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bird hides along the SA west coast
A bird hide or shelter, often camouflaged is used to observe wildlife, especially birds, at close quarters. They are commonly found in parks and wetlands for the use of bird watchers, ornithologists and other observers who do not want to disturb wildlife as it is being observed. There are several of these at strategic places along the SA west coast.
RIETVLEI AND THE MILNERTON LAGOON
(Off Pentz Drive, Table View.)
Enquiries :021-557 5509
Rietvlei at Milnerton Lagoon is the start of the West Coast bird route. It is part of the Rietvlei ("Reed Marsh") Nature Reserve, which includes Flamingo Vlei and provides excellent views of Table Mountain.
Situated beside the R27 coastal road only 15km from the centre of Cape Town, access to walking areas is via the Milnerton Aquatic Club (follow road signs to the right off the R27 & turn right at next traffic lights onto Pentz Drive).
173 bird species can be seen here, including Whitebacked Ducks, which are common seasonally in the permanent pools near the Beach Hotel. On the opposite side of the R27, keep a look out for Painted Snipes. There are picnic and toilet facilities, eight information panels and a hide overlooking the pans.
THE WEST COAST NATIONAL PARK
(Geelbek, Islands in Saldanha Bay, Langebaan Lagoon)
Enquiries: 022 772 2798/ 772 2144
Address; P.O. Box 25, Langebaan, 7357
Registered as a wetland of international importance for birds, with the Ramsar Convention, Langebaan Lagoon in the West Coast National Park has a number of bird hides overlooking various areas of the lagoon:
Situated near the Geelbek information centre, the hide overlooks salt marsh and mudflats and is one of the best spots to view migratory and resident waders as they feed at low tide.
Before making their epic journeys back to Siberia, Greenland and Northern Europe in April, these visitors enjoy their summers at Langebaan Lagoon where they can also be viewed from the salt-marsh hide about 1 km from Geelbek or from the Seeberg hide near the entrance to the Park.
Geelbek hide’s closeness to reed beds also allows for viewing of harriers, rails and warblers depending on tide levels, while hosts of flamingoes are generally present during winter. Geelbek is best visited on the incoming tide, when the water pushes birds progressively closer to the hide. Many rare waders have been observed here in recent summers, including Hudsonian and Black-tailed Godwits, White-rumped Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper and Dunlin.
There are two of these, namely 1 km from Geelbek homestead and situated on a pan and 1,3km from Geelbek homestead situated on salt-marsh plants and channels. These locations are popular roosting areas as wellaswaders that gather there at high tide.
It is not suitable to visit either of these hides when there is a strong southeaster blowing.
Sometimes as many as 300/400 flamingos can be viewed from the Seeberg Hide at high tide. These birds spend time feeding in the lagoon but do not breed there. They travel as far north as pans in Botswana and Namibia to breed. There is good wader and tern viewing from this hide on an incoming or outgoing tide. Along the roads in the Park and in the trees around the Geelbek homestead many land/ bush birds, as well as birds of prey can be seen.
Islands: Saldanha Bay
The four islands near the mouth of Saldanha Bay are an important feature of the National Park’s birding offering safety for numbers of breeding pairs. Only six colonies of Cape Gannets exist throughout the world, and tens of thousands of them breed here on as well as Cormorants and penguins. Visited by boat under the guidance of a park guide can be arranged especially during spring to mid-summer when it is the best time to view gannets building their nests and breeding and raising the young.
(the latter in the mouth of the Lagoon) host very sensitive breeding colonies of various bird species and can only be viewed from the water.
is a breeding area for penguins, cormorants and other marine birds. A protective wall has been built to protect the birds from predatorsand due to the sensitivity of the breeding colonies, visitors are not welcome to visit the Island although one may use binoculars and climb on the rocks outside the wall, to view the birds.
SAS SALDANHA NATURE RESERVE
(In Defence Force Area, in Saldanha – through security gate)
Enquiries: 022 – 702 2523/ 702 3999 (For group bookings as well)
Address: SAS Saldanha Naval Base, Private Bag X4, Saldanha, 7395
Controlled by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) the reserve can only be accessed via their property at Saldanha Bay. All trails are open seven days a week throughout the year with the best visits made after good rains in winter up until mid summer. In addition to the aquatic birds, there is a fair diversity of bush birds, while regular sightings of birds of prey are made.Distance from parking space at North Bay to salt pans: 3,5 km
Distance from gate behind Military Academy to the hide at the salt pans: 2,5 km
THE WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK
(Off the R45, near Langebaanweg – at the old Chemfos Mine site)
Enquiries: 022 – 766 1606 / 082 674 1775
Address: P.O. Box 42, Langebaanweg, 7375
The Fossil Park, run by the South African Museum is open to visitors by prior arrangement. Covering a large area, some of which has been excavated for its fossil animal remains, exposed during previous mining activities, the park offers a large dam which attracts many bird species and where a hide has been built. Several duck species can be viewed including Yellow-billed and Maccoa Ducks. Cape Teal, Cape Shoveller and South African Shelduck and open veld species to be seen include Cape Francolin, African Hoopoe, Karoo Robin, Redcapped, Longbilled and Thick Billed Larks, White Throated Canary, Southern Black Korhaan, Spotted Dikkop, Bokmakierie, Malachite Sunbird, Fiscal Flycatcher, Crowned Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Helmeted Guineafowl, Cape Wagtail and Spotted Prinia.
YZERFONTEIN
(On R27 from Cape Town, turn off at R315)
Enquiries: 022 – 451 2366
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Afmine Gypsum Mine - on R315 - look out for Chestnut-banded Plover.
This is a good place to view coastal birds - look out especially for the endangered African Black Oystercatcher. A wide variety of water birds can be observed at the Salt pans, while flocks of flamingoes and other water birds are common also. In the green vegetation amongst the houses, one can see a wide variety of wild / garden birds.
VREDENBURG – SALDANHA GOLF CLUB
(Off the R45, +/- 4 km from Vredenburg)
Enquiries: 022 - 715 3003
Address: P.O.Box 111, Vredenburg, 7380
With permission from the Club Manager, the two hides overlooking the dam on the northern boundary of the golf course can be visited . A colony of Blackcrowned Night Herons has established itself in the surrounding trees while Cape Weavers, Yellowbilled Duck, Cape Shovellers, Redknobbed Coots and breeding African Shelduck can be seen on the dam. Egyptian Geese, Spurwings and Sacred Ibis strut around the surrounding fields and the reeds are alive with foraging Red Bishops, Cape Reed Warblers and Levaillant’s Cisticolas..
BERG RIVER BIRD HIDES
Velddrif Town: (On Main Road, towards Piketberg, opposite Flamingo Restaurant)
Enquiries: 022 - 783 1821
Address: Velddrif Tourism Bureau, P.O.Box 29, Velddrif, 7365
the estuary of the Berg Riverbeing such an important birding area has been proposed as a RAMSAR site. There are both a hide and a viewing boardwalk on the Berg River estuary. The key to the hide is kept at the Flamingo Koffiehuis & Pizzeria and is available from 09h00 to 21h00 on weekdays as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 09h00 to 21h00. Any visits outside these hours should be arranged with the local Tourism Bureau. Overlooking an area of intertidal mudflats and saltmarshes, where more than 200 species of birds can be viewed, this area of the Lower Berg River has become well known as a "hot spot" for rare waders.
Migratory waders are abundant in summer, while common species include Eastern White Pelicans; Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Pied Malachite and Giant Kingfishers. According to Phil Hockey and Les Underhill " there is probably nowhere else in the entire country which can boast such a plethora of waterbirds rarities." Recent rarities include Little Blue Heron, Hudsonian Godwit and Lesser Yellowlegs.
Boat Operators can take you to a bird hide on an island in the River, as well as to "De Plaat"
(About 10/12 km from Velddrif on the Velddrif/ Hopefield Road – turn off R27)
Enquiries: 022 – 783 1821
Address: Velddrif Tourism Bureau, P.O.Box 29, Velddrif, 7365
The Bloemendal Pan fills up when the Berg River floods after the first winter rain. When the water is still fresh, during the winter and spring months, the pan attracts many waterfowl, then. as it becomes brackish again, waders begin to move in.
(About 18 km from Velddrif on Velddrif/ Hopefield Road – turn off R27)
Enquiries: 022 – 783 0856
Address: Mrs F. Kotzé, P.O. Box 121, Hopefield, 7355
Ephemeral Pan is very quiet and away from noise and will provide any "birder" with many happy hours of birdwatching. Reeds protect one of the long pans from the river and recently more than 2000 flamingos were counted in that area. There is a huge variety of birds to be seen here, with Sacred and Glossy Ibises, falcons and eagles also breeding in the vicinity. Even when extensive flooding has not occurred, there is always something to see. Visitors must advise the farmer that they wish to do birdwatching on the farm.
ROCHERPAN NATURE RESERVE
(25 km north of Velddrif, past Dwarskersbos, on the gravel road towards Elands Bay)
Enquiries: 022 – 952 1727
Address: The Manager, P.O.Box 460, Velddrif, 7365 or
Tel.: 022 – 931 2900/ 7
Address: The District Manager, West Boland, P.O. Box 26, Porterville, 6810
Consisting largely of a seasonal vlei (wetland) the reserve was established in 1967 is usually dry between March and June. The adjacent section of the Atlantic Ocean was declared a marine reserve in 1988. This outstanding combination of marine, vlei and bush provides ample feeding and breeding conditions for a wide variety of birds.
Thousands of waders and ducks rely on the pan for food and the reserve is also one of the most important breeding and moulting sites for Cape Shovellers. Rocherpan also provides a sanctuary for the African Black Oystercatcher, one of Africa’s most endangered coastal birds. Whales from June to December provide additional attraction to this already abundant reserve as do spectacular wildflower displays in the spring. Picnic sites are available with the best visiting time being July to March.
Open daily from 08h00 until 17h00 (May to August) / 07h00 until 18h00 (September to April)
VERLORENVLEI
(Near Eland’s Bay)
Enquiries: 022 – 972 1640
Address: Eland’s Bay Tourism Bureau, Hotel Eland, Eland’s Bay, 8110
The shores of Verlorenvlei, 'the lost marsh' are all private property, and constitute a beautiful but unprotected wetland situated near the seaside town of Eland’s Bay. but there are numerous good birding spots along the roads as well as from one of the accommodation establishments in the area. Notable species include Purple Gallinule, Eastern White Pelican, African Spoonbill, Cape Shoveller, African Fish Eagle, Goliath & Purple Herons as well as European Bee-eaters, which breed in this area. This wetland has been identified as one of the Important Bird Areas and is a Ramsar listed site.
BIRD ISLAND, LAMBERT'S BAY
(Island in the fishing harbour, Lambert’s Bay)
Enquiries: 027 – 432 1000
Address: Lambert’s Bay Tourism Bureau, P.O. Box 245, Lambert’s Bay, 8130
Tel.: 022 – 931 2900/ 7
Address: The District Manager, West Boland, P.O. Box 26, Porterville, 6810
Bird Island is easily accessible to the public, since it is connected to the shore by a breakwater from the harbour. Being an important breeding site for Cape Gannets, the sheer mass of birds that congregate there provides a breathtaking sight.
There is a state of the art sunken hide, designed to blend in with the rocks of the area and situated in such a way as to allow the colony to expand. Other marine birds such as African Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Hartlaub’s Gulls, White-breasted Cormorant and Common Tern also breed here. Opening hours are from 08h00 to 18h00 in the summer and until 17h00 during winter. It may be closed when high seas make crossing the breakwater dangerous.
OLIFANT'S RIVER ESTUARY, PAPENDORP
( +/- 4 km north of Strandfontein; at the mouth of the Olifants River)
Enquiries: 027 – 215 1321 Doringbaai/ Strandfontein Tourism Bureau,
027 – 217 1608 Address: P.O. Box 100, Nuwe Stasie, Ebenhaezer, 8149
The small settlement of Papendorp is situated overlooking the Olifant’s River estuary where the river enters the sea. This estuary and its associated wetlands are earmarked for future Ramsar listing and are listed as an Important Bird Area where Flamingos, Sandpipers and many other migratory and resident waders can be seen. Altogether 183 species have been recorded in this area.
A variety of marine birds can be seen on the hiking trail between Strandfontein and Doringbaai, situated just south of the Olifant’s River Estuary.
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