Outing to the Tygerberg Nature Reserve – 16 April 2023 led by Daryl de Beer.

cbc outing tygerberg nature reserve 09 LdB 16 april 2023

The weather was perfect for a walk in the TNR by a group in excess of 40 keen birders. For a number in the group, this was their first visit to this Reserve and the outing proved to be an excellent opportunity for them to ‘get the lie of the land’ for a follow-up visit in a smaller group. We were pleased that some ‘lifers’ were recorded – a White-throated Canary being a popular sighting.

Thanks to three of our young members for reporting on this successful and very enjoyable outing:
Rhys Gwilliam (13) for the report and photos of the White-backed Mousebird; Yellow-billed Duck and Acacia Pied Barbet.
Zach Kaspersen (11) for the photos of the Rock Kestrel and Red-headed Finches.
Zoe Lunau-Johns (16) for the bird list for the Duiker Trail.
Graham Robertson (not so young!) for the photos of a Black-winged Kite and a Levaillant’s Cisticola and additional bird list.

We all met up at the gate and started the walk around 8:30 am. One group, led by Daryl de Beer, headed down the hill along the Duiker Trail while the other group, led by Penny Dichmont, headed up the hill on the Tortoise Trail, which later turned into the Caracal Trail. White-backed Mousebirds, Yellow Bishops, Karoo Prinias, Cape Sparrows, Acacia Pied Barbets and Cape Bulbuls were the most common birds seen. A Jackal Buzzard, Black-winged Kite and pair of Rock Kestrel were frequently flying above.

Most of the group was hoping to see the Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, but we had no luck finding it. As the day got hotter, the Duiker Trail group made it to the dam where we saw some Yellow-billed Ducks, with one hybrid. The group also came across a large group of both Brimstone and White-throated Canaries on the pathway before the second tunnel.

The other group on the Caracal Trail were hit with a surprise on the way down. A pair of Red-headed Finches was seen on a tree near some houses. A Long-billed Crombec flitted in the nearby bushes. By about 11am, both groups met up at the entrance where they had some brunch and tea, while discussing the highlights of the day.

Photographs by Lynette de Beer, Rhys Gwilliam, Zach Kaspersen, Graham Robertson and Penny Dichmont.

Report by Penny Dichmont.

Bird list of the Duiker Trail group;

1. Cape White-eye, 2023-04-16 08:16
2. Southern Double-collared Sunbird, 2023-04-16 08:16
3. Cape Sparrow, 2023-04-16 08:17
4. Cape Bulbul, 2023-04-16 08:19
5. Common Starling, 2023-04-16 08:32
6. Bar-throated Apalis, 2023-04-16 08:32
7. White-backed Mousebird, 2023-04-16 08:33
8. Rock Kestrel, 2023-04-16 08:35
9. Southern Boubou, 2023-04-16 08:38
10. Red-eyed Dove, 2023-04-16 08:42
11. Cape Sugarbird, 2023-04-16 08:43
12. Laughing Dove, 2023-04-16 08:43
13. Acacia Pied Barbet, 2023-04-16 08:43
14. Yellow Bishop, 2023-04-16 08:44
15. Karoo Prinia, 2023-04-16 08:44
16. Rock Dove, 2023-04-16 08:46
17. Cape Weaver, 2023-04-16 08:47
18. Cape Robin-Chat, 2023-04-16 08:47
19. Southern Fiscal, 2023-04-16 08:49
20. Olive Thrush, 2023-04-16 08:49
21. Common Waxbill, 2023-04-16 08:49
22. Red-faced Mousebird, 2023-04-16 08:58
23. Little Swift, 2023-04-16 09:01
24. Malachite Sunbird, 2023-04-16 09:02
25. White-necked Raven, 2023-04-16 09:04
26. Black-winged Kite, 2023-04-16 09:12
27. Red-knobbed Coot, 2023-04-16 09:15
28. Greater Striped Swallow, 2023-04-16 09:15
29. Yellow-billed Duck, 2023-04-16 09:17
30. Pied Crow, 2023-04-16 09:18
31. Common Moorhen, 2023-04-16 09:27
32. Reed Cormorant, 2023-04-16 09:27
33. Fiscal Flycatcher, 2023-04-16 09:28
34. Cape Spurfowl, 2023-04-16 09:29
35. Levaillant’s Cisticola, 2023-04-16 09:34
36. Cape Batis, 2023-04-16 09:36
37. Black Sparrowhawk, 2023-04-16 09:39
38. Fork-tailed Drongo, 2023-04-16 09:49
39. Alpine Swift, 2023-04-16 09:53
40. Egyptian Goose, 2023-04-16 09:55
41. Jackal Buzzard, 2023-04-16 09:56
42. Brimstone Canary, 2023-04-16 10:09
43. White-throated Canary, 2023-04-16 10:09
44. Long-billed Crombec, 2023-04-16 11:10
45. Ring-necked Dove, 2023-04-16 11:14
46. Cape Wagtail, 2023-04-16 11:21
47. Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, 2023-04-16 11:22
48. Hadada Ibis, 2023-04-16 12:46
49. Brown-backed Honeybird

(Compiled by Zoe Lunau-Johns).

Additional bird sightings by the Tortoise Trail group;

Karoo Scrub-Robin
Bokmakierie
Red-headed Finch
Southern-masked Weaver

(Compiled by Graham Robertson).