Bird Watching in the Greyton Area


Greyton and the Sonderend valley are great areas for birding. Not only is the birding in the Greyton village itself wonderful, the Greyton Nature Reserve compares favourably with other top birding spots in the Overberg such as the Harold Porter and Caledon Botanical Gardens.  The many hiking and walking trails in the area also make for pleasant birding opportunities.
A quote from the Overberg Birding Route website “Greyton should be right up there when it gets to a top birding destination and village’s “brag list” includes the typical Overberg specials as well as Buff-spotted Flufftail, African Rail, Purple Heron, African Harrier-Hawk and Martial Eagle.”
Common summer visitors to the area include Diderick Cuckoo, Klaas's Cuckoo, Redchested Cuckoo, Flycatcher Paradise, White Stork and Black Stork.  There have been a number of sighting of African Openbill, but not recently.
There are frequent sightings of the Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Siskin and Cape Grassbird. Visit the Sonderend Birding Blog (here) for more information on the area and a detailed bird list.  Also visit the MyBirdPatch public sites (here) and select either “Greyton Nature Reserve” and “Greyton dump” from the dropdown list.
Bird lovers are also welcome to join the Sonderend Birding group on their monthly visit to birding spots in the area. The club usually convenes on the last Sunday of each month. For more information contact Ria Wills on 028 254 9110 or 083 252 1183, or by email at ria@tcslearning.com

The following check list for the Greyton area has been compiled with the use of the “Roberts’ Multimedia Birds of Southern Africa” Version 3 CD, records of the “South African Bird Atlas Projects (SABAP1 & two years into SABAP2), and various local residents’ personal check lists.

Birds appear or disappear from particular areas, may lose their way or extend their ranges over time so we always welcome any new positive identification.

Birdlife Walks by appointment Guided by Hilton Seekoei, the Genadendal man who is passionate about birds.   He has completed the Bird Life of South Africa course on bird guiding and is now able to take interested people out on walks in the area. Bring your own birding equipment. – Hilton Seekoei 028 251 8582 or 072 537 9300

BIRD CHECK LIST FOR THE GREYTON AREA (Updated 07/02/2009)
ROBERTS 7 NAME ROBERTS 6 NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME Roberts. No.
African Black Duck African Black Duck Anas sparsa 105
African Black Swift Black Swift Apus barbatus 412
African Cuckoo-hawk Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides 128
African Darter Darter Anhinga rufa 60
African Dusky Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta 690
African Fish-Eagle African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 148
African Goshawk African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro 160
African Harrier-Hawk Gymnogene Polyboroides typus 169
African Hoopoe African Hoopoe Upupa africana 451
African Marsh-Harrier African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus 165
African Olive-Pigeon Rameron Pigeon Columba arquatrix 350
African Paradise-Flycatcher Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 710
African Pipit Grassveld Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 716
African Purple Swamphen Purple Gallinule Porphyrio madagascariensis 223
African Quailfinch Quail Finch Ortygospiza atricollis 852
African Rail African Rail Rallus caerulescens 210
African Reed-Warbler African Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus 631
African Sacred Ibis Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 91
African Snipe Ethiopian Snipe Gallinago nigripennis 286
African Spoonbill African Spoonbill Platalea alba 95
African Stonechat Stonechat Saxicola torquata 596
African Wood-Owl Wood Owl Strix woodfordii 394
Agulhas Long-billed Lark Agulhas Longbilled Lark Certhilauda brevirostris 500.1
Alpine Swift Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba 418
Amethyst Sunbird Black Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina 792
Banded Martin Banded Martin Riparia cincta 534
Barn Owl Barn Owl Tyto alba 392
Barn Swallow Eurasian Swallow Hirundo rustica 518
Bar-throated Apalis Barthroated Apalis Apalis thoracica 645
Black (Yellow-billed) Kite Yellowbilled Kite Milvus aegyptius 126b
Black Crake Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris 213
Black Cuckooshrike Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava 538
Black Harrier Black Harrier Circus maurus 168
Black Saw-wing Black Sawwing Swallow Psalidoprocne holomelaena 536
Black Sparrowhawk Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus 158
Black Stork Black Stork Ciconia nigra 84
Black-crowned Night-Heron Blackcrowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 76
Black-headed Heron Blackheaded Heron Ardea melanocephala 63
Black-shouldered Kite Blackshouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus 127
Blacksmith Lapwing Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus 258
Black-winged Stilt Blackwinged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 295
Blue Crane Blue Crane Anthropoides paradisea 208
Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher Bluemantled Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas 708
Bokmakierie Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus 746
Booted Eagle Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 136
Brimstone Canary Bully Canary Serinus sulphuratus 877
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Brownhooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 435
Brown-throated Martin Brownthroated Martin Riparia paludicola 533
Buff-spotted Flufftail Buffspotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans 218
Burchell's Coucal Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchellii 391
Cape Batis Cape Batis Batis capensis 700
Cape Bulbul Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis 566
Cape Bunting Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis 885
Cape Canary Cape Canary Serinus canicollis 872
Cape Clapper Lark Cape Clapper Lark Mirafra apiata 495
Cape Cormorant Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis 56
Cape Crow Black Crow Corvus capensis 547
Cape Eagle-Owl Cape Eagle Owl Bubo capensis 400
Cape Grassbird Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer 661
Cape Longclaw Orangethroated Longclaw Macronyx capensis 727
Cape Robin-Chat Cape Robin Cossypha caffra 601
Cape Rock-jumper Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus 611
Cape Rock-Thrush Cape Rockthrush Monticola rupestris 581
Cape Shoveler Cape Shoveller Anas smithii 112
Cape Siskin Cape Siskin Pseudochloroptila totta 874
Cape Sparrow Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus 803
Cape Spurfowl Cape Francolin Pternistis capensis 195
Cape Sugarbird Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer 773
Cape Teal Cape Teal Anas capensis 106
Cape Turtle-Dove Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola 354
Cape Vulture Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres 122
Cape Wagtail Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 713
Cape Weaver Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis 813
Cape White-eye Cape White-eye Zosterops virens 796
Capped Wheatear Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata 587
Cardinal Woodpecker Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens 486
Cattle Egret Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 71
Cloud Cisticola Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix 666
Common Fiscal Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris 732
Common Greenshank Greenshank Tringa nebularia 270
Common House-Martin House Martin Delichon urbica 530
Common Moorhen Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 226
Common Ostrich Ostrich Struthio camelus 1
Common Quail Common Quail Coturnix coturnix 200
Common Ringed Plover Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 245
Common Starling Eurasian Starling Sturnus vulgaris 757
Common Waxbill Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 846
Crowned Lapwing Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus 255
Denham's Bustard Stanley's Bustard Neotis denhami 231
Diderick Cuckoo Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 386
Egyptian Goose Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus 102
Eurasian Hobby Northern Hobby Falcon Falco subbuteo 173
European Bee-eater Eurasian Bee-eater Merops apiaster 438
European Roller Eurasian Roller Coracias garrulus 446
Fairy Flycatcher Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita 706
Familiar Chat Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris 589
Fiery-necked Nightjar Fierynecked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis 405
Fiscal Flycatcher Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens 698
Forest Buzzard Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus 150
Forest Canary Forest Canary Serinus scotops 873
Fork-tailed Drongo Forktailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 541
Freckled Nightjar Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma 408
Gabar Goshawk Gabar Goshawk Melierax gabar 161
Giant Kingfisher Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 429
Great Crested Grebe Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 6
Great White Pelican White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 49
Greater Double-collared Sunbird Greater Doublecollared Sunbird Cinnyris afra 785
Greater Flamingo Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber 96
Greater Honeyguide Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator 474
Greater Striped Swallow Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cucullata 526
Grey Cuckooshrike Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia 540
Grey Heron Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 62
Grey-backed Cisticola Greybacked Cisticola Cisticola subruficapillus 669
Grey-backed Sparrowlark Greybacked Finchlark Eremopterix verticalis 516
Grey-winged Francolin Greywing Francolin Scleroptila africanus 190
Ground Woodpecker Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus 480
Hadeda Ibis Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 94
Half-collared Kingfisher Halfcollared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata 430
Hamerkop Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 81
Helmeted Guineafowl Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 203
Horus Swift Horus Swift Apus horus 416
House Sparrow House Sparrow Passer domesticus 801
Jackal Buzzard Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 152
Karoo Chat Karoo Chat Cercomela schlegelii 592
Karoo Korhaan Karoo Korhaan Eupodotis vigorsii 235
Karoo Lark Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens 502
Karoo Prinia Karoo (Spotted) Prinia Prinia maculosa 686
Karoo Scrub-Robin Karoo Robin Cercotrichas coryphoeus 614
Kelp Gull Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 312
Kittlitz's Plover Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius 248
Klaas's Cuckoo Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas 385
Knysna Warbler Knysna Warbler Bradypterus sylvaticus 640
Knysna Woodpecker Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata 484
Lanner Falcon Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 172
Large-billed Lark Thickbilled Lark Galerida magnirostris 512
Laughing Dove Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 355
Lesser Flamingo Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor 97
Lesser Honeyguide Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor 476
Lesser Kestrel Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 183
Lesser Swamp-Warbler Cape Reed Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris 635
Levaillant's Cisticola Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens 677
Little Bittern Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus 78
Little Egret Little Egret Egretta garzetta 67
Little Grebe Dabchick Tachybaptus ruficollis 8
Little Rush-Warbler African Sedge Warbler Bradypterus baboecala 638
Little Swift Little Swift Apus affinis 417
Long-billed Crombec Longbilled Crombec Sylvietta rufescens 651
Long-billed Pipit Longbilled Pipit Anthus similis 717
Malachite Kingfisher Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 431
Malachite Sunbird Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa 775
Marsh Sandpiper Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 269
Martial Eagle Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus 140
Mountain Wheatear Mountain Chat Oenanthe monticola 586
Namaqua Dove Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 356
Namaqua Sandgrouse Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua 344
Neddicky Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapillus 681
Olive Thrush Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus 577
Olive Woodpecker Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus 488
Orange-breasted Sunbird Orangebreasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea 777
Osprey Osprey Pandion haliaetus 170
Pearl-breasted Swallow Pearlbreasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata 523
Peregrine Falcon Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 171
Pied Avocet Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 294
Pied Crow Pied Crow Corvus albus 548
Pied Kingfisher Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 428
Pied Starling Pied Starling Spreo bicolor 759
Pin-tailed Whydah Pintailed Whydah Vidua macroura 860
Plain-backed Pipit Plainbacked Pipit Anthus leucophrys 718
Protea Seedeater Protea Canary Serinus leucopterus 880
Purple Heron Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 65
Red- billed Quelea Redbilled Quelea Quelea quelea 821
Red-billed Teal Redbilled Teal Anas erythrorhyncha 108
Red-capped Lark Redcapped Lark Calandrella cinerea 507
Red-chested Cuckoo Redchested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius 377
Red-chested Flufftail Redchested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa 217
Red-eyed Dove Redeyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 352
Red-faced Mousebird Redfaced Mousebird Urocolius indicus 426
Red-knobbed Coot Redknobbed Coot Fulica cristata 228
Red-winged Starling Redwinged Starling Onychognathus morio 769
Reed Cormorant Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus 58
Rock Dove Feral Pigeon Columba livia 348
Rock Kestrel Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolis 181
Rock Martin Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula 529
Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk Redbreasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris 155
Sand Martin Sand Martin Riparia riparia 532
Secretarybird Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius 118
Sentinel Rock-Thrush Sentinel Rockthrush Monticola explorator 582
Sombre Greenbul Sombre Bulbul Andropadus importunus 572
South African Shelduck South African Shelduck Tadorna cana 103
Southern Black Korhaan Black Korhaan Eupodotis afra 239
Southern Boubou Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus 736
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybea 783
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Greyheaded Sparrow Passer diffusus 804
Southern Masked-Weaver Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus 814
Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus 162
Southern Pochard Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma 113
Southern Red Bishop Red Bishop Euplectes orix 824
Speckled Mousebird Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 424
Speckled Pigeon Rock Pigeon Columba guinea 349
Spotted Eagle-Owl Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus 401
Spotted Flycatcher Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 689
Spotted Thick-knee Spotted Dikkop Burhinus capensis 297
Spur-winged Goose Spurwinged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 116
Steppe Buzzard Steppe Buzzard Buteo vulpinus 149
Streaky-headed Seedeater Streakyheaded Canary Serinus gularis 881
Swee Waxbill Swee Waxbill Estrilda melanotis 850
Tambourine Dove Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 359
Three-banded Plover Threebanded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 249
Verreaux's Eagle Black Eagle Aquila verreauxii 131
Victorin's Warbler Victorin's Warbler Bradypterus victorini 641
Water Thick-knee Water Dikkop Burhinus vermiculatus 298
Wattled Starling Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea 760
White Stork White Stork Ciconia ciconia 83
White-backed Duck Whitebacked Duck Thalassornis leuconotus 101
White-backed Mousebird Whitebacked Mousebird Colius colius 425
White-breasted Cormorant Whitebreasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus 55
White-faced Duck Whitefaced Duck Dendrocygna viduata 99
White-necked Raven Whitenecked Raven Corvus albicollis 550
White-rumped Swift Whiterumped Swift Apus caffer 415
White-throated Canary Whitethroated Canary Serinus albogularis 879
White-throated Swallow Whitethroated Swallow Hirundo albigularis 520
Willow Warbler Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 643
Wood Sandpiper Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 266
Yellow Bishop Yellowrumped Widow Euplectes capensis 827
Yellow Canary Yellow Canary Serinus flaviventris 878
Yellow-billed Duck Yellowbilled Duck Anas undulata 104
Yellow-billed Egret Yellowbilled Egret Egretta intermedia 68
Zitting Cisticola Fantailed Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 664