Kwendalo Birding

Kwendalo is fast becoming known as a rewarding birding destination in its own right. With over 120 species recorded on site, including rarities, endemics and near-endemics, every visit provides an opportunity for joy, novelty and nourishment.

Kwendalo hosts a secluded 8-person bird hide which overlooks the tributary to Rietvlei . It also has a smaller bird blind which boasts an intimate view of one of our other ponds which hosts a hive of activity including a heronry (with 4 species) and a preferred nesting area for an array of other birds. Many of the resident birds – especially the more common waders and waterbirds – are accustomed to the presence of people, enabling quality viewing and photographic opportunities.

Kwendalo continues to be transformed through a combination of regenerative (natural) agroecology practices and landscaping which is promoting the planting and regrowth of indigenous vegetation.

The main walking trails and access to the hides are mostly flat, less than 1km in length and easily traversed. The hill walk through coastal thicket and fynbos offers a scenic outlook over the vleis and comprises a gentle slope that most birders of moderate fitness should find easy to traverse.

Kwendalo has several walks and routes to maximise bird sightings.

From the deck of our Kwendalo Café one overlooks the pool pond, where one can see the regular species such as the Common Moorhen, Red-Knobbed Coot, Little Grebe, Cape Weaver and Little Rush Warbler. From early Spring and into Summer, Purple Herons are fond of nesting there and rearing their young. We have also had the discrete presence of the Little Bittern. Various species of Kingfisher also grace this pond from time to time – including the Brown-Hooded, Pied, Malachite, and Giant Kingfisher. In the trees, one is likely to see various species of Sunbird, Cape White Eye, Black-headed Oriole, Fork-Tailed Drongo, Knysna Turaco, Sombre Greenbul, Red-Winged Starling, and the occasional Black Collared Barbet. From this deck, we can occasionally see (or hear) and African Fish Eagle overhead and the transient Marsh Harrier.

One can then follow the “Coot Route” which leads down onto the open field and encircles the central wetland / vlei area, as well as passing alongside various other edge habitats. This trail can yield sightings of any number of wetland species, including the more notable African Darter, African Spoonbill, Blacksmith Lapwing, Cape Shoveler, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Neddicky, Yellow-billed Duck, Reed Cormorant, Black Crake. As one reaches the top (western) vlei and begins to circle back, the trees which line the path can offer fruitful birding. If you’re lucky, you may see a Spotted Eagle Owl which frequent the estate, a Knysna Woodpecker, Lesser Swamp Warbler, and the resident Water Thick-Knee. The African Hoopoe is usually out and about, and in summer the Red-Chested, Diederik and Klaas’ Cuckoos can be heard, if not seen.

You could then branch off toward our bird hide (co-funded by BirdLife Plettenberg Bay) where you are likely to encounter African Swamphen, Red-billed Teal, Black Crake, Yellow-billed Duck, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Little Rush Warbler, Black-crowned Night Heron, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers and, on occasion, Red-billed and Blue-billed Teals. Any number of forest / coastal thicket edge species encircling the vlei are also likely (e.g. Bar-Throated Apalis, Black-backed Puffback, Black Cuckooshrike, Collared Sunbird, Cape Batis, Cape Bulbul, Cape Canary, Paradise Flycatcher, Streaky-headed Seedeater).

These and more coastal thicket and fynbos specific species can be seen if one takes the hill trail which branches off at the top pond and crosses large reed vlei to meander up to a viewpoint which not only takes in sweeping views across to Formosa Peak but also overlooks the neighbouring vlei which also has a resident heronry (mainly Black-Headed, Grey, and Black-crowned Night Heron).

During spring and summer months, we may also be treated to any number of aerial species such as Greater Striped Swallow, White-Throated Swallow, White-Rumped Swift, Black Saw-wing and Brown-throated Martin. Whilst we’ve yet to record them on Kwendalo, we know that the Dieprivier road within 500m of Kwendalo, has recorded several other uncommon Martins in the past.

Raptors like the Forest Buzzard, Common Buzzard, Jackal Buzzard, Black Sparrow hawk, and Little Sparrow hawk have all been seen and could make a foray through or over Kwendalo at any time.

Local guide information

Dr. Matthew Zylstra (Coordinator, Kwendalo Institute) is available for bird-related information and guiding on Kwendalo. He is an experienced conversation ecologist, member of BirdLife Plettenberg Bay and is a registered BirdLife Avitourism Guide.

There are no BirdLife listed community bird guides nor tour operators currently available for this site but experienced members of BirdLife Plettenberg Bay are often willing to make themselves available. Bi-monthly bird ringing monitoring is conducted on Kwendalo and guests may join this upon request.

Bird Netting, Ringing, Recording, and Release

Mark Brown is a conservation biologist who is passionate about sharing his career experience with budding ecologists. With over 20 years field experience mentoring conservation students, almost 40 postgraduate students supervised, and close to 100 scientific publications under his belt, Mark is an experienced biologist and conservationist. As a practicing researcher, he has been a key role player in some of the best conservation work being done in the region. Dr. Brown is one of South Africa’s most experienced bird ringers, with around 30,000 birds ringed to date.