The Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) Strandfontein 13 November 2020
Terek Sandpipers (Xenus cinereus) Strandfontein 13 November 2020
American Golden Plover not located at cape point
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(P2 pan and the location for the Terek Sandpiper, picture-perfect and the back of Table Mountain seen in the distance ) |
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( soft golden morning light with Greater flamingos ) |
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(Greater Flamingos on P2 ) |
Exciting news had filtered through on our rare birding group of a vagrant Baird’s sandpiper spotted at the Strandfontein Sewer Works. After reviewing the location were the Bairds was last seen, located on S5 pan in the South Eastern corner, we decided to twitch for this rare find.
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(Wood Sandpiper ) |
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(Common Greenshank ) |
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(juvenile Red Knobbed Koot) |
Little did we know that the Baird’s Sandpiper is about the same size as a little stint, which is relatively small. On arrival, we stopped one of the birders on the approach road to enquire about the target bird. We were excited to learn that the Bairds was showing well. After a few twisty turns and over the last hill, we got our first glimpse of the location.
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(Wood Sandpiper) |
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(Common Ringed Plover) |
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(Little Stints, similar to the Bairds Sandpiper but without the light brown chest ) |
With a few birders at hand, we were very enthusiastic at the prospect of ticking off this mega find. After the standard introduction, we quickly learned that the bird was flushed and was now out of sight. Disappointed at missing this opportunity, we began to scout the area in the hope of relocating the sandpiper. Easier said than done, trying to find one little bird amongst hundreds of little stints seemed like an impossible task. The cold south easter didn’t help one bit. Fading light and unpleasant conditions forced our hand, and we decided to give the Terek Sandpiper a try.
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(Pied Avocets) |
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(Purple Swamphen) |
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(Levaillant’s Ciisticola) |
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(Cape Teals) |
With the sun slowly setting in the west, we scanned the last recorded location, disappointed at the double-dip, we headed home.
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(Common Greenshank) |
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(Juvenile Red Knobbed Koot) |
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(Wood Sandpiper) |
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(Common Greenshank) |
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(Location for the Baird’s Sandpiper on S5, try your luck spotting for this bird amongst the little stints) |
Friday and the weekend prospect gave us some motivation to attempt the Baid’s and Terek Sandpiper, hoping to record this fantastic find. Conditions were perfect, warm and wind-still we were optimistic that we would find our target birds.
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(The queue ends here, once you enter through these gates the magic begins) |
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(Slangkop Lighthouse as seen from Olifantsbos beach) |
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(Bontebok at Olifantsbos) |
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(White Fronted Plover) |
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(An Ostrich strikes a pose amongst the flowers close to the Olifantsbos beach) |
No luck on arrival, but after discussing the last known position for the Bairds, we decided to throw caution to the wind and change our location, despite the possibility of flushing the bird.
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(Olifantsbos beach, this is the location were the American Golden Plover was found) |
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(White Fronted Plover) |
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(Rock Agama) |
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(Fynbos flowers were in abundance in Olifants Bos) |
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(Eland: First time we have seen this large antelope in the reserve and the largest of the species) |
What joy we experienced when we finally spotted the Bairds Sandpiper amongst the green foliage. Not your average sighting as it was somewhat distant and besides this was a spur of the moment decision so no camera equipment. With the Bairds ticked off, my attention quickly shifted to the prospect of locating the Terek Sandpiper.
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(Platboom beach and the second location for the AGP) |
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(Jackal Buzzard, one of four we recorded on this trip) |
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(PLatboom beach, excellent surfing location and a great spot for birding) |
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(Tidal pool at Buffelsbay) |
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(Buffelsbay, with Black Rocks in the distance) |
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(Buffelsbay beach: we managed to tick off the King Penguin at this beach in 2019) |
The weekend allowed us to twitch for the American Golden-Plovers, recently located at the Cape of Good Hope / Table Mountain National Park. Some planning and before long, we were outside the gate at Cape Point. Anyone who has visited this National Park will tell you that waiting in the queue is standard practice for this exceptional nature reserve. Due to COVID19, the gate time had changed, and we had no choice but to wait for the new gate opening time of 8 am. This time we managed to bring our camera gear, but sadly we could not find the American Golden Plover at Olifantsbos or Platboom Beach.
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(Cape Snow covered the open veld, what a striking fynbos flower) |
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(Life is a Beach, on a hot summers day nothing beats a cool tidal pool) |
Cape Point never disappoints, with empty unspoilt white sandy beaches, fynbos spring flowers in abundance, picture-perfect views over the Atlantic and False Bay. Walking along the coast from Booiseskerm to Buffelsbay was how we ended our relaxing day, we picnicked and appreciated the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks. Memorable is the only way to describe every visit to this Nature Reserve, and this one was no different.
We are eagerly anticipating the next visit and no doubt our next adventure to this windswept peninsula that is such an integral part of home here in the beautiful mother city, Cape Town. It goes without saying why the early Portuguese travellers called this peninsula ” the most beautiful cape of all.”
Amen to that.
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(Restios fynbos surrounded by a bright pink floral display) |
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