The Aves group entered Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens through the top gate, Rycroft Gate, after eight on a beautiful blue skied, sunny, Sunday morning. To greet us near the gate were Sombre Greenbul, Egyptian Geese and Helmeted Guineafowl.  A short distance up the path towards the irrigation dam we spotted an African Goshawk which was then chased by a Pied Crow. The spectacular views, overlooking the Gardens and the Southern Suburbs of Cape town and then looking up at Castle Rock, Nursery Ravine and Skeleton Gorge, heightened the spirits of all. In the Protea gardens we had excellent sightings of two endemics of the Western Cape, Cape Sugarbirds and Orange-breasted Sunbirds. Excellent photographic opportunities for those of us that had brought our  cameras. We walked up to the contour path and along it towards Newlands Forest. Turned down towards the gardens just past the nursery stream. This section produced great sightings of Southern Double Collared Sunbirds, Bokmakierie, Karoo Prinia and Cape Robin-Chat. We crossed Nursery stream again in the direction of the tearoom and spotted a small Grey Mongoose and Olive Thrush. The tea and scones were most welcome and we then headed down into the gardens to see Cape Spurfowl, Southern Boubou,Common Fiscal, Speckled Mousebird, Common Waxbill and Levailliant’s Cisticola.

In the two hours of birding in and around one of the world’s finest Botanical Gardens, Kirstenbosch, the Aves group had identified seven endemics. A fantastic birding experience.

Red = Endemics