Garden Route

Bird Watching

View the birding list compiled by professional birdwatchers specifically for our area below.

Please add to the list if you find any new sightings – we are very keen to hear about your sightings!

Birding List

While great care was taken regarding the accuracy of this checklist, the authors can not take any responsibility for mistakes.  Kindly let us know of any additional species that you have recorded.

For ease of reference, the list is presented alphabetically and distinguishes between resident species (birds that could in most cases be found throughout the year), migrants (birds that visit our region seasonally) and vagrant species (birds that are seen rarely or of which very few historical records exist).

LEGEND:

VC = Very Common (>75%)
CO = Common (25 – 74%)
UC = Uncommon (25 – 49%)
R = Rare (<24%)

THE RESIDENT SPECIES OF THE HOEKWIL REGION:
APALIS, BAR-THROATED/ BANDKEELKLEINJANTJIE – VC
AVOCET, PIED/ BONTELSIE – R
BARBET, ACACIA PIED/ BONTHOUTKAPPER – R
BARBET, BLACK-COLLARED/ ROOIKOPHOUTKAPPER – R
BATIS, CAPE/ KAAPSE BOSBONTROKKIE – VC
BISHOP, SOUTHERN RED/ ROOIVINK – R
BISHOP, YELLOW/ KAAPSE FLAP – UC
BITTERN, LITTLE/ KLEINRIETREIER – R
BOKMAKIERIE – R
BOUBOU, SOUTHERN/ SUIDELIKE WATERFISKAAL – VC
BROWNBUL, TERRESTRIAL/ BOSKRAPPER – CO
BULBUL, CAPE/ KAAPSE TIPTOL – VC
BUNTING, CAPE/ ROOIVLERKSTREEPKOPPIE – R
BUSH-SHRIKE, OLIVE/ OLYFBOSLAKSMAN  – UC
BUZZARD, FOREST/ BOSJAKKALSVOëL – UC
BUZZARD, JACKAL/ ROOIBORSJAKKALSVOëL – UC
CAMAROPTERA, GREEN-BACKED/ GROENRUGKWêKWêVOëL – UC
CANARY, BRIMSTONE/ DIKBEKKANARIE – UC
CANARY, CAPE/ KAAPSE KANARIE – UC
CANARY, FOREST/ GESTREEPTE KANARIE – UC
CANARY, YELLOW/ GEELKANARIE – R
CHAT, FAMILIAR/ GEWONE SPEKVRETER – R
CISTICOLA, GREY-BACKED/ GRYSRUGTINKTINKIE – R
CISTICOLA, LEVAILLANT’S/ VLEITINKTINKIE – UC
CISTICOLA, ZITTING/ LANDERYKLOPKLOPPIE – R
COOT, RED-KNOBBED/ BLESHOENDER – CO
CORMORANT, REED/ RIETDUIKER – CO
CORMORANT, WHITE-BREASTED/ WITBORSDUIKER – CO
COUCAL, BURCHELL’S/ GEWONE VLEILOERIE – UC
CRAKE, BLACK/ SWARTRIETHAAN – R
CRANE, BLUE/ BLOUKRAANVOëL – R
CROMBEC, LONG-BILLED/ BOSVELDSTOMPSTERT – R
CROW, CAPE/ SWARTKRAAI – R
CROW, PIED/ WITBORSKRAAI – R
CUCKOO, KLAAS’S/ MEITJIE – OC
CUCKOOSHRIKE, BLACK/ SWARTKATAKOEROE – R
CUCKOOSHRIKE, GREY/ BLOUKATAKOEROE – R
DARTER, AFRICAN/ SLANGHALSVOëL – UC
DOVE, CAPE TURTLE-/GEWONE TORTELDUIF – UC
DOVE, LAUGHING/ ROOIBORSDUIFIE – OC
DOVE, LEMON (CINNAMON)/ KANEELDUIFIE – R
DOVE, RED-EYED/ GROOTRINGDUIF – VC
DOVE, ROCK/ TUINDUIF – R
DOVE, TAMBOURINE/ WITBORSDUIFIE – R
DRONGO, FORK-TAILED/ MIKSTERTBYVANGER – VC
DUCK, AFRICAN BLACK/ SWARTEEND – R
DUCK, MACCOA/ BLOUBEKEEND – R
DUCK, WHITE-BACKED/ WITRUGEEND – R
DUCK, WHITE-FACED/ NONNETJIE-EEND – R
DUCK, YELLOW-BILLED/ GEELBEKEEND – CO
EAGLE, AFRICAN CROWNED/ KROONAREND – R
EAGLE, BOOTED/ DWERGAREND – R
EAGLE, LONG-CRESTED/ LANGKUIFAREND – R
EAGLE, AFRICAN FISH-/ VISAREND – CO
EAGLE, VERREAUX’S (BLACK)/ WITKRUISAREND – R
EGRET, CATTLE/ BOSLUISVOëL of VEEREIER – R
EGRET, GREAT/ GROOTWITREIER – R
EGRET, LITTLE/ KLEINWITREIER – UC
EGRET, YELLOW-BILLED/ GEELBEKWITREIER – R
FALCON, LANNER/ EDELVALK  – R
FALCON, PEREGRINE/ SWERFVALK – R
FISCAL, COMMON/ FISKAALLAKSMAN – VC
FLAMINGO, GREATER/ GROOTFLAMINK – R
FLUFFTAIL, BUFF-SPOTTED/ GEVLEKTE VLEIKUIKEN – R
FLUFFTAIL, RED-CHESTED/ ROOIBORSVLEIKUIKEN – R
FLYCATCHER, AFRICAN DUSKY/ DONKERVLIEëVANGER – CO
FLYCATCHER, BLUE-MANTLED CRESTED/ BLOUKUIFVLIEëVANGER – UC
FLYCATCHER, FAIRY/ FEEVLIEëVANGER – R
FLYCATCHER, FISCAL/ FISKAALVLIEëVANGER – CO
FRANCOLIN, GREY-WINGED/ BERGPATRYS – R
FRANCOLIN, RED-WINGED/ ROOIVLERKPATRYS – R
GOOSE, EGYPTIAN/ KOLGANS – VC
GOOSE, SPUR-WINGED/ WILDEMAKOU – R
GOSHAWK, AFRICAN/ AFRIKAANSE SPERWER – R
GRASSBIRD, CAPE/ GRASVOëL – R
GREBE, BLACK-NECKED/ SWARTNEKDOBBERTJIE – R
GREBE, GREAT CRESTED/ KUIFKOPDOBBERTJIE – UC
GREBE, LITTLE/ KLEINDOBBERTJIE – CO
GREENBUL, SOMBRE/ GEWONE WILLIE – VC
GUINEAFOWL, HELMETED/GEWONE TARENTAAL – VC
GULL, GREY-HEADED/ GRYSKOPMEEU – R
GULL, HARTLAUB’S/ HARTLAUBSE MEEU – R
GULL, KELP/ KELPMEEU -CO
HAMERKOP – R
HAWK, AFRICAN CUCKOO-/ KOEKOEKVALK – R
HAWK, AFRICAN HARRIER- (GYMNOGENE)/ KAALWANGVALK – R
HERON, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-/ GEWONE NAGREIER – R
HERON, BLACK-HEADED/ SWARTKOPREIER – CO
HERON, GREY/ BLOUREIER – UC
HERON, PURPLE/ ROOIREIER – OC
HERON, SCUACCO/ RALREIER – R
HONEYBIRD, BROWN-BACKED/ SKERPBEKHEUNINGVOëL – R
HONEYGUIDE, GREATER/ GROOTHEUNINGWYSER – R
HONEYGUIDE, LESSER/ KLEINHEUNINGWYSER – R
HONEYGUIDE, SCALY-THROATED, GEVLEKTE HEUNINGWYSER – R
HOOPOE, AFRICAN/ HOEPHOEP – UC
IBIS, AFRICAN SACRED/ SKOORSTEENVEëR – UC
IBIS, GLOSSY/ GLANSIBIS – R
IBIS, HADEDA/ HADEDA – VC
KESTREL, ROCK/ KRANSVALK – UC
KINGFISHER, BROWN-HOODED/ BRUINKOPVISVANGER – UC
KINGFISHER, GIANT/ REUSEVISVANGER – OC
KINGFISHER, HALF-COLLARED/ BLOUVISVANGER – R
KINGFISHER, MALACHITE/ KUIFKOPVISVANGER – UC
KINGFISHER, PIED/ BONTVISVANGER – UC
KITE, BLACK-SHOULDERED/ BLOUVALK – R
LAPWING, BLACKSMITH/ BONTKIEWIET – CO
LAPWING, BLACK-WINGED/ GROOTSWARTVLERKKIEWIET – R
LAPWING, CROWNED/KROONKIEWIET – R
LARK, RED-CAPPED/ ROOIKOPLEWERIK – R
LONGCLAW, CAPE/ ORANJEKEELKALKOENTJIE
LONG-CRESTED EAGLE – UC
MARSH-HARRIER, AFRICAN/ AFRIKAANSE VLEIVALK – UC
MALLARD/ GROENKOPEEND – R
MARTIN, BROWN-THROATED/ AFRIKAANSE OEWERSWAEL – UC
MARTIN, ROCK/ KRANSSWAEL – UC
MOORHEN, COMMON/ GROOTWATERHOENDER – CO
MOUSEBIRD, RED-FACED/ ROOIWANGMUISVOëL – R
MOUSEBIRD, SPECKLED/ GEVLEKTE MUISVOëL – VC
MOUSEBIRD, WHITE-BACKED/ WITKRUISMUISVOëL – R
NEDDICKY/ NEDDIKKIE – UC
NIGHTJAR, FIERY-NECKED/ AFRIKAANSE NAGUIL – R
NIGHTJAR, FRECKLED/ DONKERNAGUIL -R
ORIOLE, BLACK-HEADED/ SWARTKOPWIELEWAAL – UC
OWL, AFRICAN WOOD-/ BOSUIL – R
OWL, BARN/ NONNETJIE-UIL – R
OWL, CAPE EAGLE-/ KAAPSE OORUIL – R
OWL, SPOTTED EAGLE-/ GEVLEKTE OORUIL – UC
OYSTERCATCHER, AFRICAN BLACK/ SWARTTOBIE – R
PELICAN, GREAT WHITE/ WITPELIKAAN – R
PIGEON, AFRICAN OLIVE-/GEELBEKBOSDUIF – UC
PIGEON, SPECKLED/ KRANSDUIF – CO
PIPIT, AFRICAN/ GEWONE KOESTER – R
PIPIT, LONG-BILLED/ NICHOLSONSE KOESTER – R
PIPIT, PLAIN-BACKED/ DONKERKOESTER – R
PLOVER, KITTLITZ’S/ GEELBORSSTRANDKIEWIET – R
PLOVER, THREE-BANDED/DRIEBANDSTRANDKIEWIET – R
PLOVER, WHITE-FRONTED/ VAALSTRANDKIEWIET – R
POCHARD, SOUTHERN/ BRUINEEND – R
PRINIA, KAROO/ KAROOLANGSTERTJIE – CO
PUFFBACK, BLACK-BACKED/ SNEEUBAL – UC
RAIL, AFRICAN/ GROOTRIETHAAN – R
RAVEN, WHITE-NECKED/ WITHALSKRAAI – UC
ROBIN, WHITE-STARRED/ WITKOLJANFREDERIK – R
ROBIN-CHAT, CAPE/ GEWONE JANFREDERIK –  VC
ROBIN, CHORISTER/ LAWAAIMAKERJANFREDERIK – UC
SCRUB-ROBIN, KAROO/ SLANGVERKLIKKER – R
SEEDEATER, PROTEA/ WITVLERKKANARIE – R
SEEDEATER, STREAKY-HEADED/ STREEPKOPKANARIE – CO
SHELDUCK, SOUTH AFRICAN/ KOPEREEND – R
SHOVELER, CAPE/ KAAPSE SLOPEEND – UC
SISKIN, CAPE/ KAAPSE PIETJIEKANARIE – R
SNIPE, AFRICAN/ AFRIKAANSE SNIP – R
SPARROW, CAPE/ GEWONE MOSSIE – CO
SPARROW, HOUSE/ HUISMOSSIE – UC
SPARROW, SOUTHERN GREY-HEADED/ (SUIDELIKE) GRYSKOPMOSSIE – UC
SPARROWHAWK, BLACK/ SWARTSPERWER – R
SPARROWHAWK, LITTLE/ KLEINSPERWER – R
SPARROWHAWK, RUFOUS-CHESTED/ ROOIBORSSPERWER – R
SPOONBILL, AFRICAN/ LEPELAAR – UC
SPURFOWL, CAPE/ KAAPSE FISANT – R
SPURFOWL, RED-NECKED/ ROOIKEELFISANT – UC
STARLING, BLACK-BELLIED/ SWARTPENSGLANSSPREEU – UC
STARLING, COMMON/ EUROPESE SPREEU – CO
STARLING, PALE-WINGED/ BLEEKVLERKSPREEU –
STARLING, PIED/ WITGATSPREEU – R
STARLING, RED-WINGED/ ROOIVLERKSPREEU – CO
STILT, BLACK-WINGED/ ROOIPOOTELSIE – R
STONECHAT, AFRICAN/ GEWONE BONTROKKIE – UC
SUGARBIRD, CAPE/ KAAPSE SUIKERVOëL – R
SUNBIRD, AMETHYST/ SWARTSUIKERBEKKIE – CO
SUNBIRD, COLLARED/ KORTBEKSUIKERBEKKIE – R
SUNBIRD, GREATER DOUBLE-COLLARED/ GROOT-ROOIBANDSUIKERBEKKIE- VC
SUNBIRD, GREY/ GRYSSUIKERBEKKIE – R
SUNBIRD, MALACHITE/ JANGROENTJIE – R
SUNBIRD, ORANGE-BREASTED/ ORANJEBORSSUIKERBEKKIE – R
SUNBIRD, SOUTHERN DOUBLE-COLLARED/ KLEIN-ROOIBANDSUIKERBEKKIE – CO
SWAMPHEN, AFRICAN PURPLE/ GROOTKONINGRIETHAAN – UC
SWIFT, AFRICAN BLACK/ SWARTWINDSWAEL – R
SWIFT, LITTLE/ KLEINWINDSWAEL – UC
TCHAGRA, SOUTHERN/ GRYSBORSTJAGRA – R
TEAL, CAPE/ TEELEEND – R
TEAL, HOTTENTOT/ GEVLEKTE EEND – R
TEAL, RED-BILLED/ ROOIBEKEEND – R
TERN, CASPIAN/ REUSESTERRETJIE – R
TERN, SWIFT/ GEELBEKSTERRETJIE
TERN, WHISKERED/ WITBAARDSTERRETJIE
THICK-KNEE, SPOTTED/ GEWONE DIKKOP – R
THICK-KNEE, WATER/ WATERDIKKOP – R
THRUSH, OLIVE/ OLYFLYSTER – CO
TROGON, NARINA/ BOSLOERIE – R
TURACO, KNYSNA/ KNYSNALOERIE
WAGTAIL, CAPE/ GEWONE KWIKKIE – CO
WARBLER, KNYSNA/ KNYSNARUIGTESANGER – R
WARBLER, LESSER SWAMP-/ KAAPSE RIETSANGER – CO
WARBLER, LITTLE RUSH-/ KAAPSE VLEISANGER – UC
WARBLER, VICTORIN’S/ ROOIBORSRUIGTESANGER – R
WARBLER, YELLOW-THROATED WOODLAND-/ GEELKEELSANGER – UC
WAXBILL, COMMON/ ROOIBEKSYSIE – CO
WAXBILL, SWEE/ SUIDELIKE SWIE – UC
WEAVER, CAPE/ KAAPSE WEWER – VC
WEAVER, SOUTHERN MASKED-/ SWARTKEELGEELVINK – R
WHEATEAR, CAPPED/ HoëVELDSKAAPWAGTER – R
WHITE-EYE, CAPE/ KAAPSE GLASOGIE – VC
WHYDAH, PIN-TAILED/ KONINGROOIBEKKIE – CO
WOOD-HOOPOE, GREEN/ ROOIBEKKAKELAAR -R
WOODPECKER, CARDINAL/ KARDINAALSPEG – R
WOODPECKER, GROUND/ GRONDSPEG – R
WOODPECKER, KNYSNA/ KNYSNASPEG – UC
WOODPECKER, OLIVE/ GRYSKOPSPEG – UC
 

THE MIGRATORY SPECIES OF THE HOEKWIL REGION:

BUZZARD, STEPPE/ BRUINJAKKALSVOëL
CUCKOO, AFRICAN EMERALD/ MOOIMEISIE
CUCKOO, BLACK/ SWARTKOEKOEK
CUCKOO, RED-CHESTED/ PIET-MY-VROU
FALCON, AMUR/ OOSTELIKE ROOIPOOTVALK
FLYCATCHER, AFRICAN PARADISE-/ PARADYSVLIEëVANGER
FLYCATCHER, SPOTTED/ EUROPESE VLIEëVANGER
GREENSHANK, COMMON/ GROENPOOTRUITER
HOBBY, EURASIAN/ EUROPESE BOOMVALK
KITE, YELLOW-BILLED/ GEELBEKWOU
MARTIN, BANDED/ GEBANDE OEWERSWAEL
MARTIN, COMMON HOUSE-/ HUISSWAEL
ORIOLE, EURASIAN GOLDEN/ EUROPESE WIELEWAAL
OSPREY/ VISVALK
PALM-SWIFT, AFRICAN/ PALMWINDSWAEL
QUAIL, COMMON/ AFRIKAANSE KWARTEL
SANDPIPER, COMMON/ GEWONE RUITER
SAW-WING, BLACK/ SWARTSAAGVLERKSWAEL
STINT, LITTLE/ KLEINSTRANDLOPER
STORK, WHITE/ WITOOIEVAAR
SWALLOW, BARN/ EUROPESE SWAEL
SWALLOW, GREATER STRIPED/ GROOTSTREEPSWAEL
SWALLOW , PEARL-BREASTED/ PêRELBORSSWAEL
SWALLOW, WHITE-THROATED/ WITKEELSWAEL
SWIFT, ALPINE/ WITPENSWINDSWAEL
SWIFT, HORUS/ HORUSWINDSWAEL
SWIFT, WHITE-RUMPED/ WITKRUISWINDSWAEL
TERN, COMMON/ GEWONE STERRETJIE
TERN, SANDWICH/ GROOTSTERRETJIE
WARBLER, AFRICAN REED-/ KLEINRIETSANGER
WARBLER, GREAT REED/ GROOTRIETSANGER
WARBLER, SEDGE/ EUROPESE VLEISANGER
WARBLER, WILLOW/ HOFSANGER
THE VAGRANT SPECIES OF THE HOEKWIL REGION:
OPENBILL, AFRICAN/ OOPBEKOOIEVAAR
QUELEA, RED-BILLED/ ROOIBEKKWELEA
ROBIN-CHAT, RED-CAPPED/ NATALSE JANFREDERIK
SHRIKE, RED-BACKED/ ROOIRUGLAKSMAN
SWALLOW, LESSER STRIPED/ KLEINSTREEPSWAEL

Reach Us

Phone

Linda 0829291381
Johan 0834605414
Herman 0835641274
Louis 0845695920 (visit to milking parlour)

Visit

Libertas Farm, Hoekwil,
6538, Western Cape,
South Africa

Directions

From N2 between Wilderness and Sedgefield:

  • Turn north @ Hoekwil turn-off (±5km coming from Wilderness).
  • Continue with tar road for 16km (don’t turn off) and look out for Libertas (3km) road sign.
  • Take right-hand turn-off onto “Sedgefield/Rondevlei” gravel road for The Farmhouse; but continue straight for another 1km to The Dairy and the Cottages turn-off on your right.
  • Continue with gravel road for 3km to The Farmhouse; The Dairy & Cottages are easy to find once you have taken the turn-off from the tar road at the “Libertas Guest Farm” sign.

 

GPS co-ordinates

The Farmhouse: 33º57’47.28” S 22º41’47.86” E
The Dairy:  33º56’18.38” S 22º41’20.32” E

Libertas Guest Farm Map