Elgin

It had been a sweltering week in the Overberg, and many of us arrived with a hint of apprehension at the thought of birdwatching in such hot, humid conditions. Yet, as we gathered at Salandra at 06:45, the morning greeted us with cool air and a soft blanket of cloud. Spirits lifted instantly among the thirteen eager birders, all anticipating another memorable outing to Jessie Walton’s farm.

With the mist hugging the mountains, 16 keen birders set off towards Elgin, spirits high at the prospect of visiting Jessie Walton’s farm.

Well, not exactly the day for birding – the forecast for the day was intermittent rain with howling gales – if I was a bird I would have been hiding in some large tree! Undeterred by weather forecasts and muddy roads, 17 intrepid birders set off, literally, into the eye of the storm.

The last outing of the year for Overberg Birding was destined to be a special one as we headed off to Jessie’s farm in Elgin.