

#98 11-03-2010 13:11:06

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Ok then.

We approached Albertinia and I coerced my dad into allowing some stoppage time for birding at the Aloe factory.

The first place was as dry as a bone... but then second location I nearly shot past, well, had a few sprinklers going. lol

I took a chance and low and behold. There were two Cape Sugarbirds waiting for me! Male and Female.

(Somehow I left my best photos on Laine's laptop, but nevertheless, here is a proofshot.) How long is that tail??!!

http://i42.tinypic.com/s6m1zr.jpg

Also present were:

Common Starling
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Cape Weaver

I left Albertinia with quite a big smile on my face. big_smilelol

Last edited by wildtuinman (11-03-2010 13:12:16)

 

#99 11-03-2010 13:48:57

Laine
Admin.-Nightjar awards Judge

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Location:  : Joburg, South Africa
Registered: 05-05-2008
Favourite Bird: Fairy Flycatcher

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

cool

came back to the office to a TR!  very cool!

_______________________________________________________________________________
 

#100 11-03-2010 14:42:11

wildtuinman
Member

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Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

I will continue with the Grootbrak session this weekend. big_smile

 

#101 11-03-2010 15:25:02

Jay
Admin.-Nightjar awards Judge

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Location:  : West Coast, South Africa
Registered: 03-05-2008
Favourite Bird: African Fish Eagle

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

sigh...now I am really lus for a road trip...and the Ladysmith cheese is very yummy yes, we buy it at Checkers here! big_smile

Really nice sightings, Dirkie! and very cool you got so many photographed!

How to resize your photos

Happy people are generally lucky...which makes them even happier!
 

#102 11-03-2010 20:41:01

Muis
Member

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Location:  : West Coast - South Africa
Registered: 05-07-2008
Favourite Bird:

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Awesome report & photos so far WTM! cool - eish, you make the heart verlang hmmlol

Your report has brought back many memories smile

Imaxs' idea of the train trip through the Hex River Valley sounds great! - it is really an awesome place & this would make it better??? yikes

Yup, when in Robertson, one has to experience the klippies eish factory, no matter what time of day, it is a great!

You have hit the nail on the head about Swellendam & in fact the Riversdale area as well. After speeding through these towns umpteen times per year for years, I found myself up on the mountains behind these towns for a short period & the lakes & everything there makes you feel like you are on another planet!

 

#103 12-03-2010 07:38:05

Boetie
Member

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Location:  : Nelspruit, SA
Registered: 09-03-2009

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Lekker sightings and photies WTM. cool

You guys must stop going places, my list is getting so long of places to visit that I need four years leave at this stage. yikes

"I have nice equipment because it helps me create crap faster and with greater precision." -- cdifoto
 

#104 12-03-2010 08:34:53

wildtuinman
Member

(Hover for details)
Location:  : Vêr in die wêreld, Kitty
Registered: 15-08-2008
Favourite Bird: Pearl-Spotted Owlet

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

LMAO@Boetie! lollol

 

#105 13-03-2010 10:32:33

Candys Style
Moderator

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Registered: 05-05-2008
Favourite Bird: Pygmy Kingfisher

Re: Karoo, Hex River Valley and Garden Route Birding

Boy, it sounds like it was really hot!
I’m always amazed at the diversity of the landscape in our country cool
Great photo of the Rufous-eared Warbler!
The train trip sounds great, Imax...

GBT’s Bird Guide: 179 species
Recently added species: Great Crested Grebe, African Quailfinch, Kalahari Scrub-Robin

Resizing photos: 240x160.
 

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