Given the ominous weather prediction, a surprisingly large group of intrepid birders gathered at Rooisand Nature Reserve on Saturday 28th September for the BBC Bird Walk. It was a cool, overcast morning and the wind was a moderate breeze, so conditions were quite good for birding. However, the Bot River mouth was still open, which meant that the extensive mudflats and saltmarsh were dry and exposed, resulting in low shorebird numbers.
We walked across towards the river and slowly the birds showed themselves. First a few Kittlitz’s Plovers hidden well in the mottled colours of the saltmarsh. Then a lone Eurasian Whimbrel along the shoreline, probably an early arrival from its Siberian breeding grounds. A small group of delicate Cape Teals on a shallow pool were easily observed by all, unlike a skittish pair of Red-capped Larks that rarely kept still and only provided decent views for a few persistent birders. Several Common Ringed Plovers and a lone Greenshank were found on the saltmarsh, also probably early arrivals from northern breeding grounds.
While walking across the saltmarsh to the boardwalk, we stopped to admire a stunning male Malachite Sunbird in full green splendour and a large Brimstone Canary. Several swallow species were present in moderate numbers and we had great views of White-throated and Greater Striped Swallows, both recently arrived back from non-breeding winter grounds intropical Africa. We had a surprise in a pair of Pearl-breasted Swallows, which are quite uncommon at Rooisand. The mudflats and river channel on the walk to the bird hide also added Cape Shoveller and Three-banded Plover, while the shallow pan in front of the bird hide had Red-billed Teal, Yellow-billed Duck and a pair of White-faced Ducks. Bird numbers were much lower than normal and the typical bush birds that are usually visible along the boardwalk, such as Cape Robin-chat, Long-billed Crombec and Cape Bulbul, were not showing themselves.
The wind was beginning to pick up and the first drops of rain began to fall as we walked back from the bird hide, timing our return perfectly for the arrival of the predicted heavy rain. Although bird diversity and overall numbers were lower than normal, Rooisand is always worth a visit and we had a pleasant few hours there. Many thanks to those who braved the weather to join the walk.
Warren McCleland
Thanks so much to Warren for leading this birding walk for the BBC and sharing his vast birding knowledge and experience.