Birding In The Overberg

The Overberg with its lush nature reserves, various hiking trails, rich coastline and floral kingdom is a popular tourist destination for foreigners and South Africans alike. One of the most visited areas in the Overberg is the Cape Whale Coast, apart from being the best land based whale watching spot in the world it is also home to a diverse list of bird species that will delight any of those looking to do a spot of birding in Hermanus and the surrounding area.

Birdwatching is said to be the fastest growing ecotourist commodity in the world and Hermanus and its surrounding areas are a birdwatchers paradise. The diversity of the landscape around Hermanus makes for a fantastic mix of bird species.

Specific bird populations vary according the time of year and various environmental factors, but there are usually a good number of species in the area. Perhaps the most popular of the 60-odd species recorded around the Hermanus cliff paths are the Kelp Gull, Cape Cormorant, Cape Robin, Cape Francolin, Hartlaub’s Gull, Swift Tern, Karoo Prinia, Lesser Double-Collared Sunbird, Oystercatcher and even a pair of Southern Tchagra.

In summer, when the weather’s warmer, a number of other species also make an appearance, such as the Bokmakierie and Greater Striped Swallow.

The great expanse of untouched areas makes it one of the greatest areas to spot endemic birds.

Endemic Bird Species:

Cape Sugar Bird

– Recognisable by the spot of yellow under its tail and long tail feathers.

Orange-Breasted Sunbird

– Long curved bill, head & throat of the male is a brilliant metallic green, chest is bright orange fading into paler shades of yellow.

Victorin’s Warbler

– Has a distinctive song, their heads are grey in colour, tail, and upper wings are a dark, reddish brown colour.

Protea Seedeater

– Grey, brown underpants, dark chin and white throat.

Cape Siskin

– Flight feathers and tails have white spots on them with yellowish underpants and nape.

African Black Oystercatcher

– Medium sized bird, noisy with complete black feathers, red legs and red bill.

Birding sites in the Overberg:

The Overberg region has plenty to offer birding enthusiasts and those keen to spot endemic species. Endemic means that the birds can only be found in one area in the world. 

The Cape Peninsula is home to a multitude of marine bird life. The African Penguin, Blackoyster catcher and Cape and Crowned Cormorants that call the rocky and long stretches of beach home is perfect for birders to explore.

The stunning gardens and hiking trails found in the Harold Porter Gardens provide you with easy access to birds that are hard to find along the Cape Peninsula. Rooiels is also a favourite amongst seasoned birders. Spot the Cape Sugar Bird, Protea Seedeater and Jackal Buzzard.

Grootvadersbosch’s indigineous forest in the south coast of the Cape is home to birds that are not commonly found in the Cape Town area and is a wise trip to take. The Cape Vulture, Blue Crane and Forest Buzzard are all beautiful birds to spot in the region of the De Hoop and Potberg Nature Reserves.

Birdwatching Hotspots in Hermanus

Vermont Salt Pan

A great diversity of water associated birds are available here and summer it is often possible to see up to 40 species during an hour’s visit.

SPECIALS: Pied Avocet, Greater Flamingo, African Goshawk, Cape Shoveler, Blackwinged Stilt

Onrus River and Harderbaai

The caravan camp at Onrus is recommended strongly as many interesting species are associated with the milkwood trees.  A gentle stroll along Harderbaai during winter could show species such as Little Egret, Purple Heron and Black-crowned Night-Heron feeding out in open and in summer the are is known for its tern day roost. An ideal spot to hone one’s tern identification skills.

SPECIALS: Cape Cormorant, Giant Kingfisher, African Black Oystercatcher and many terns.

Cliff Path Trail

Leisurely strolls along the cliff paths in Hermanus allow whale and dolphin watching at its best combined with really good opportunities to watch coastal, fynbos, forest and garden birds.

SPECIAL: Karoo Prinia, Southern Tchagra and a variety of fynbos specials – watch out for interesting gulls and terns though.

The Fernkloof Nature Reserve

Cape White-eye, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Grassbird, Cape Sugarbird, Blue-mantled Crested-flycatcher, Victorin’s Warbler, White-necked Raven, Cape Robin-chat, Cape Siskin, Brimstone Canary, Cape Rockjumper, Rock Martin, Grey-backed Cisticola, Long-billed Pipit, Red-winged Starling, Speckled Pigeon.

Also the headquarters to the Hermanus Bird Club and Bird Life Overberg.

Bot River Lagoon

This area is renowned as one of the prime bird watching locations in the Hermanus area.

Botriviervlei and Kleinmond Estuary

Fairly limited due to private land ownership along its shores.  This is unfortunate as the estuary is an important Bird Area.  A bird hide has been developed recently at Rooisand in a collaborative project between CapeNature and Arabella – it is clearly signposted on the R44 between Kleinmond and the Arabella estate. Keep a keen lookout for Southern Tchagra along the access road and in summer watch out for waders along the boardwalk.  Besides the waders, all of the region’s terns, thick-knees, kingfishers, ducks, Sparrowhawks and a variety of other birds of prey can often be seen here.

SPECIALS: African Openbill, European Oystercatcher, African Grass-Owl, Osprey and Hottentot Buttonquail have also been reported. The wild horses found along this estuary are also a great tourist attraction.

Klein River Lagoon

There is a bird hide on the Klein river lagoon which is open for all to use. Possibly the most fun is a boat ride down the river from Stanford to the lagoon and back with an experienced birder.

Karwyderskraal Road / Swartrivier Road

Represent high quality wheatfield birding in close proximity to Hermanus and Cape Town. The Karwyderskraal road can be reached from two points along the R43 and can give comfortable access to lager bird such as Denham’s Bustard, Blue Crane, White Pelican and even Secretarybird.  Most of the area’s LBJ’s could be studied along this road and the three buzzards African Marsh-Harrier and Black Harrier, the tow kites and a variety of accipiters, together with African Fish-Eagle and Osprey have been observed here.  The Swartrivier road is dirt toad that stretches between the farmstead on the Karwyderskraal road and the N2 by quiet road and one can really bird at leisure. This affords locals the opportunity to compare the difficult LBJ’s of the region and visitors to get several of the region’s specials.

Whether you’re a serious ornithologist or a weekend bird-spotter, Hermanus is sure to have something to catch your eye. And of course, if ever you get tired of identifying the myriad of bird species, there are always those whales!

Birding checklist:

View here

For more information contact:

Western Cape Birding

Email: birding@overberg.co.za

Contact number: +27 (0)82 550 3347

Website

We’d like to thank Dave de Beer, a local birder extraordinaire, and Dr. Anton Odendal, chairperson of Birdlife Overberg, for their valuable input and assistance with this article.

Our country has bee described as being one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world!