TBC Camp– Kuifkopvisvanger, Velddrif
(14 to 16 March 2026)
23 TBC Members once again had a lovely weekend at Kuifkopvisvanger just outside Velddrif. The cottages are on the banks of the Berg River, and we enjoyed watching the birds flying past, or feeding at low tide on mudflats near our Cottages. We took our chairs and sat near the water’s edge and enjoyed the passing of Pelican, Common, Sandwich and Greater Crested Tern, Greater Flamingo, Cormorants and some SA Shelduck. Waders seen were Eurasian Whimbrel, Curlew Sandpiper, Grey and Common Ringed Plover, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper and Bar-tailed Godwit. As the sun was setting we also saw many African Spoonbill, Little Egret, Purple and Black-headed Heron.
Saturday morning nice bush birds were seen around our cottages i.e. Karoo Scrub Robin, Cape Spurfowl, Sparrows, Doves and Cape Robin-chat. We met at the main farmhouse, and all went to see the resident Western Barn Owl and Black-crowned Night Heron. From there we drove to Kliphoek Salt Pans where the waders were numerous, and many special birds were seen. Highlights being Chestnut-banded Plover, Little Stint, Ruff, Kittlitz’s Plover, Black-necked Grebe and a Red-necked Phalarope. Our group was quite big, so we had to stick to the main salt pan roads. Ettienne and his companions did some extra routes and spotted a Goliath Heron. Nice birds were also seen going back to the farm for brunch. Jackal Buzzard, Cape Bunting, Rock Kestrel, Yellow Canary and African Pipit – to name but a few.
Saturday afternoon the group went to Laaiplek, at the mouth of the Berg River. It was very hot so an ice cream stop was made. Hundreds of Cape Cormorants, some African Oystercatcher and many duck species were seen. At Bokkomlaan - Pied and Malachite Kingfisher and Grey-headed gulls were seen well.
On the Sunday we booked two trips with Cracklin’ Rosie boat, to take us along the river. They fetched us at the Kuifkop jetty. We saw African Darter, Red-knobbed Coot, Warblers, Ducks, Kingfisher and Water Thick-knee. It is special to go slowly along the river and see many species of Waders feeding. They try and put on weight for the long migration back to Europe and the Palearctic – some to breed there. Many Brown-throated and Little Swifts, Barn Swallow and bush birds were also seen. As the weather was quite hot, some of the groups headed back to Cape Town after the boat trip.
Kuifkopvisvanger Cottages are nice to stay at for the weekend – and many of us plan on going back there again. My bird tally was 92 species, but some of the other groups got 105 species. A very nice total, seeing that it had been very dry for the past four months. A nice weekend was had by all.
Brigid Crewe
