Whos keeping an eye on me....

Tuesday 17 September 2013

South Africa 2013 - Pt 4

The Garden Route: Montague to Knysna (Garden of Eden)

We spent 4 days touring parts of the garden route. It was always going to be a whistle stop tour just so we were able to get a small flavour of this part of the Western Cape. Travel from Cape town to Montague where we stayed at the very impressive Vineyard Country house See here. The garden provided me with Peregrine Falcon that ate its prey in the trees at the rear of the land, 3 Spotted Thicknees & Intermediate Egrets over, Levaillants Cisticola, Southern Masked Weaver, Alpine Swifts, while a little further out of town  towards Barrydale we had Black Harrier, plenty of Jackal Buzzards, Pale Chanting Goshawks, Swee Waxbill and Red Faced Mousebirds
 

Our next stop was for 2 nights at the wonderful treetop chalet at Knysna (Garden of Eden) just outside Plettenberg Bay See here. A good list of birds from this location as you would expect from a forest location... Cape Batis, Black Backed Puffback, Red Eyed Dove, Fork Tailed Drongo, Dusky Flycatcher, Swee Waxbill, African Olive Pigeon, Bar throated Apalis, amongst a host of others.....
 and some images

Grey Cuckoo-Shrike
 
 
Amethyst Sunbird
 

Greater Double Collared Sunbird (and the only sighting I had in SA)
 
 
 Knysna Turaco.

 
I sat on the chalet balcony early morning with a coffee waiting for the sun to rise high enough over the canopy to attract the birds out. I knew this stunning species should be in the forest but just hoped to get a glimpse. I heard one got the bins and bingo their it was... distant but in full view. Happy days indeed. While the family got ready I went to the front intending to have a very short walk as I opened the door I was confronted with 4 Knysna Turacos...... it just couldn't get any better.
 
What a stunner, and certainly one of my birds of the entire trip to South Africa
 
 
From here we travel to De Hoop NR the journey gave us great views of
Displaying Blue Cranes
 


Karoo Korhaan
 

Rock Kestrel
 
 

18 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

I'm in awe! That one looks so much like the leaves on the tree...it IS a stunner!!! Wow.

Findlay Wilde said...

What amazing birds. It just makes me want to see more and more. From Findlay

eileeninmd said...

Wow, awesome collection of birds. Now, I want to take another trip! Great shots!

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

These are magnificent pictures and I am particularly attracted to the Blue Cranes. How lucky you are to see them in their natural habitat. I have seen them at the International Crane Foundation in Wisconsin and was lucky enough for them to do their dancing for me ... but seeing them in the wild. That is really special.

Andrea @ From The Sol

Unknown said...

Great selection!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

TexWisGirl said...

certainly some amazing species!

Karen said...

What a great variety! Love the Knysna Turaco. Terrific shots!

Unknown said...

So many interesting birds.

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Wonderful assortment of birds, but that turaco is special!

Esther Joy said...

Loved your photos! I thought that first one looked like he was related to our "Cedar Waxwing".

Rambling Woods said...

Oh what a trip to be able to take and see this wonderful wildlife.. Michelle

NatureFootstep said...

several birds I neverseen. Love that green one with red eyes. :)

Unknown said...

The Sunbird shot is amazing! How lucky you were regarding the fantastic K. Turacos.

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Wonderful bird photos!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Wow Dave, that Knysna Turaco is really fabulous!!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That is one heck of a lot of wonderful birds for a whistle-stop ! Beautiful place...great pictures..what a birder's Paradise!

Stewart M said...

What splendid pictures - good birds from your own balcony is aways a holiday high point!

Stewart M - Melbourne

EG CameraGirl said...

How magical! I would LOVE to have been there too!