Eastern Cape
Birding Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is one of the most exciting of South Africa’s nine provinces to go birding in, partly because it is so under-birded. For what reaeason? The answer must lie largely in the fact that it doesn’t have unique species that can’t be found in adjacent provinces. Separating the Western Cape (which includes such famous sites as Cape Town, the Garden Route and the endemic-rich Karoo) and mega-diverse Kwazulu/Natal (which is one of South Africa’s most bio-diverse provinces), many birders ignore simply the Eastern Cape because they can find the birds they’re looking in those provinces, not too far from the major cities of Cape Town and Durban. But such birders are missing out on some extremely rewarding birding as well as spectacular scenery.The Eastern Cape is certainly one of the best provinces in which to find some of South Africa’s top specials, including the elusive Knysna Woodpecker, the stunning Knysna Turaco and numerous others. It hosts all the fynbos endemics (although most birders find these in the Western Cape) and it also hosts a lot of species birders go to Kwazulu/Natal for such as Red-fronted Tinkerbird and Cape Parrot. The Drakensberg Escarpment specials such as Gurney’s Sugarbird, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Bearded Vulture and all the others can also be found in this province. The coastline gives the Eastern Cape a wide mosaic of habitats. That includes the beautifully remote and picturesque Wild Coast, which is rocky in parts with many sandy beaches, arid semi-desert scrub, grasslands, forests, large tracts of cultivated lands and the Cape Fold Mountains as well as a southern extension of the Drakensberg Escarpment. In consequence, the bird list for the province is well in excess of 450. The preovinces’climate is mild, with temperatures seldom below freezing and, except for the interior, seldom rising above 35 degrees Celsius. The southern coast and its immediate interior forms part of the winter rainfall region of South Africa; the rest of the region receiving its rain mainly in summer. Again, this reflects the transition nature of the Eastern Cape between the two other more visited provinces.The main towns in the region are Port Elizabeth and East London, both on the coast, and Graaff-Reinet, Cradock and Queenstown in the interior. Roads between these and other larger towns are tarred. Most of the minor roads are gravel surfaced.
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Top Sites
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Cape Recife Nature Reserve, Port Elizabeth
InformationSatellite ViewThis reserve is situated on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth and is one of the best seabird sites in the province. There is a large tern roost which, in summer, can boast Common, Swift (Great Crested); Caspian, Sandwich and Roseate Terns and Kelp Gulls. The rare Damara Tern, endemic to southern Africa, is often present and Antarctic Tern visit in good numbers June to August. Excitingly, many southern African birders have managed to get Bridled Tern onto their list here, as one has been reliably visiting each winter for several years now - strange because this is usually a more tropical species and is actually considered a vagrant to South Africa. White-fronted Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones and Whimbrels all feed along the water's edge. African (Jackass) Penguin can sometimes be seen just off-shore and, when a strong south-easterly wind is blowing, albatrosses and petrels can be seen from the shore. The rocks just metres off-shore often hold large numbers of Cape Cormorant, White-breasted Cormorant. Included in the reserve is one of the city's sewerage disposal works and a hide has been built at one of the settling ponds. Kelp and Grey-headed Gulls can be well seen from the hide, along with Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, Cape Wagtails, Purple Gallinules, Yellow-billed Ducks and an occasional African Marsh Harrier. -
Mondplaas Ponds - Gamtoos River Mouth
Satellite ViewSituated some 60 kilometres west of Port Elizabeth, the ponds are a short distance inland from the Gamtoos River mouth. A good place for waterfowl with four or five species of duck usually present. Other water birds include Darter, two cormorant species, Purple and Grey Herons, Purple Gallinule (Swamphen); Black Crake, African Rail and the occasional African Jacana.The river mouth, approximately 10 kilometres away by road, has a large mudbank which holds many migrant waders in summer. Red Knot, Terek Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Eurasian Curlew and African Black Oystercatcher are among the species to be seen. The adjacent dunes are a good site for Eurasian Hobby in the summer.These two sites have, from time to time, produced some most unexpected birds such as the Citrine Wagtail (the third record for Africa as a whole) and Garganey.The farm lands and bush along the road between these spots is good birding country and species such as Bokmakierie, Southern Boubou (Shrike), Southern Tchagra, Bar-throated Apalis, Stanley's Bustard, Glossy Starling and Pied Starling might be seen. -
Mountain Zebra National Park
InformationSatellite ViewThis National Park was proclaimed primarily to protect the few remaining Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra). It is situated about 15 kilometres south-west of Cradock in what is known locally as the Karoo, a semi-arid area of grass and scrub with cold winters and hot summers. This is a good place to get to grips with the larks and chats of the dry areas. Long-billed, Large-billed, Spike-heeled, Red-capped and Eastern Clapper Larks are particularly obvious in the spring (August to November) when breeding is in full swing. Familiar and Sickle-winged Chats are plentiful. Other dry country birds include Cape Penduline Tit, Acacia Pied Barbet, Cardinal Woodpecker, Fairy Flycatcher, Red-winged Starling and a host of others can be seen. The list for the park is over 200 species, a good proportion of them being resident. Other interesting birds include Layard's Tit-babbler, Dusky Sunbird, Pale-winged Starling, Namaqua and Rufous-eared Warblers and Cape Rock Thrush. -
Naude's Nek Pass
InformationSatellite ViewNaudesnek Pass, peaking at 2 740 metres, is the highest mountain pass in South Africa (if correct, this is quite something! Technically perhaps it is if the Lesotho border at Sani Pass is slightly below the upper point of that pass but I think folks are going to try and refute this statement so I'd also be careful of my suggested text below. I'd at least put an exclamation point at the end I'd probably change to: Naudesnek Pass, peaking at 2 740 metres (making it technically the highest mountain pass in South Africa!), hosts similar birds to the much more famous Sani Pass . This area, together with the adjacent areas of Lesotho, gives some of the best opportunities to see Orange-breasted Rockjumper, Drakensberg Siskin, Lammergeier and Mountain Pipit; three species with highly restricted ranges. Other species of interest are Barratt's Warbler, Black (Verreaux's) Eagle, Cape Vulture, Greywing Francolin and Rock Pipit. Ground Woodpeckers are common. Yellow-breasted Pipits occur on the eastern side of the pass but are not at all common.The villages of Rhodes on the west and Maclear on the east provide both accommodation and easy access to the pass itself.
Contributors
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Dave Brown
Port Elizabeth | baldcoot@xsinet.co.za
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Chris Lotz
Birding Ecotours
Useful Reading
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Filedguides
See the main South Africa page of Fatbirder ISBN: Buy this book from NHBS.com
Useful Information
Organisations
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BirdLife Eastern Cape
Facebook PageP O Box 27454 - Greenacres, Port Elizabeth 6045, South Africa -
Cape Bird Club
WebsiteThe Cape Bird Club is one of 32 national affiliates of BirdLife South Africa and is for all people, who want to learn more about wild birds in their natural environment and who are interested in their conservation and protection.
Reserves
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GR Shamwari
WebsiteSatellite ViewShamwari is the Southernmost, Big Game, private reserve in Africa - MALARIA FREE. This ultimate African adventure stretches along the Bushman`s river, halfway between Port Elizabeth and Grahamstown, and forms a natural extension to the famous Garden Route and Cape Town. The 14000 hectare game reserve is steeped in Settler history, and dates back to the time when game roamed freely in the Eastern Cape. Shamwari is about conserving a vanishing way of life, and has been awarded a number of International awards for it`s efforts in conservation coupled with tourism. Shamwari is an African dream. A game reserve in which a multitude of plant, animal and birdlife unfold the very soul of an untamed continent, along with the most luxurious means of experiencing your safari holiday. Shamwari`s highly trained game rangers, with skilled service staff will ensure a memorable adventure, personalised to your needs. In keeping with it`s conservation policy, Shamwari has a complete wildlife research team as well as it`s own anti poaching unit, ensuring an ecological balance prevails on this reclaimed piece of wilderness. -
GR Sibuya
Facebook PageSatellite ViewSibuya Game Reserve covers more than 2000 hectares and incorporates the unique East Cape Valley Bushveld, Grasslands and Coastal Forests. Antelope abound, including the rare Bontebok and Oribi. Giraffe and Zebra silhouetted against an Indian Ocean backdrop complete a truly memorable picture… -
IBA Bird Islands
InformationSatellite ViewThe BirdLife fact sheet adds that 14 species of seabirds, several species of shorebirds and 33 species of terrestrial birds have been recorded on the islands. Eight seabird species were known to breed on the islands in 2007. “These are the only islands off southern mainland Africa where Sterna dougallii (Roseate Tern) breeds regularly... -
NP Addo Elephant
InformationSatellite ViewDeep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. Here, the evenings are punctuated by the strident howl of the black-backed jackal, and the francolin's call heralds each new dawn… -
NP Camdeboo
InformationSatellite ViewThe Camdeboo National Park is located in the Karoo and almost completely surrounds the Eastern Cape town of Graaff-Reinet. -
NP Garden Route
InformationSatellite ViewIt is a coastal reserve well known for its indigenous forests, dramatic coastline, and the Otter Trail. -
NP Mountain Zebra
InformationSatellite ViewVerreaux's (Black) and Martial Eagle and Jackal Buzzard soar impressively over this mountain habitat. Pale-winged Starling is very conspicuous on the mountain plateau, where Ostrich, Secretarybird, Blue Crane and Ludwig's Bustard are the larger more visible species. Grey-winged Francolin, Ground Woodpecker, Large-billed (Thick-billed) and Eastern Long-billed Lark, Cape and Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Mountain Wheatear (Chat) and Orange-breasted Rockjumper should also be searched for, while Pink-billed Lark and African Rock Pipit are less common… -
NP Tsitsikamma
InformationSatellite ViewBirding in Tsitsikamma offers a variety in choice of habitat. There is the open shoreline as typified by the environment at Storms River Rest Camp. There is the more sheltered water ways of the Nature's Valley Lagoon and the Groot River. There is the forest experience of the Tsitsikamma Forest. Then there is the mountain fynbos one can explore in the Tsitsikamma Mountains in the Soetkraal section… -
NP Wilderness
InformationSatellite ViewThis natural area stretches from the Touw River mouth to the Eilandvlei estuary and linking into the Swartvlei lake, where it neighbours with the Goukamma Nature Reserve.[2] The wildlife in this natural area is varied... -
NR Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve
InformationSatellite ViewThe Baviaanskloof area includes a cluster of formal protected areas managed by the Eastern Cape Parks Board totalling around 500,000 hectares (1,200,000 acres), of which the most well-known is the 184 385 ha Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve - the third largest protected area in South Africa. -
NR Cape Recife
WebpageSatellite ViewConveniently situated within Port Elizabeth, the Cape Recife Nature Reserve has much to offer visitors and locals alike. The tern roost at Cape Recife is the best place in the country to see Roseate Tern. Seven species of tern are found here including Roseate tern, Antarctic tern and occasionally Damara tern. Waterbirds that are often seen include Little Bittern, South African Shellduck, African Black Oystercatcher and Southern Tchagra. African penguin and ocean birds can also be spotted offshore. -
NR Lammergeier Private Reserve
Facebook PageSatellite ViewLammergeier Private Nature Reserve invites you to pamper your soul in 8000 hectares of the most beautiful scenery in Africa. A proud heritage of being awarded several conservation awards through the reserves history, ensures the survival of endemic bird and game and the future of a unique African heritage…
Guides & Tour Operators
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Birding Africa
Tour OperatorBirding Africa is run by three Capetonian birders and naturalists, Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode and Peter Ryan, all based at the University of Cape Town`s Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology. Callan and Claire are postgraduate research students, and have recently published an new birding site guide to Cape Town and beyond: Essential Birding - Western South Africa. Peter is a lecturer and researcher, and the author of numerous publications, most recently a new field guide to the birds of Afrotropics. -
Rockjumper
Tour OperatorOur home country of South Africa is quite simply one of the most pleasurable destinations in which to bird and travel, offering exceptional value for money along with world-class infrastructure. In addition, South Africa boasts the most endemic bird species of any African country, while a rich seabird assemblage and vast numbers of more widespread, yet no less spectacular, African birds and large mammals occur. Add to this the rich botanical heritage, fine food and wines, friendly people and the scenic splendor of Africa
Trip Reports
Click on WAND to see Fatbirder’s Trip Report Repository…
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2009 [11 November] - Honeyguide - South Africa’s Garden Route and Addo Elephant National Park
PDF Report...we were soon where the river had cut through the sandstone, with forested hillsides above. Birds were an intriguing mix of the familiar – whimbrel, greenshank, Egyptian geese and dabchick – and the unfamiliar, including jackal buzzard, white-necked ravens and spectacular flashes of the red wings of Knysna turaco (or lourie). There were several good views of reed cormorants..