During the winter months one often has to take pot luck with the weather, and so it was as we left Cape Town under cold, wet conditions and headed for Paarl. Our leader for the day, Yvonne Weiss, welcomed the 13 members that had braved the weather, half of whom had not been to this popular venue before. Yvonne guided us to a central point near the "Sand Island" hide where we parked our vehicles. We then commenced a leisurely walk, moving around the pans in an anti-clockwise direction.

photograph by Peter Cooper

All smiles after a wet walk.

At the start it was overcast but dry, and there was a fair number of birds to be seen. Then the weather caught up with us and much of the walk was done in the light rain. However, despite the damp conditions and fogged up binoculars, we managed to clock up a total of 47 species. No ‘special’ birds were discovered but the most popular sightings were a Malachite Kingfisher, a Hamerkop and an African Marsh Harrier, birds that one does not see every day.

photograph by Rob Lith

Malachite Kingfisher

Back at the cars we gratefully opened our hot vacuum flasks and chatted about birds generally, making a promise to return here later in the year when the weather was more kindly and when breeding at the heronries is in full swing. Generally, it was an interesting morning, and the miserable conditions were more than compensated for by the great venue and the congenial company. As we left for home the weather started to clear and we saw the sun for the first time that day! But that is birding!

Peter Cooper