Kuifkopvisvanger Farm, Velddrif– 14 to 16 March 2025
 

On popular demand – 19 TBC Members’ once more enjoyed a weekend camp at KUIFKOP-VISVANGER Farm at Velddrif. The farm is situated along the Berg River (3km from Velddrif), where birds are watched at close quarters as the tide ebb and flows every day. It is great to go for walks, or take a chair and watch waders, at close range. There is also a small hide from where to watch birds.
On the Saturday morning we went with Jan Kotze, to the Kliphoek Salt Pans and saw wonderful waders. This is the best place to see Chestnut-banded Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Grey and Kitttlitz’s and White-fronted Plover up nice and close. The special bird on the pans is the Red-necked Phalarope – which has been resident there for 7 years already. Our group were spoilt in seeing all these and many more special birds at this pan. PLEASE NOTE – the access to these pans must be arranged with Jan Kotze at Kuifkopvisvanger. The mine is a working mine, with really big trucks loading salt, so please go there ONLY BY APPOINTMENT with Jan, as required.
Back on the farm Little Tern, African Marsh Harrier, lots of Barn Swallow, Purple and other herons and Black-crowned Night Heron were seen. Bush birding was also good, with lovely birds around our cottages. Some of the group went to Laaiplek Harbour, and had a nice walk along the boardwalk near the Fish factory in town. A social braai was held at Bleshoender cottage on Saturday evening, with lots of laughs and fun had. Gert and Wiekie were excellent ‘braaier’s for the group’.
On Sunday morning we had a cruise up the Berg River on the Craclin’ Rosie boat. We were joined by Mike and Beverley Moll. They have been doing CWAC water bird counts on the Berg River for many years, and Bev is now co-ordinating the counts along the River. Living in Velddrif they are an asset to the birding community here. Nice birds seen on the cruise were waders, African Fish Eagle, Blue Crane, African Swamphen, Three-banded Plover and lots of Darter and Black-crowned Night Heron. The trip was enjoyed by all. 71 species were seen on the boat. The weekend list was 105 birds. We
were lucky with cool weather and were very thankful for the breeze coming off the sea. When passing through Malmesbury and Hopefield on the way to the camp - the temperature was 38 degrees.

Asking the group – they all want to go back to Kuifkopvisvanger for a future weekend.
Brigid Crewe