March Birding Specials on the Garden Route
As winter approaches, many birders feel a familiar twinge of melancholy. The pace of birding often slows with the arrival of autumn, but here on the Garden Route, March offers a refreshing exception. The weather is nothing short of delightful, no need for a jacket to ward off chilly mornings or a raincoat to fend off seasonal showers. It’s the perfect time to explore.
One of the Garden Route’s most coveted treasures is the elusive Knysna Warbler, a master skulker that tests even the most patient birders. This unassuming little brown bird, often mistaken for a mouse as it darts through the undergrowth along forest edges, is a challenge to spot. During the breeding season, its loud, distinctive call echoes through the trees, tantalizingly close yet maddeningly out of sight. For many, hearing it just a few meters away without a glimpse is the ultimate birder’s frustration.
I’d always assumed their calls faded at the end of breeding season, or at least morphed into something less recognizable. But here’s the surprise: March turned out to be my most successful month for finding them. On nearly every outing to the forest’s edge, these secretive birds revealed themselves: not through their familiar warbling trill, but via a shorter, sharper call, stripped of its usual flourish. It seems that as the breeding season winds down, the females depart their territories, leaving their whereabouts a mystery until the cycle begins anew. The males, however, stay put, occasionally popping out of cover in response to the calls of other species.
The stunning photograph accompanying this post, captured by one of my clients during a morning birding walk, is a testament to the rewards of persistence on the Garden Route.
March isn’t just kind to Knysna Warbler enthusiasts: it’s a goldmine for other regional specials too. This month, we’ve had fantastic sightings of Half-collared Kingfisher, Kitlitz’s Plover with chicks, African Rail, Fynbos Buttonquail and more. The Garden Route truly shines as a birding haven this time of year.
During March I was also fortunate to visit the Klein Karoo several times. Sightings included Fairy Flycatcher, Namaqua Warbler, Rufous-eared Warbler, Large-billed Lark, Cape Bunting, Nicholson’s Pipit, Chestnut-vented Warbler, Karoo Chat, Karoo Scrub Robin, Acasia Pied Barbet, Booted Eagle, Black Harrier, Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk to name a few.
Planning a visit? Don’t miss out1! Book a guided walk with BIRDWATCHER and let us help you uncover the winged wonders of this remarkable region.
