Saturday 23rd November 2025: S. Africa Day 6: Ceres to Swellendam

An overnight flat tyre that needed changing at a local garage resulted in an unexpected, but extremely rewarding, stroll around the grounds and local area. The front of our hotel overlooked a reedbed beside a river, where we were able to observe a good array of birds feeding in the early morning sunshine. Red Bishop and Yellow Bishop swung on the reeds, and both Cape and Southern-masked Weaver had nests suspended around the area. A Streaky-headed Seedeater flitted between the bushes, and a Cape Sugarbird perused the scene atop a Protea. A tiny, stunning blue Malachite Kingfisher darted upriver before landing on an overhanging reed, and Red-faced Mousebirds gathered in some riverside bushes. Noisy Cape Sparrows were busy here too. 

At a nearby bridge a colony of Brown-breasted Martins were nesting, and we watched several birds disappear into their burrows in the sandy bank, whilst White-rumped Swifts circled overhead. An African Hoopoe and Red-winged Starlings flew across the road, then noisy Hadada Ibis and Egyptian Goose called above the trees. A Southern Fiscal explored the grounds, and Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove and Red-eyed Dove, with its notable call, were all enjoyed before the bus returned to pick us up.

Today was largely a transfer day to our next accommodation at a farm in Swellandam, with several birding stops on the way. We started at a small dam to find Maccoa duck, which had been missed by some in the group on our first day. Unfortunately there was only a female present, but African Shelduck and Cape Shoveler were also of interest, as was a Familiar Chat perched on the rocks as we left.

Lunch was accompanied by African Black Swifts, then we stopped at Montagu Heronry, where we had brilliant close up views of hundreds of Sacred Ibis and Cattle Egret in breeding plumage, making an impressive, if smelly, spectacle.  A Cape Weaver also had a nest here.

Sacred Ibis en masse

Sacred Ibis

Cattle Egret, in breeding plumage

Cape Weaver

We stopped again by the road at a site with suitable habitat for Namaqua Warbler, and this soon appeared, giving excellent views. A Grey-backed Cisticola tried to join the party too, causing some confusion at times.

Namaqua Warbler

A little further on we stopped again, finding Red-breasted cuckoo, Amethyst Sunbird and a Cape Sugarbird, with astonishingly long tail, perched on a telegraph wire. In the tree above us we got an upgraded view of African Olive Pigeon too.

Cape Sugarbird

We arrived at the farm in time for our evening meal, then later took a short drive to search for African Wood Owl. These were heard calling, but disappointingly the only views we managed were eyes shining in the spotlight.