This month’s outing coincided with the World Migratory Bird Day – an annual awareness-raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.
A group of twelve birders met for the outing, despite the threats of inclement weather. We were off to a quick start. Greyton, our destination, was some way off.
Despite the icy 3 degrees, enthusiasm was high. As always, the early morning drive out of Hermanus towards Stanford was magnificent. A glowing red sun rose slowly over the mountains, and it was sufficient reward for braving the cold weather.
Besides the cold, and being only one coffee in, I was questioning of my decision to come this far to be birding in mist so thick I could barely see the road. The gravel road from Stormsvlei to Protem is one I had not explored before.
The birding potential of the Napier region particularly as far as overseas birders are concerned was well illustrated through species such as Cape Clapper and Agulhas Long-billed larks, Cape Grassbird, Cape Longclaw and many more.
Since its inauguration in London by the World Parrot Trust in 2004, World Parrot Day highlights the threat to wild and captive parrots throughout the world.
BirdLife South Africa announced that the Bird of the Year for 2023 will be the Cape Parrot (Poicephalus robustus). The usual educational resources will once again be released throughout the year.
We reacted to the COVID19 lockdown period by requesting members, collaborators and friends to report bird species recorded in the Overberg each month. n the end we managed to record more than 350 species in the Overberg region since March 2020.
A total of 285 species have been identified during December. Most of the species on this list were recorded on Birding Big Day on 3 December. Maybe 300 species in one month could be attainable in future?