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Text and photos by Gareth Robbins
Recently, I managed to make a short visit to the Garden Route. I had one day free to go birding, so I chose the Wilderness Section of the Garden Route National Park. This section of the GRNP is famous for its lakes, rivers and estuaries and is surrounded by indigenous Forest and Fynbos biomes. Most trails and some blinds were still closed so I birded where I could. Thankfully one bird blind was open, and I got some excellent Malachite Kingfisher photos! I had waited for over five years to return to this spot to get a decent photo of this small colourful bird!
Close to the Ebb and Flow Campsite (which falls part of the National Park) I came across a couple of fruiting Outeniqua Yellowwood trees and this attracted a good number of the beautiful and iconic Knysna Turacos which are very widespread and are popular among with the locals in this part of the world. I saw plenty of Greater Double-collared and Amethyst Sunbirds, as well as a Black-backed Puffback and a Cape Batis. Even a Knysna Warbler called once but it did not show. In the weeks to come, I am sure I will re-visit this beautiful part of South Africa.
