A Birding Year Draws to a Close: Views from Goukamma!
Birding on the Garden Route – South Africa
As 2024 comes to a swift end, it’s time to reflect on another rewarding year of birding. It seems many birders shared the enthusiasm, with finding available guides proving a challenge – a testament to the popularity of birding in our region.
My final birding thoughts of the season drift to the Goukamma area, where the river meets the sea, creating a stunning lagoon fringed by sand dunes. This picturesque setting provides vital nesting and breeding grounds for species like Kelp Gulls and African Black Oystercatchers, among others.
This stretch of coastline often reminds me of the “Cape of Storms.” The powerful waves crashing against the rocks are a truly awe-inspiring spectacle, especially during rough weather. We sometimes venture there specifically to witness nature’s raw power.
Interestingly, even during these stormy periods, many birds thrive, diving into the turbulent waters in pursuit of fish and other prey. Conversely, on calm, sunny days, the cooling waters offer respite, and the lagoon becomes a classroom for young waders, gulls, and oystercatchers, learning to forage for worms, mussels, octopus, and more.
Birding on the Garden Route South Africa – Birdwatcher
The White-fronted Plovers, with their comical, short-legged dashes along the lagoon’s edge, always provide entertainment. On my last visit, I counted an impressive 30 Black Oystercatchers. Little Egrets also patrol the shoreline, taking advantage of the waves washing up tasty morsels. Further up the lagoon, I observed an oystercatcher diligently teaching its chick the art of finding and catching wonder worms.
Gulls and Swift Terns splash playfully in the water, occasionally taking flight in bursts before settling back down to await signs of baitfish activity. Towards the Cape Nature reserve, the unmistakable call of a resident African Fish Eagle echoes through the air. Along the roadsides, Cape Canaries, Karoo Prinias, and Brimstone Canaries flit energetically between the dune bush and shrubs.
A sudden highlight was the appearance of an Osprey, which swooped down and snatched a large fish right before my eyes. The capture was so swift that I missed the opportunity for a decent photograph, as the raptor vanished as quickly as it arrived.
The road through the reserve itself is a haven for birders, with a rich diversity of species thriving in this well-managed protected area.
While mid-January to the end of April offers excellent birding opportunities for twitchers and birders in our area, I must add that I’ve personally captured some of my best bird photographs during July and August. Although the migratory birds may be absent during this time, the heightened bird activity as they prepare for the next breeding season more than compensates.
It’s a fitting end to a fantastic year of birding, and I look forward to what the next season brings.
May 2025 bring you abundant and rewarding birding experiences.
Birding on the Garden Route
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