To the South of Kei Mouth is the little village of Morgan Bay, which includes the scenic Double Mouth Nature Reserve. At least two days are recommended to explore this rich area and dedicated birders should easily produce lists of 200+ species including several notable South African endemics.

Patches of evergreen forest flanking the Great Kei River and in the coastal strip below Double Mouth Nature Reserve support a rich assemblage of species. The uncommon Knysna Woodpecker is present throughout and is best detected by its high-pitched shrill call. Knysna Warbler can also be seen in the area, though patience and knowledge of call are essential to locating this shy and reclusive species. Other forest species include the Knysna Turaco, Narina Trogon, Olive Bush-shrike, Common Square-tailed Drongo, Cape Batis, both Red-capped and Chorister Robin-chats, Brown Scrub-robin, Black-backed Puffback, Dark-backed Weaver, Olive Sunbird, and Black-bellied Starling. Green Twinspot and Magpie Mannikin are present in small numbers. Mangrove Kingfisher has been seen in forests along the Great Kei River and near Double Mouth, though the species is irregular here. Buff-spotted Flufftail is fairly common in dense forest undergrowth though luck and patience are required to see this species. Yellowwood Forest (just as you enter Morgan’s Bay on dirt road from Kei Mouth) has a wonderful trail through indigenous lowland and riverine forest that offers excellent birding for the likes of Mangrove Kingfisher (seasonal), Half-collared Kingfisher, Mountain Wagtail, Narina Trogon, Lemon Dove, Terrestrail Brownbul, Brown Scrub-robin, Olive Bush-shrike and African Firefinch amongst others.

The mouth of the Great Kei River often supports impressive numbers of coastal seabirds. A large tern roost usually forms at high tide on the northern banks of the river. The roost is best viewed from the southern bank with a telescope, or by crossing the river on the ferry and walking downstream to the extensive sandspit. Swift (Great Crested) and Sandwich Terns are most numerous though the Common (summer), Roseate (winter), Damara (summer), Little (summer), and Antarctic (winter) Terns have all been reported. Lesser Crested Tern is occasionally sighted during the summer months, though the species remains a rare visitor to the Eastern Cape coast. A few pairs of African Oystercatcher (present year-round) and impressive numbers of Palearctic migrant waders attend to the extensive mudflats. Though the main wader flocks are present only in the summer months, fair numbers remain throughout the year. Common species include the Common Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Ringed and Grey Plovers, Terek Sandpiper, Little Stint, Ruff, Sanderling and Curlew Sandpiper.

Away from the river, particularly near Double Mouth Nature Reserve and Morgan’s Bay, the gently undulating landscape is blanketed in rich grassland. Time spent exploring this habitat should yield the African Yellow Warbler, Fan-tailed Grassbird (Broad-tailed Warbler), Croaking Cisticola, both Cape and Yellow-throated Longclaws, and the African and Plain-backed Pipits. Grey Crowned Crane are present in fair numbers and are especially noticeable on the Morgan Bay Golf Course. The highly nomadic Black-winged Lapwing is also common throughout. The Southern and Black-crowned Tchagras prefer areas of scrub and thicket at the ecotone with grasslands.

Kei Mouth is widely regarded as one of the top sites in South Africa for vagrant species. Recent records include Sooty Gull, White Tern, Broad-billed and Pectoral Sandpipers, and Pacific Golden Plover. Birders should remain mindful of out-of-range species when visiting this site – particularly during the summer months.

Key species:

Knysna Woodpecker, Knysna Warbler, Red-headed Quelea, Magpie Mannikin, Knysna Turaco, Red-capped Robin-chat