Day 6 of a South African holiday- the birds of the Darling farmlands

Having survived the previous days encounter with a Puff Adder on the

Route cutting across the Darling Farmlands off the main west coast R27 road north of Cape town, South Africa © Steve Ogden

Common Fiscal Shrike South Africa © 2006 Steve OgdenLetters on map represent approximate locations of wildlife sites
Holiday Introduction
A – Holiday accommodation
B – Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
C – Strandfontein
D – Paarl Bird Sanctuary
E – Paarl Mountain Reserve
F – Cape Of Good Hope
G – Cape Point
H – Darling Farmlands
I – Langebaan Lagoon
J – Boulder’s Beach
K – Rooi Els
L – Simon’s Town
More Cape birds
Summary of holiday and travel experiences

Darling farmlands

On the way we made a short detour across the Darling farmlands. It was notably hotter here than on the coast with the fields looking parched. Even birds such as a Fiscal Shrike looked to be struggling in the heat. At first sight the fields looked pretty baron but with patient scanning revealed plenty of bird life. Consequently the ‘little’ detour took us over two hours!

Blue Crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) - distant views of birds feeding on Darling farmland, South Africa © Steve OgdenCape Longclaw South Africa © 2006 Steve Ogden

Spot the Blue Cranes

Many of the farmland birds were disappointingly distant. Several Blue Crane and two Southern Black Korhaan were feeding in far away stubble fields. During our two week stay we didn’t manage to get good views of Blue Crane, which was a regret as they are South Africa’s national bird. On all accounts we would have seen plenty if we had travelled away from the West Coast to the Overberg region in the east. Anyway, we did see some – check above left image! The endemic Cape Orange Throated Longclaws were also frustratingly too far away to really appreciate their dramatic yellow and orange plumage.

White-backed Mousebird South Africa © 2006 Steve OgdenAfrican Hoopoe South Africa © 2006 Steve Ogden

African Hoopoe

Amongst the bushes lining the road we saw Mousebirds with their long tail feathers. Deciding which were Speckled and which were White-backed wasn’t always easy but we left satisfied we’d had both species. Our first African Hoopoe was photographed through the passenger window as we passed it perched on a fence.

Steppe Buzzard South Africa © 2006 Steve OgdenMartial Eagle South Africa © 2006 Steve Ogden

Kites and Martial Eagle

One of the highlights of this little detour over open farmland were the amount of raptors either sitting on posts beside the road or in flight. The most common being Steppe Buzzard and Yellow-billed Kite, but we also saw Lanner Falcon, Rock Kestrel, Black-shouldered Kite, Jackal Buzzard and a very dark species of Eagle. The pick was an unexpected fly over by an immature Martial Eagle. While several others went unidentified.

Black-shouldered Kite South Africa © 2006 Steve OgdenYellow-billed Kite, the Darling Farmlands, South Africa © 2006 Steve Ogden

Cape Weaver Bird Colony

Cape Weaver Bird nesting colony, Darling Farmlands, South Africa © 2006 Claire OgdenCape Weaver Bird nests, Darling Farmlands, South Africa © 2006 Claire Ogden

We passed one copse of trees dripping with weaver birds nests. And sitting it out in full sun were two Spotted Eagle-Owls.

Spotted Eagle-owl South Africa Birds © 2006 Steve Ogden

Cape Sparrow South Africa © 2006 Steve Ogden

It seemed rather strange to pass two Spotted-eagle Owls sitting on a branch in full sunshine close to the road. The bushes held a few Cape Sparrow and we passed beneath an African stonechat sitting on some overhead wires. I tried in vain to photograph a Chestnut Vented Tit Babbler – smashing name that – sounds unapologetically filthy. Spurring me on to grab a photo it skulking in the bushes was the outrageously infantile thought of being able to recite its name while doing a slide show.

Darling Wildflower Reserve

Tinie Versfeld Wild Flower Reserve on the Darling Farmlands, South Africa © 2006 Steve OgdenR307 road leading through the Darling Farmlands and Wildflower Reserves, South Africa © Steve Ogden

We stopped off for a few minutes at the Tienie Versfeld Wildflower fields. Being the wrong time of year we hadn’t any real expectations of seeing the riot of colourful flowers they are renown for. So it came as no surprise when we were confronted with uninspiring brown fields. A Spring visit would have seen a stunning multi coloured sea of wild flowers.

Darling Farmlands recommendation

Without delivering anything too sensational it was a well worth detour. The raptors being the highlight and just the sight, however distant, of Blue Cranes was reward enough. During our stay we weren’t to travel often into open farmland and so this gave us a chance to see different habitat and species that we would otherwise have missed. As ever, with more time, we would have been certain to have seen more species in this open countryside.

Day 6 continued

And so on to one of the greatest birding sites in the West Coast National Park – Langebaan Lagoon