Cape Town and its surrounds offers the opportunity to bird in areas of great scenic beauty. The region is geographically diverse with fynbos and renosterveld being the most dominant natural vegetation types. Other types present are patches of afromontane forest and karroid scrubland, inland one can easily access the semi-desert plains of the Karoo. The great botanical biodiversity has led to the Fynbos Biome being described as one of the six floral kingdoms of the world. The region has mostly a Mediterranean climate, with wet winters and hot dry summers.
The variety of bird species is not large, some 400+ (including vagrants), compared to other parts of South Africa but it does have a number of interesting endemic specials. Species only found here and nowhere else are Cape Sugarbird, Cape Rock-jumper, Orange-breasted Sunbird and Protea Seedeater. Others more easily seen here than elsewhere are Cape Siskin, African Penguin, Bank Cormorant (becoming scarce), African Black Oystercatcher and Victorin’s Warbler.
Any reference to birding in and around Cape Town would be incomplete without including seabirds. See the sections on Birding at Sea, Kommetjie and Cape of Good Hope National Park.
In addition a detailed guide to 4 sites is given in a BirdLife South Africa webinar. Mike Buckham and Dave Winter present this webinar on “Birding in Cape Town”. They focus on 4 sites, namely: