Birding in your own neighborhood

Bird watching is a bloodless expression of man’s primitive hunting instincts. We have substituted binoculars and cameras for the gun, but we still seek a trophy - A new species on a life list, or photographs of one of earth’s rarest and most exquisite creatures. Our search may take us no farther than a nearby meadow - Or it can lead to the cloud forests of tropical mountains.

James A. Kern

Most people will only be aware of the birds in their own gardens or neighborhoods. It is amazing how many bird species you could identify that are living in close proximity to yourselves (you just need some time and some patience). There are various ways to attract birds to your own yards; bird feeders, water and shelter. If you can provide these essentials in your own garden, or if it is readily available in the vicinity, then odds are that birds will visit.

I have identified many birds in my neighborhood, but I only list the birds I actually have taken photographs of. I live in an estate called Val de Vie. Val de Vie lies on the outskirts of Paarl, a town close to Cape Town, in the Western Cape, South Africa. Early morning walks in my neighborhood not only yield rewarding birding results, but are accompanied with breathtaking views of the mountains and early morning sun on vineyards and natural fynbos. I have 34 birds on my current list of birds in my own neighborhood. It will be interesting to see similar lists, so feel free to comment!

For a closer look at Val de Vie you can click on the links provided.

Val de Vie
Val de Vie Blog

Val de Vie is a security estate, but there are many public events held here as well as a restaurant that is open to the public.

List of birds at Val de Vie Estate:

Reed Cormorant, African Darter*, Black-Headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Hadeda Ibis, Egyptian Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, Jackal Buzzard*, Cape Spurfowl, Helmeted Guineafowl, Crowned Lapwing, Blacksmith Lapwing, Spotted Thick-Knee, Speckled Pigeon, Spotted Eagle-Owl*, Speckled Mousebird, African Hoopoe, Greater Striped Swallow*, Cape Robin Chat, Karoo Prinia, African Dusky Flycatcher, Fiscal Flycatcher, Cape Wagtail, African Pipit, Common Fiscal, Bokmakierie*, Common Starling, Malachite Sunbird, Southern Double-Collared Sunbird*, Cape Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Swee Waxbill, Cape Canary, Common Peacock.

An early morning walk have me discovering some Bokmakieries on the roof of one of the houses in the neighborhood.

Bokmakierie

This Southern Double-Collared Sunbird was feeding on some nectar just outside our kitchen window.

Malachite Sunbird

There are some areas with small dams on the estate, which attracts birds you will normally find near water.

African Darter

Our neighbors have some of these Greater Striped Swallows nesting under an overhang at their front door. This swallow have some mud in its mouth for nest building.

Greater Stripes Swallow

There is a family of Spotted Eagle-Owls that hunts on a regular basis around our house. This owl sat in a tree next to our house's fence when I snapped it.

Spotted Eagle-Owl

There are some kites and buzzards that hunt in our neighborhood.

Jackal Buzzard