South Africa October 28 - November 7, 1999

Another trip undertaken with Barry Reed, Mick Ilett, and Terry Goddard. We arrived in Johannesburg on the morning of the 27th, collected our hire car (from Avis) and soon left, heading south-west towards Kimberly on the edge of the Karoo. Much time was spent in the Karoo region as we slowly meandered west and then south towards Cape Town where we planned to spend the last few days of the trip.

The birding was very intensive, the only breaks being during the long drives and a couple of hours or so in the evenings. Butterflies were not really noted but the larger mammals were. Many of these however (e.g. Zebra) were introductions to reserves and so have not been included.

We were due to return home from Cape Town on the evening of the 7th but our flight was delayed until the morning of the 8th.

Weather
Overcast and cool upon arrival in Johannesburg but by midday it had warmed considerably. The Karoo was extremely hot with afternoon temperatures of over 30°C. It often did not truly cool off until around 6pm. Coastal breezes at Port Nollath were therefore quite a relief.

The weather in Cape Town was changeable. A mixture of moderate to strong winds, occasionally accompanied by rain (sometimes heavy) although also hot and sunny at times.

Itinerary
28/10 Johannesburg; Sandveld; overnight at Kimberley.
29/10 Vaalbos; Spitskop Nature Reserve; overnight at Augribies National Park.
30/10 Augribies National Park; Kenhardt; overnight at Pofadder
31/10 Aggeneys; Port Nollath; overnight at Springbok.
1/11 Springbok area; Lambert's Bay; Rocher's Pan; overnight at Clan William.
2/11 Clan William area; Clan William (due to car crash!); overnight at Ceres.
3/11 Ceres; Sir Lowry's Pass; overnight at Cape Town.
4/11 Cape Town and Cape Point.
5/11 De Hoop; Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve; West Coast National Park; overnight at Cape Town.
6/11 Pelagic; Grootbadersbosch; overnight at Swellendam.
7/11 Grootbadersbosch; overnight at Cape Town.

Birds (275 species, 223 ticks)
Ostrich - Feral birds fairly common in reserves but most other birds seen obviously captive.
Jackass Penguin - Only a few birds at Lambert's Bay on 1st and mostly distant but more at The Boulders, Simon's Town on 4th and much closer. Also seen there from Pelagic on 5th.
Little Grebe - Several near Sandveld on 28th and at De Hoop on 5th.
Great Crested Grebe - Several at Clan William on 1st and at De Hoop on 5th.
Black-necked Grebe - Four at De Hoop on 5th.
Shy Albatross - Many seen on pelagic on 6th; the most common Albatross.
Black-browed Albatross - Many seen on pelagic on 6th.
Yellow-nosed Albatross - Three on pelagic on 6th: Two adults, one of the white-headed Indian Ocean race, bassi and one of the grey-headed Atlantic Ocean race, chlororhynchos. The other was a juvenile.
Giant Petrel sp. - Two seen on pelagic on 6th, probably one Northern and one Southern.
Pintado Petrel - Several seen on pelagic on 6th.
Great-winged Petrel - Several seen on pelagic on 6th.
Soft-plumaged Petrel - Several seen on pelagic on 6th.
White-chinned Petrel - Many seen on pelagic on 6th.
Great Shearwater - Many seen on pelagic on 6th.
Sooty Shearwater - Many seen on pelagic on 6th.
Storm-petrel sp. - One, probably Wilson's seen on pelagic on 6th.
Cape Gannet - The large colony at Lambert's Bay was visited on 1st; many seen on pelagic on 6th.
Common Cormorant - Common around the coast.
Cape Cormorant - Several at Port Nollath and Lambert's Bay on 31st and 1st.
Bank Cormorant - A large number at Port Nollath on 31st.
Reed Cormorant - Fairly common inland.
Crowned Cormorant - A large number at Port Nollath on 31st; several probably seen on pelagic on 6th.
African Darter - Fairly common inland.
Great White Pelican - One at wetland site near Springbok on 1st.
Grey Heron - Common.
Black-headed Heron - One seen on riverbank near Clan William on 1st.
Purple Heron - Two at wetland site near Springbok on 1st.
Night Heron - Three at De Hoop on 5th.
Cattle Egret - Common.
Little Egret - One near Springbok on 31st.
Hamerkop - One near Kimberley on 28th; two at Augribies NP on 29th and one there the following morning.
Sacred Ibis - Three near Clan William on 1st; several near Cape Town on 4th.
Hadada Ibis - Common.
Glossy Ibis - Several near Springbok on 1st.
African Spoonbill - Two at De Hoop on 5th.
Greater Flamingo - Many at Rocher's Pan on 1st; several at De Hoop and at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Lesser Flamingo - Several at Rocher's Pan on 1st; four at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Egyptian Goose - Common.
Cape Shelduck - Fairly common.
Spur-winged Goose - One at wetland site near Ceres on 3rd; one at De Hoop on 5th.
Cape Teal - Several at Port Nollath on 31st and at De Hoop on 5th.
Mallard - Several feral birds at various sites near Cape Town.
Yellow-billed Duck - Fairly common.
Red-billed Teal - Two at Augribies NP on 29th; several at wetland site near Ceres on 3rd.
Cape Shoveller - Fairly common.
Southern Pochard - One at De Hoop on 5th.
Maccoa Duck - Single males at Port Nollath on 31st and at De Hoop on 5th.
Black-shouldered Kite - Common.
Black Kite - Several, all of the yellow-billed form aegyptius, seen at various sites.
African Fish Eagle - An immature (being mobbed by a Lanner) at Augribies NP on 30th; an adult at Rocher's Pan on 1st.
Cape Vulture - A large number were seen leaving roost site at De Hoop on 5th.
Black-breasted Snake Eagle - Several near Springbok on 1st.
Pale Chanting Goshawk - Common in Karoo.
Black Harrier - One at Rocher's Bay on 1st; many in and near the West Coast NP on 5th.
Common Buzzard - Fairly common further south.
Forest Buzzard - One at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Jackal Buzzard - Several in Clan William area on 1st; one near De Hoop on 5th.
Verreaux's Eagle - Common in the Karoo.
Booted Eagle - One dark phase bird seen near Springbok on 1st.
Martial Eagle - A total of five birds seen in the Karoo on 30th and 31st.
Pygmy Falcon - Male and female near Sociable Weaver's nest at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Greater Kestrel - Two near Pofadder on 30th and possibly several nearby the following day.
Common Kestrel - Common.
Lanner Falcon - Fairly common in Karoo.
Cape Francolin - Common to very common near the Cape.
Swainson's Francolin - One at the Vaalbos NP on 29th.
Common Quail - Several at Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve on 5th.
Helmeted Guineafowl - Common.
Blue Crane - Surprisingly, many seen at De Hoop on 5th.
Crested Coot - Common.
Stanley's Bustard - Several on road to De Hoop on 5th.
Ludwig's Bustard - One near Springbok on 31st.
Karoo Korhaan - A pair just outside Pofadder on 30th.
Red-crested Korhaan - Female in flight at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Southern Black Korhaan - Three near Clan William on 1st and one nearby the following day.
Northern Black Korhaan - Several males near Kimberley on 29th and a single male at Kenhardt on 30th.
African Black Oystercatcher - Three in flight at Lambert's Bay on 31st; two at The Boulders, Simon's Town on 4th.
Black-winged Stilt - Fairly common on inland wetland sites.
Avocet - One at Rocher's Pan on 1st; several at De Hoop on 5th.
Water Dikkop - One at De Hoop on 5th.
Double-banded Courser - One at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Ringed Plover - One at De Hoop on 5th.
Kittlitz's Plover - Several near Kimberley on 28th; several at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Three-banded Plover - Common.
White-fronted Plover - One on beach at Lambert's Bay on 31st; one near Ceres on 2nd; four at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Grey Plover - One at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Crowned Lapwing - Fairly common.
Blacksmith Plover - Common.
Knot - Many at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Sanderling - Several at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Little Stint - Fairly common
Curlew Sandpiper - Many at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Ruff - Common.
Ethiopian Snipe - One at a wetland site near Clan William on 2nd.
Whimbrel - One at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Curlew - One at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Marsh Sandpiper - Common.
Greenshank - Fairly common.
Wood Sandpiper - Fairly common.
Common Sandpiper - One near Sandveld on 28th.
Turnstone - Several at the West Coast NP on 5th.
Arctic Skua - One dark-phase on pelagic on 6th.
Catharacta Skua sp. - Many Brown or Antarctic (race hamiltoni) Skuas seen from pelagic but the two are not separable at sea.
Kelp Gull - Common on coast.
Grey-headed Gull - Several seen near Kimberley on 28th; a first-winter at Lambert's Bay on 31st.
Hartlaub's Gull - Common on coast.
Caspian Tern - Several at De Hoop on 5th.
Greater Crested Tern - Common on Cape.
Sandwich Tern - Fairly common on Cape.
Arctic Tern - Two seen on pelagic on 6th.
Damara Tern - Four at Lambert's Bay on 31st.
Whiskered Tern - Two near Kimberley on 28th; distant Terns at De Hoop on 5th were apparently of this species.
Namaqua Sandgrouse - One at Kenhardt on 30th; one near Clan William on 1st.
Rock Dove - Feral birds common.
Speckled Pigeon - One at Augribies NP on 29th.
Rameron Pigeon - One on Table Mountain on 4th; Common at Grootbadersbosch.
Cinnamon Dove - Pair on Table Mountain on 4th; one at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Red-eyed Dove - Common.
Cape Turtle Dove - Common.
Laughing Dove - Common.
Namaqua Dove - Common.
African Cuckoo - One at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Red-chested Cuckoo - One in wooded area in Cape Town on 4th.
Jacobin Cuckoo - Two at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Diederik Cuckoo - One at Sandveld on 28th.
African Palm Swift - Several seen on 28th and 29th as far as Kimberley.
African Black Swift - Three at the Cape on 4th and probably more on 5th.
Bradfield's Swift - Several seen at Kimberley on 28th.
Alpine Swift - Common.
Little Swift - Common.
Horus Swift - Four at Sir Lowry's Pass on 3rd.
White-rumped Swift - Common.
Speckled Mousebird - Two Clan William on 2nd; several at Grootbadersbosch on 6th.
White-backed Mousebird - Fairly common up until 1st then not seen again.
Red-faced Mousebird - One at Sandveld on 28th; three at Augribies NP on 30th.
Narina Trogon - Male at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Pied Kingfisher - Several at Vaalbos NP on 29th; one at Rocher's Pan on 1st.
European Bee-eater - Fairly common.
White-fronted Bee-eater - Two at Augribies NP on 30th.
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater - One at Augribies NP on 30th.
African Hoopoe - Two in flight near Kimberley on 29th; up to five at De Hoop on 5th.
Greater Scimitarbill - One at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Acacia Pied Barbet - Two at Vaalbos NP on 29th; one at Aggeneys on 31st.
Ground Woodpecker - One near Clan William on 2nd.
Golden-tailed Woodpecker - A male at Augribies NP on 29th.
Cardinal Woodpecker - Famale at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Olive Woodpecker - Several at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Rufous-naped Lark - Several at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Clapper Lark - Several at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Fawn-coloured Lark - Several in the Karoo from 28th to 30th.
Bradfield's Lark - One at Sandveld on 28th.
Sabota Lark - Several in the Karoo on 29th and 30th.
Karoo Long-billed Lark - Two at Kenhardt on 30th.
Karoo Lark - Several near Clan William on 1st.
Barlow's Lark - At least two near Port Nollath on 31st.
Red Lark - One on dunes near Pofadder on 31st.
Spike-heeled Lark - Several in Karoo on 29th and 30th.
Red-capped Lark - Several near Pofadder on 31st; several at Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve on 5th.
Pink-billed Lark - Two at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Stark's Lark - A flock near Upington on 30th.
Thick-billed Lark - One near Clan William on 1st; several at Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve on 5th.
Grey-backed Finch-lark - Several in Karoo on 29th and 30th.
Black-eared Finch-lark - Several in Karoo on 29th and 30th.
Brown-throated Sand Martin - Common.
Banded Martin - One at Vaalbos NP on 29th.
Rock Martin - Common.
Swallow - A total of four seen at various sites.
White-throated Swallow - Common at De Hoop.
Pearl-breasted Swallow - One at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Red-breasted Swallow - Two at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Greater Striped Swallow - Common.
South African Cliff Swallow - Many near Johannesburg on 28th but not seen thereafter.
Black Saw-wing - Two on Table Mountain on 4th; several at Grootbadersbosch on 6th and 7th.
Orange-throated Longclaw - Two at Rocher's Pan on 1st; three at Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve on 5th.
Grassveld Pipit - One near Clan William 2nd but probably overlooked.
Plain-backed Pipit - One at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Cape Wagtail - Common.
African Pied Wagtail - One at Augribies NP on 30th.
Grey Cuckooshrike - Three at Grootbadersbosch on 6th.
Cape Bulbul - Common.
African Red-eyed Bulbul - Common.
Sombre Bulbul - Several at the foot of Table Mountain; one at Grootbadersbosch on 6th and 7th.
Cape Rockjumper - Several near Cape Town on 3rd.
Southern Anteating Chat - Fairly common in Karoo.
Karoo Robin - Several in Springbok area on 31st and 1st.
Kalahari Robin - A total of five birds seen in eastern Karoo area on 28th and 29th.
Cape Robin - Common.
African Stonechat - One near Springbok on 31st; two near Clan William on 2nd.
Familiar Chat - Common.
Tractrac Chat - Common in west.
Sickle-winged Chat - One near Clan William on 2nd.
Karoo Chat - Several in Springbok area on 31st and 1st.
Capped Wheatear -Fairly common .
Mountain Chat - Several at Augribies NP on 31st.
Cape Rock Thrush - Male near Cape Town on 7th.
Short-toed Rock Thrush - Male near Aggeneys on 31st.
Groundscraper Thrush - Singles in the Kimberley area on 28th and 29th.
Olive Thrush - Common.
African Sedge Warbler - Two near Clan William on 2nd.
Knysna Warbler - Fairly common around Cape Town area.
Victorin's Warbler - Fairly common around Cape Town area.
Fan-tailed Warbler - One heard at a wetland site near Clan William on 2nd.
Cloud Cisticola - Several at Tienie Versveld Flower Reserve on 5th.
Grey-backed Cisticola - Several near Springbok on 31st and 1st.
Levaillant's Cisticola - Two at a wetland site near Clan William on 2nd; two near Cape Town on 4th.
Neddicky - Fairly common.
Black-chested Prinia - Common in eastern Karoo.
Spotted Prinia - Seen very regularly everyday from 31st onwards.
Namaqua Warbler - One at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Rufous-eared Warbler - Several at Aggeneys on 31st.
Grassbird - Singles near Clan William on 2nd, near Cape Town on 4th and 5th.
African Marsh Warbler - Several at Augribies NP on 29th.
Cape Reed Warbler - Two at Augribies NP on 29th.
Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler - One at Sandveld on 28th; one at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Layard's Tit-babbler - Singles at Clan William on 1st and near Ceres on 3rd.
Bar-throated Apalis - Fairly Common.
Long-billed Crombec - One near Clan William on 2nd.
Karoo Eremomela - Two near Augribies NP on 29th.
Cinnamon-breasted Warbler - One near Ceres on 3rd.
Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler - One at Grootbadersbosch.
Fairy Flycatcher - One near Rocher's Bay on 1st; one near Ceres on 3rd.
Dusky Flycatcher - Two near Cape Town on 4th; common at Grootbadersbosch.
Fiscal Flycatcher - Fairly common.
Marico Flycatcher - One near Kimberley on 28th; several at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Chat Flycatcher - Common in eastern Karoo.
African Paradise Flycatcher - Common near the Cape.
Blue-mantled Flycatcher - Two females at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Cape Batis - Common near the Cape.
Pririt Batis - A pair near Ceres on 3rd; one near Cape Town on 4th.
Southern Grey Tit - One near Port Nollath on 31st.
Malachite Sunbird - A pair near Springbok on 1st; several near Ceres on 2nd.
Lesser Double-collared Sunbird - Fairly common.
Greater Double-collared Sunbird - Fairly common at Grootbadersbosch.
Orange-breasted Sunbird - Several near Cape Town on 3rd and one on 4th.
Dusky Sunbird - Fairly common in north-eastern Karoo.
Cape White-eye - Common; all three very distinct forms seen: virens in east, nominate pallidus in northern Karoo and capensis in southen Karoo and Cape.
Fiscal Shrike - Common.
Southern Boubou - Several at De Hoop on 5th.
Crimson-breasted Shrike - One at Sandveld on 28th.
Southern Tchagra - Several at De Hoop on 5th.
Bokmakierie - Singles near Clan William on 1st and 2nd; several at De Hoop on 5th.
Olive Bush Shrike - A pair (plus many heard) at Grootbadersbosch on 7th.
Fork-tailed Drongo - One at Sandveld on 28th; one at Spitskop NR on 29th; one at Grootbadersbosch on 6th.
Black Crow - Fairly common.
Pied Crow - Common.
White-necked Raven - Fairly common.
Cape Sugarbird - Common near to the Cape.
Common Starling - Common in towns.
African Pied Starling - Common in south-west.
Wattled Starling - Several at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Cape Glossy Starling - One near Johannesburg on 28th; several at Vaalbos on 29th.
Red-winged Starling - Common in southern Karoo.
Pale-winged Starling - Common in northern Karoo.
Common Myna - Several near Johannesburg.
White-browed Sparrow-weaver - Two at Sandveld on 28th.
Sociable Weaver - Common in extreme north of Karoo.
House Sparrow - Common.
Cape Sparrow - Common.
Scaly-feathered Finch - Several at Sandveld on 28th; one at Aggeneys on 31st.
Cape Weaver - Common near to Cape.
Southern Masked Weaver - Fairly common.
Red-billed Quelea - Many at Spitskop NR on 29th.
Red Bishop - Common.
Yellow-rumped Widow - Common.
Long-tailed Widow - Several near Kimberley on 28th.
Red-billed Firefinch - One seen briefly at Sandveld on 28th.
Common Waxbill - Fairly common.
Swee Waxbill - Common at Grootbadersbosch.
Pin-tailed Whydah - One near Kimberley on 28th; several at De Hoop on 5th.
Black-throated Canary - Two (a pair?) at Sandveld on 28th.
Cape Canary - Fairly common near Cape.
Forest Canary - Two at Grootbadersbosch on 6th.
Cape Siskin - Two at Cape Point on 4th; two at Grootbadersbosch on 6th.
Black-headed Canary - Several near Ceres on 3rd.
Yellow Canary - Fairly common.
White-throated Canary - Singles at Augribies NP on 30th and 31st.
Protea Canary - Surprisingly common near Clan William on 2nd.
Streaky-headed Canary - Several near Clan William on 2nd.
Cape Bunting - Common near Cape.
Lark-like Bunting - Common in Karoo.

Butterflies
African Clouded Yellow - Common.
Swallowtail sp. - Many different butterflies seen but not specifically identified.
African Monarch - Common.

Mammals
Southern Right Whale - Several near Clan William 2nd.
Chacma Baboon - Several near Clan William 2nd.
Warthog - A family party drinking at a pool at Vaalbos on 28th.
Common Eland? - Possibly several at Sandveld on 29th.
Oryx - Several at Spitskop on 29th.
Wildebeast - Several at Spitskop on 29th.
Springbok - Fairly common in the Karoo.
Spteenbok - Fairly common in the Karoo.
Meerkat - Several at Spitskop on 29th.
Rock Hyrax - Fairly common in the Karoo.
South African Ground-squirrel - One at Spitskop on 29th.
Grey Squirrel - Several in Cape Town.