Greater George – Geelhoutboom Farm Roads

About the Birding

Scan the pastures for Denham’s Bustard, Blue Crane and Secretarybird. Scan fields with short grass for flocks of Black-winged Lapwings. These grassland habitats are also good for LJBs such as Red-capped Lark, Plain-backed Pipit and Zitting Cisticolas. Also keep a lookout for raptors such as Jackal Buzzard, Common Buzzard and Black-winged Kite. Several pairs of Long-crested Eagles live in the area, and the Northern loop (see map above) is a particularly good area for them.

The “noteworthy farm dams” are usually alive with a variety of waterbirds, especially ducks, and you can expect to find flocks of Spur-winged Goose, White-faced Whistling Duck, Cape Shovelor and Cape Teal.

This area also has great potential to produce species that are rare in the Western Cape such as European Roller and African Jacana. It is not unlikely that there is also a small population of Wailing Cisticolas waiting to be discovered. Some of the valleys are overgrown with invasive trees that provide shelter for some of the shyer birds of prey including several species of Accipiters such as the lovely Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk.

Key species:

Knysna Turaco, Forest Buzzard, Victorin’s Warbler, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Chorister Robin-chat, Knysna Warbler, Black-winged Lapwing

About the Birding Site

Situated along a broad coastal plain with a backdrop of the Outeniqua Mountains, which overlook farmlands, wooded gorges, coastal forests, fynbos covered mountain passes and a section of the dry Klein Karoo providing a mosaic of birding habitats.

West of George you find typical dairy farmland, with moist green pastures and herds of cattle; and in-between, several large farm dams. Some of these dams have well developed wetland areas, and some are partly covered in waterlilies. A well-maintained network of gravel roads allows you to explore this area of “anthropogenic grassland”. See map below for the route to be followed.

Key species:

Knysna Turaco, Forest Buzzard, Victorin’s Warbler, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Chorister Robin-chat, Knysna Warbler, Black-winged Lapwing

Other Related Information

Please respect the local farmers by making sure that you do not cause a roadblock on the farm roads, by stopping in the road to look at birds. Therefore, always try to park as far off the road as possible. Do not enter private land without prior permission. It is important that we birders maintain a good relationship with the local farmers.

Other related information:

Text prepared by:
Christiaan Viljoen

Key species:

Knysna Turaco, Forest Buzzard, Victorin’s Warbler, Cape Sugarbird, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Chorister Robin-chat, Knysna Warbler, Black-winged Lapwing

Contact details:

N/A