The Cape Bird Club

Outing to Dassieshoek Nature Reserve, Robertson by  Frank Hallet 

Some of us left Cape Town in the early hours of Sunday morning, while others had it easier sleeping over in Robertson. Seventeen of us gathered at the entrance gate to the Dassieshoek Nature Reserve at 08.30 only to discover that the gate was locked, and our leaders Vernon Head and Mel Tripp in a quandary as to what to do next. Attempts to find anyone in authority proved fruitless so we parked the cars under some shady trees outside and climbed over the style next to the gate. On walking up to the picnic site we soon saw Streaky-headed Seedeater and further up the mountainside a Jackal Buzzard being mobbed by Red-winged Starlings.

photograph by Frank Hallet

Jackal Buzzard being mobbed by a Red-winged Starling.

The walk in the forest didn’t yield the birds we had expected but on the forest fringe there were Paradise Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Drongo and others. On looking up Mel identified a Lemon Dove flying over, which we had heard calling earlier. In the fynbos we saw a variety of birds including Common Waxbill, Cape Grassbird and Bar-throated Apalis.

photograph by Frank Hallet

Bar-throated Apalis.

Vernon saw a Protea Seedeater and called the rest of the party together to see it, but it proved elusive in the low Leucodendron bush.

photograph by Frank Hallet

Vernon and Mel looking for the elusive Protea Seedeater.

photograph by Frank Hallet

Some of the party also looking for the elusive Protea Seedeater.

As we got higher up the mountain we came to a stream with dense low bush on the banks and Mel said this was a good spot for Victorin’s Warbler. We stopped and listened intently for the call – wait there it is, not too far away. We approached quietly and the call got louder until we were right next to the bush, but still could not see the bird. Eventually we got glimpses of it between the branches and convinced ourselves we had seen a Victorin’s Warbler.

We made our way back to the cars for a well deserved lunch. At the entrance gate we found it had been opened at 09.30, an hour and a half later than scheduled.

photograph by Frank Hallet                                                           photograph by Frank Hallet

Relaxing during lunch.........

During lunch we saw a Greater Double-collared Sunbird in a nearby tree and we all had very good views of it.

photograph by Frank Hallet

Greater Double-collared Sunbird.

This was a new birding venue for many of us and would certainly go there again in the future. Many thanks to Vernon Head and Mel Tripp who lead the outing.