Agulhas Plains

Delana, on one of the empty gravel tracks

 which cross this area.

Not many people here. 

Roadside birding was quite good.

Jackal Buzzard

Red capped Larks were common 

on the first section of this track.

Cape Weaver

Spring is here & the weavers are busy!

On 3rd October we went on a birding trip to the Agulhas Plains area in the Overberg. We drove to Swellendam & started on the gravel roads from the north, slowly heading towards Malagas. We picked a good day as the weather was warm & sunny with not too much wind.

There is a mixture of native bush,

 renosterveld & agriculture.

Female African Stonechat

Neddicky

Quite common in this habitat.

This is the south-western race, 

which is a very differently plumaged bird 

than the ones I am used to.

Spotted Prinia

The whole area is quite good for photography, as there is little traffic. Birding is limited in species, but it is quite good for a few specials.

Capped Wheatear, quite common in the stony fields.

Large billed Lark

Common on these plains.

Some birds were singing

This is a species I don't often see, 
as it doesn't occur in the north.

In some birds the crest is not visible.

Others it is conspicuous

.

Renosterveld: not much of this habitat is left today

Spring flowers.

Agulhas Long billed Lark

A recently split species.

This species is common within its small range.

African Pipit

Nice to get close up views of this species.

Malagas

The manually operated pontoon 

across the Breede River.

This is a popular route for bikers/overlanders 
& many of them leave their badges
 on the pontoon.

Breede River

Southern red Bishop were in full breeding frenzy
 along the river.

Our lunch stop.

Malagas along the Breede River comes as a pleasant surprise in this rather arid environment. You come across it unexpectedly & this blue & green ribbon of land cuts through the landscape. It would be a good spot to spend a couple of days as the hotel is good & i am sure there is a bit of exploration to do along the river.

Male Pin tailed Whydah

Male Cape Sparrow

Neddicky, female Red Bishop & Cape Sparrow.

Spur winged Goose & Blue Crane

Always great to see these beautiful birds.

Birds recorded:

Black headed Heron; Spur winged Goose; Egyptian Goose; African Fish Eagle; Jackal Buzzard; Yellow billed Kite; Grey winged Francolin; Helmeted Guineafowl; Ostrich (not fully wild); Blue Crane; Secretarybird; Crowned Plover; Speckled Rock Pigeon; Red eyed Dove; Laughing Dove; Little Swift; White rumped Swift; Speckled Mousebird; African Hoopoe; Large billed Lark; Red capped Lark; Agulhas Long billed Lark; Greater striped Swallow; Brown throated Martin; White necked Raven; Black Crow; Cape Bulbul; Sombre Bulbul; Capped Wheatear; African Stonechat; Cape Robin; Karoo Robin; Bar throated Apalis; Cloud Cisticola; Neddicky; Spotted Prinia; Fiscal Flycatcher; Cape White eye; Cape Wagtail; African Pipit; Southern Boubou; Southern Tchagra; Red winged Starling; European Starling; Southern Double collared Sunbird; House Sparrow; cape Sparrow; Cape Weaver; Southern Red Bishop; Yellow rumped Widow; Pin tailed Whydah; Common Waxbill; Yellow Canary; Cape Canary & Protea Canary.