Roiells Road, Porter Botanical Gardens & Colony

With our full contingent we headed out the Coastal Highway this morning.  It was lightly overcast but very cold with a stiff wind blowing.  First we searched for Cape Rockjumper and Verreaux’s Eagle we had seen in the area earlier but were unsuccessful.   Instead we were treated to a soaring Jackal Buzzard.   We did add a new species, Cape Grassbird as well as great looks at both the Orange-bellied and Southern Double-collard Sunbird.  While here we were treated to a large group of Chacma Baboons that trouped through our area.  Before leaving the area we also found a family of Cape Sugarbirds.  From there we headed to the other side of the mountain where we climbed through the cape fynbos in search of a very elusive bird—Victorin’s Warbler.  This small bird is a skulker that does not sing from atop the shrubbery, rather stays well down in the bush making it difficult to get a good look at.  However, our persistence paid off and we were able to track a couple down and actually get pictures of them.  After a treacherous climb back down the mountain I noted a Cape Bunting singing across the highway and was able to get a picture of it singing atop a large bush.  After another delightful lunch at Jack’s Café we headed to the Porter Botanical Gardens where we added new birds—Fiscal Flycatcher, Somber Greenbelt, and several Black Saw-wing (a swallow type bird).  Our time there was capped off by a great display in perfect light of a Orange-breasted Sunbird.  From here we headed to the Penguin Colony for those who had not been there on an earlier trip where I was able to spend some time taking some serious videos of these cute birds.  Our day was rounded out with a great look at more Klipspringers (the smallest of the antelopes) who like to stand on rocks in the late evening on the mountain side.  I had to put the pictures on my Facebook page for this post.