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Birding the Brak
The town of Groot-Brakrivier is situated roughly halfway between George and Mosselbay, in the Southern Cape area of South Africa along a beautiful section also affectionately known as the Garden Route.
The diverse habitat around Grootbrak supports prolific bird life. A vast beach, the Groot-Brakrivier river and lagoon, coastal scrub, lush gardens and mountainous indigenous forests hosts all the specials in the area and in a single day all the areas can be covered with ease. Most of the specials are around all year, but summer is the best time to find the migrants.
The most productive area to cover early morning is undoubtedly along Stasie Road just north of the town. This road leads up into the indigenous forest covered hills and provides some breathtakingly beautiful views into a gorge down below as well as the town and ocean in the distance.
Driving through the town listen out for Fiery-necked Nightjar and keep an eye out for Spotted Eagle-Owl.
Seeing that you will be driving into an easterly direction which will cause the sun to be in your eyes for most of the road, I strongly advise that you drive up to the top of the hill (point 1) before sunrise and gently make your way back down towards town with the sun behind your back which will also allow for the best photographic opportunities.
Stop every now and then and listen out for bird parties. The first section of the drive has some big trees on your left where you should be on the lookout for perching Forest Buzzard and African Goshawk. Both these raptors can be seen anywhere along the route and the latter is most often heard calling overhead early morning.
I have found that March is a good time to listen out and look for Knysna Warblers along the first section of the road. One can expect to find Olive Bush-Shrike, Brimstone Canary, Forest Canary, Cape Canary, Bar-throated Apalis, Neddicky, Common Starling, Cape White-eye (S.capensis) and Cape Robin-Chat up to point 2.
From here onwards listen out for Blue Mantled-Crested Flycatcher(uncommon) and Terrestrial Bulbul. Buffspotted Flufftail can be heard calling from the gorge below. Tambourine Dove is also often found in this area whilst Knysna Turaco are common all over but more often heard than seen.
As you descent from point 2 to 3 you can expect to find more Forest Canary, Sombre Greenbul, Cape Grassbird, Klaas’ Cuckoo, Cape Batis and Swee Waxbill.
The area from point 3 to 4 opens up slightly along the hill slope which provides good habitat for Yellow Bishop. Also be on the lookout for Cape Penduline-Tit (uncommon).
Olive Woodpecker, Swee Waxbill, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cape Canary and African Firefinch occur between 4 and 5.
Point 5 is a good spot to find the much sought after Southern Tchagra. The big tree up on the hill is also a favourite perch for Forest Buzzard and on the left is a tree which is favoured by roosting Knysna Turaco.
Just beyond point 5 there is a spectacular view point looking down towards the old pump house. Lanner Falcon frequents this area. Down below in the river Yellow-billed Duck, Egyptian Goose, Reed Cormorant and African Darter can be seen. Don’t be surprised if African Finfoot puts in an appearance! Buff-spotted Flufftail also calls from below on misty mornings.
As you make your way into town stop at flowering Wild Dagga bushes in winter for various sunbird species including Amethyst Sunbird. The area around the Spar is good for Red-winged Starling and African Black Duck and Mallard can be found in the river. Various herons and egrets roosts in the tall trees near the bridge.
Proceed to point 6 along Mossienes Street where Black Saw-wing, Dusky Flycatcher, Olive Thrush and Chorister Robin-Chat are almost guaranteed. The owners of the guesthouse in the cul-de-sac are avid birders and meeting their acquaintance, over an unforgettable cup of fresh herbal tea, is definitely worth your while. This is one of the best spots in town to find Knysna Turaco. Southern Tchagra and Forest Canary have also been recorded here.
Retrace your steps back to the town but turn right up the hill into Voorbrug Road and continue all the way to point 7. This area is good for Brimstone Canary, Black-headed Oriole and Yellow Bishop. There is a very interesting local rumour of a “Yellow” Knysna Turaco in this area. Up above keep an eye out for Forest Buzzard but beware of the similar looking Steppe Buzzard in summer. Little Sparrowhawk also occurs in this area. From here you can choose to explore the immediate area further or head back down towards town.
The open land on your right as you drive towards the beach is good for Jackal Buzzard. As you near the river keep an eye out for African Fish-Eagle, Osprey (take care to distinguish it from the similar looking immature African Fish-Eagle) and Giant Kingfisher.
Proceed underneath the N2 highway bridge and carry straight over the crossing and the railroad towards the lagoon at point 8. Park on the grass section and scan the mudflats below for various waders and terns. Common Greenshank, Common Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Three-banded Plover, Water Thick-knee, African Black Oystercatcher, Swift Tern, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern and Caspian Tern can all be seen from this spot depending on water levels.
Hunting Osprey causes great panic amongst these birds mid-morning during summer. So scan the skies above when all hell breaks loose amongst the waders and terns!
Make your way to the opposite shore of the lagoon. The area below the rail road bridge at point 9 is where I have recorded African Pied Wagtail, a scarce Western Cape bird. Scan the water for more waders and also for Cape Teal. Kittlitz’s Plover and Cape Wagtail also feed from the shoreline and Karoo Prinia call from the shrubbery.
The main attraction here though is behind you in the shrubs up the sand dune. Knysna Warbler occurs here in relatively good numbers and this area is arguably one of the best along the Garden route to find it.
Bar-throated Apalis, Sombre Greenbul, Common Starling and Greater Double-collared Sunbirds are also abundant. Look overhead for African Black Swift and scan the waterside for Brown-throated Martin and White-throated Swallow. Spotted Eagle-Owls also roosts up in the shade of the dune shrub. Cape Spurfowl can be found in the open patches or along the road verges as you proceed towards the parking lot at point 10.
The picnic area usually hosts Kelp Gull, Grey-headed Gull and in winter Hartlaub’s Gull. Pied Kingfisher and Malachite Kingfisher(uncommon) can be seen fishing from the river bank. Greater Flamingo have also been recorded from the lagoon.
The beach hosts the attractive White-fronted Plover and African Black Oystercatchers are common anywhere along the lagoon and beach. Just beyond the breakers Cape Gannets can sometimes be seen patrolling the shoreline.
The shrub along the beach provides good habitat for Karoo Prinia, Water Thick-knee, Cape Robin-Chat and Cape Canary.
A quick drive through Eureka Park (point 11) on your way back to town is well worth your time. This peaceful suburb sports some beautiful gardens and a number of bird feeders which attracts some stunning birds. Cape Bulbul, Diederick Cuckoo, Cape Spurfowl, Southern Boubou, Cape Weaver, Common Waxbill, Fork-tailed Drongo, Fiscal Flycatcher, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Amethyst Sunbird, Sombre Greenbul, Cape Francolin and Common Starling are all easily found here. Buff-spotted Flufftail sometimes call from one of the more luscious gardens at night. Along the rail line I once came across a group of Red-necked Spurfowl!
For the frogging enthusiasts there is the additional reward of finding Clicking Stream Frog, Raucous Toad and Bronze Caco which are all common in and around Eureka Park.
Grootbrak is more famous for its nightclub, De Dekke, the Total filling station as holidaymakers head to the bigger holiday destinations along the Garden route and the Watson shoe factory where the famous Grasshoppers brand is manufactured. But as a birding destination it is relatively unknown. So next time you are in the area, consider staying over for a night or two to explore this little gem of a birding town. Other major birding destinations such as the Mosselbay area, Swartberg pass, George and Wilderness can easily be covered from Groot-Brakriver as well.
A personal list of species recorded in Grootbrak river:
African Black Duck,
African Black Oystercatcher,
African Black Saw-wing,
African Black Swift,
African Darter,
African Firefinch,
African Fish-Eagle,
African Goshawk,
African Paradise-Flycatcher,
African Pied Wagtail,
African Pipit,
African Spoonbill,
African Stonechat,
Amethyst Sunbird,
Barn Swallow,
Bar-throated Apalis,
Black-headed Heron,
Black-shouldered Kite,
Blacksmith Lapwing,
Black-winged Stilt,
Blue Mantled-Crested Flycatcher,
Bokmakierie,
Brimstone Canary,
Bronze Mannikin,
Brown-hooded Kingfisher,
Brown-throated Martin,
Buff-spotted Flufftail,
Cape Batis,
Cape Bulbul,
Cape Canary,
Cape Crow,
Cape Francolin,
Cape Gannet,
Cape Grassbird,
Cape Penduline-Tit,
Cape Robin-Chat,
Cape Shoveler,
Cape Sparrow,
Cape Teal,
Cape Wagtail,
Cape Weaver,
Cape White-eye,
Caspian Tern,
Cattle Egret,
Chorister Robin-Chat,
Common Fiscal,
Common Greenshank,
Common Ringed Plover,
Common Starling,
Common Waxbill,
Common Whimbrel,
Crowned Lapwing,
Diederick Cuckoo,
Dusky Flycatcher,
Egyptian Goose,
Fiery-necked Nightjar,
Fiscal Flycatcher,
Forest Buzzard,
Forest Canary,
Fork-tailed Drongo,
Giant Kingfisher,
Greater Double-collared Sunbird,
Greater Striped Swallow,
Grey Heron,
Grey Plover,
Grey-headed Gull,
Hadeda Ibis,
Hartlaub's Gull,
House Sparrow,
Karoo Prinia,
Kelp Gull,
Kittlitz's Plover,
Klaas' Cuckoo,
Knysna Turaco,
Knysna Warbler,
Lanner Falcon,
Laughing Dove,
Levaillant's Cisticola,
Little Egret,
Little Sparrowhawk,
Little Tern,
Malachite Kingfisher,
Mallard,
Marsh Sandpiper,
Neddicky,
Olive Bush-Shrike,
Olive Thrush,
Olive Woodpecker,
Osprey,
Pied Crow,
Pied Kingfisher,
Pin-tailed Whydah,
Red-eyed Dove,
Red-necked Spurfowl,
Red-winged Starling,
Reed Cormorant,
Sacred Ibis,
Sandwich Tern,
Sombre Greenbul,
Southern Boubou,
Southern Double-collared Sunbird,
Southern Red Bishop,
Southern Tchagra,
Speckled Mousebird,
Speckled Pigeon,
Spotted Eagle-Owl,
Spotted Thick-knee,
Spur-winged Goose,
Steppe Buzzard,
Streaky-headed Seed-eater,
Swee Waxbill,
Swift Tern,
Tambourine Dove,
Terrestrial Brownbul,
Three-banded Plover,
Water Thick-knee,
White-breasted Cormorant,
White-fronted Plover,
White-necked Raven,
White-rumped Swift,
White-throated Swallow,
Yellow Bishop,
Yellow-billed Duck
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