Garden route – Part 3

North of the N2 highway lays the second part of birding area in Grootbrak river. And a completely different one at that! As you go under the N2 Bridge the wild area on your right usually hosts Sombre Greenbul who can be heard calling almost right throughout the day! The river on your left is good for Yellow-billed Duck, Mallard and the thin tree-like stems in the distance is where African Fish-Eagles sometime perch. I have also seen the Osprey perch there on a few occasions in summer.

Going towards the town the area on the left opens up in to wet grassland. Here I have seen both Steppe and Jackal Buzzards hunting.

On the opposite side of the road, between the houses with the big trees behind them, I have heard Fiery-necked Nightjar.

Right next to the spar building is a big tree. I have seen Knysna Turaco here on a few occasions. The road splits here and I will discuss the finds on the road leading to the right, first. Drive till this road ends a short while later. You will go through an excellent patch of montane forest. Lookout for Forest Canary, Southern Tchagra, Black Saw-Wing, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Olive Bush-Shrike, Olive Thrush and African Paradise Fly-Catcher. The tea garden at the end of this road is a lovely place to relax and look for birds and the owners will gladly share their birding experience with you.

Leading back to town you will notice a road going right, up the hill. At this turn off I have also seen Brown-hooded Kingfisher. Take this road and drive up the hill, until you get to a gravel pull off point on your left. There is a walking path leading into the forest and although it has been badly burnt in recent years I would rate this as a top spot! I have done quite a bit of walking and birding here and this is also one of the spots where I have had great sightings of Forest Buzzard. Also keep an eye out for Fiery-necked Nightjar here as they are quite often heard calling in late summer.

 Return to town.

At the Spar there is road just before the bridge that turns to the right, passing the front door of the Spar. Drive this road. (The bridge area itself is good for ducks and the tall trees is an excellent roosting place for 10’s of Cattle Egret, Black-headed Heron and Grey Heron! This is quite a busy place at dusk! ) The road leading past spar will soon change to gravel and continue driving it until you have a clear view of the cliffs on your left. This is a breathtakingly beautiful spot and this is a good area to find Lanner Falcon. Below in the river, you are likely to see Yellow-billed Ducks, African Black Ducks, Giant and Pied Kingfishers and I think someday an African Finfoot might show itself! Listen out for the foghorn call of the Buff-spotted Flufftail which seems common in this area.

The grassy hillside is good for Cape Canary, Neddicky and Swee Waxbill!

Continue with this road and drive it up to where the road passes some farm houses. This whole road is paradise as far as birding is concerned! Stop along the various suitable pull off places and just sit and scan the breathtakingly beautiful area! This is a great place to find Cape Canary, Forest Canary, Yellow Bishop, Tambourine Dove, Klaas’ Cuckoo, Chorister Robin-Chat, Forest Buzzard, Swee Waxbill, Cape Bulbul, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Knysna Turaco, Cape Batis and Olive Bush-Shrike. It is imperative to know most of these birds’ calls in order to locate them. Knysna Warler is actually quite common here in late summer.

A two hour visit here on this small section of gravel road along the mountain is sometimes just not enough so good the birding is here.

At the top where you enter the farm lands, listen and look out for Common Starling, Cape Bulbul, African Pipit and Jackal Buzzard.

I would advise to continue with this road stopping at the spectacular Wolwedans dam for some birding and then proceed to the nearby Jonkershoek forest. Aloes and proteas in this area are excellent for sunbirds!

• 18/06/2011 12:00 - Bird Watchers to Explore Colombia Vol. 1
• 01/03/2010 12:46 - Birding in the Kloof
• 23/01/2010 22:06 - A road Worth Travelling...part 3
• 17/01/2010 12:19 - A road Worth Travelling...part 2
• 14/01/2010 20:39 - A road Worth Travelling...
• 04/06/2009 09:47 - Travelling east to Suikerbosrand
• 25/05/2009 07:39 - Birding along the Garden Route – Part 2.
• 20/05/2009 11:12 - Birding along the Garden Route - Part 1.