BIRDING IN THE BOULDERS BEACH, SIMONSTOWN AREA, CAPE TOWN
The birding areas in Simonstown include the waterfront area of the harbour, Boulders beach and the upper parts of Simonstown and the Table Mountain Nature Reserve areas that span this town. Boulders Beach is the most renowned and popular area for birding in Simonstown. The African Penguin colony at Boulders Beach attracts many locals and foreigners to this site, one of two inland breeding areas for the African Penguin. The area that requires an admission fee of R40 for adults and R15 for children is but a small part of the Boulders Beach penguin colony. The area extends to the right and the left of the visitor centre, large expanses of which are easily accessible on foot and free. The penguins are within easy reach and many take the opportunity of physically touching them although this practice is prohibited.
The stretch of Boulders Beach excluding the pay to enter area abounds with birds including the cape canaries, cape weavers, bulbuls, sunbirds. The vegetation alongside the boardwalks is often visited by an array of land based birds. In addition to the penguins, the cormorants are present in huge numbers either congregating atop the rock islands just metres out from the shoreline or flying in huge flocks in and around the area. I witnessed a huge flock of Egyptian Geese flying in formation on the day of my visits in April and May of 2011.Two pied crows flew overhead often swooping very low. The starlings, red winged and common are present in large numbers forever ready to interfere with any of the raptors that appear overhead.
The upper reaches of Simonstown along Runciman Drive extending through Barnard Road to the Admiral's Waterfall area has a good selection of sugarbirds, malachite sunbirds, orange breasted sunbirds, cape bulbuls and many other little brown birds. One is amazed by the lush flower gardens that form part of the houses in this area. One gets the distinct impression that the flowers, shrubs and vegetation was deliberately planted to attract birds and butterflies. There are an abundant number of butterflies in this area.
The waterfront area of the Simonstown harbour abounds with cormorants, gulls, terns and the occasional grey heron. The birding on the way to Simonstown is satisfactory for waterbased birds. Sandvlei in Muizenberg and Cape Point can easily be added to a birding day trip down this route. The photos below were taken in the Simonstown and surrounds areas.
The signs that implore the visitor to check underneath their cars prior to departing for stray penguins is to be taken seriously as one of the photos above depicts a penguin in the vicinity of a parked vehicle. The penguins are also very photogenic and will provide the photographer with some interesting poses if they are in the mood to do so.
Please note that the material in this blog is subject to international copyright. Feel free to comment on the content of this blog.
The stretch of Boulders Beach excluding the pay to enter area abounds with birds including the cape canaries, cape weavers, bulbuls, sunbirds. The vegetation alongside the boardwalks is often visited by an array of land based birds. In addition to the penguins, the cormorants are present in huge numbers either congregating atop the rock islands just metres out from the shoreline or flying in huge flocks in and around the area. I witnessed a huge flock of Egyptian Geese flying in formation on the day of my visits in April and May of 2011.Two pied crows flew overhead often swooping very low. The starlings, red winged and common are present in large numbers forever ready to interfere with any of the raptors that appear overhead.
The upper reaches of Simonstown along Runciman Drive extending through Barnard Road to the Admiral's Waterfall area has a good selection of sugarbirds, malachite sunbirds, orange breasted sunbirds, cape bulbuls and many other little brown birds. One is amazed by the lush flower gardens that form part of the houses in this area. One gets the distinct impression that the flowers, shrubs and vegetation was deliberately planted to attract birds and butterflies. There are an abundant number of butterflies in this area.
The waterfront area of the Simonstown harbour abounds with cormorants, gulls, terns and the occasional grey heron. The birding on the way to Simonstown is satisfactory for waterbased birds. Sandvlei in Muizenberg and Cape Point can easily be added to a birding day trip down this route. The photos below were taken in the Simonstown and surrounds areas.
The signs that implore the visitor to check underneath their cars prior to departing for stray penguins is to be taken seriously as one of the photos above depicts a penguin in the vicinity of a parked vehicle. The penguins are also very photogenic and will provide the photographer with some interesting poses if they are in the mood to do so.
Please note that the material in this blog is subject to international copyright. Feel free to comment on the content of this blog.
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