Birding Garden Route Archives - TRAVELBUCKET http://travelbucket.co.za/tag/birding-garden-route/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 11:48:25 +0000 en-ZA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://travelbucket.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/cropped-WhatsApp-Image-2021-09-24-at-11.05.00-32x32.jpeg Birding Garden Route Archives - TRAVELBUCKET http://travelbucket.co.za/tag/birding-garden-route/ 32 32 RADICAL RAPTORS http://travelbucket.co.za/radical-raptors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=radical-raptors Fri, 03 Feb 2017 16:30:28 +0000 http://travelbucket.co.za/?p=2482 One of the most rewarding places I visited is Radical Raptors situated at The Heath on the N2, just outside of Plettenberg Bay.   This safe haven for raptors is doing phenomenal work! During the daily flying displays you interact with amongst others Barney the owl and other rehabilitated feathered friends which cannot be released into the wild again for various reasons.  After all, the very knowledgeable Dennis only uses birds with permanent injuries as ambassadors.  And boy oh boy they behave like head boys!  Not one step – or should I say feather – out of place. The trained birds are tame and well adapted to visitors.  Therefore, during the flying display you are given a glove and the opportunity to invite the bird to land on your hand.  In other words, opportunities by the dozen to take that perfect picture in natural surroundings or try and try and try... Read more >

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]]> One of the most rewarding places I visited is Radical Raptors situated at The Heath on the N2, just outside of Plettenberg Bay.   This safe haven for raptors is doing phenomenal work!

During the daily flying displays you interact with amongst others Barney the owl and other rehabilitated feathered friends which cannot be released into the wild again for various reasons.  After all, the very knowledgeable Dennis only uses birds with permanent injuries as ambassadors.  And boy oh boy they behave like head boys!  Not one step – or should I say feather – out of place.

The trained birds are tame and well adapted to visitors.  Therefore, during the flying display you are given a glove and the opportunity to invite the bird to land on your hand.  In other words, opportunities by the dozen to take that perfect picture in natural surroundings or try and try and try again if you do not succeed with the first attempt – like me!

Above all, Dennis and the centre is on call 24/7 to assist with injured raptors that are in distress.  Please visit the website @ www.radicalraptors.co.za for more detailed information. 

You can also follow them on Facebook under Radical Raptors.

DAILY SHOW TIMES: 11am, 1pm, 3pm   

(except on Mondays when the facility is closed)

—–oOo—–

 Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings

 —– Salvador Dali

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]]> MALACHITE BIRD HIDE http://travelbucket.co.za/malachite-bird-hide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=malachite-bird-hide Wed, 09 Nov 2016 14:42:35 +0000 http://travelbucket.co.za/?p=2252 If you follow the sturdy wooden walkway deep into the reeds you will stumble upon this tranquil birding spot on the northern shore of Langvlei in the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park.  Langvlei is part of the sensitive lakes system and is connected via the Touw river to Rondevlei and Island lake. Most of the times when you go there you will have the whole hide to yourself.  Put up your feet, relax and enjoy the view.  If you are a keen bird photographer this is a good spot to catch water birds early morning or in the late afternoon.  Remember to check water levels beforehand as this will determine how close the birds will get to the hide. On our last visit we were lucky enough to spot some adorable Red-knobbed Coot hatchlings learning the ropes while their doting mothers keep a close eye on them.... Read more >

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]]> If you follow the sturdy wooden walkway deep into the reeds you will stumble upon this tranquil birding spot on the northern shore of Langvlei in the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park.  Langvlei is part of the sensitive lakes system and is connected via the Touw river to Rondevlei and Island lake.

malachite-kingfisher-bird-hide-1332943800

Most of the times when you go there you will have the whole hide to yourself.  Put up your feet, relax and enjoy the view.  If you are a keen bird photographer this is a good spot to catch water birds early morning or in the late afternoon.  Remember to check water levels beforehand as this will determine how close the birds will get to the hide.

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On our last visit we were lucky enough to spot some adorable Red-knobbed Coot hatchlings learning the ropes while their doting mothers keep a close eye on them.

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For the first time I also so a White-breasted Cormorant perched on a dry tree branch, but various species of Kingfisher,  Grey and Purple Heron, Little Egret, Fish Eagle and some other bird that I am not familiar with are present at different times at the hide.  This is also listed as a RAMSAR site (According to Wikipedia “a Ramsar Site is a wetland site designated of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by UNESCO, and coming into force in 1975″).

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This is also a favourite spot for our family to have sundowners while we watch the sun setting  over the lagoon while enjoying the tranquility.  As this is a conservation area NO fishing is allowed.

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WHERE WILL YOU FIND IT?

map-malachite

WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT THIS?

  • Entry is free.
  • Lots of fresh air
  • Refreshing to mind and soul

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