On Monday 10 March August 2025, eighteen eager birding enthusiasts arrived at L’Ermitage Quagga Lodge in anticipation of an exciting and rewarding birding experience – and no-one was disappointed!
L’Ermitage Quagga Lodge, situated on the wide Berg River, is the proud home of some 72 Quaggas, which have been rebred out of extinction. The lodge has other rare species roaming its plains as well, including Blond (Golden) Wildebeest, Blonde Oryx (Gemsbok), Sable, Springbok and Buffalo. The Berg River Estuary is an important bird habitat and is home to some 30 000 birds.
Thanks to the excellent organisation by Imogen, Johan, Ed and Shirley, we all found our delightful chalets, well equipped and comfortable. The facilities were very good and each evening a braai fire was lit and nurtured by the two Mikes (Kokot and Bryan). Shirley had drawn up a workable catering list and the food and conversation flowed each evening in the #3 chalet, Oryx . For three nights we all gathered into one chalet after bringing chairs to accommodate everyone.
Tuesday dawned crisp and clear with not a breath of wind, so we had perfect weather for a trip to Kliphoek Salt Pans near the Kuifkopvisvanger (Afrikaans for the Malachite Kingfisher) Resort, where we were met by our excellent and knowledgeable guide, Jan Kotze. Kuifkopvisvanger region is an ecologically varied birding destination like none other. It is a rarity hotspot because of the different habitats; Berg River, farmland, ocean, and salt pans. The highlight of the visit were very clear sightings of three of the elusive, Red-necked Phalarope (who, this time, weren’t sporting their red neckwear). Jan told us that one particular bird over-winters at the salt pan and has been there for ten years. Another “special” was the Chestnut-banded Plover who puttered around, seemingly undisturbed by the frantic clicking of cameras. Jan Kotze also showed us a pair of Western Barn Owls roosting in a Palm tree and a Spotted Eagle-Owl which entertained us by flying silently from tree to tree.
On Wednesday, some members went on a game drive where Heindrich regaled us with interesting facts and information about the breeding of the rare animals there. After the game drive the group got together and drove in convoy to a jetty at Bokkomlaan, Velddrif where we boarded the Cracklin’ Rosie River Boat for a cruise on the Berg River. From the boat we were thrilled at the vast numbers of Flamingos, Greater and Lesser, plenty of different waders, cormorants, ducks, darters, herons, grebes – the list goes on and on! A rarity for this region was a Goliath Heron perched on an old type imbedded in the mud flats. We spent three hours cruising and birding and were treated to a view of our chalets at Quagga Lodge from the river side. No less than 141 birds were recorded.
A group photo was taken of the members after the Wednesday braai and the next day all found their various ways back to Hermanus.
Several members contributed photos of birds, beasts and birders, including Jill Ekstein, John Cheesbrough, David Sykes, Mike Kokot, Ed Mayer, Anne Philip and Pete Richmond.
Some unique and rare creatures were seen on the game drive, including Quaggas, Golden Oryx and Golden Wildebeest.
The highlight of the trip was the observing of 141 bird species., some of which are show here.
(Photographers are credited in the text and on the pictures).
Testimonial
On behalf of our Chairman, Ed Meyer, and the members of the Hermanus Bird Club, we thank you for your hospitality and friendliness during our brief three-day visit to Quagga Lodge. The facilities and amenities were enjoyed and appreciated by all who attended. Quagga Lodge really is a fabulous place!
We took a group photograph but under rather dim lighting conditions. This is attached along with pictures of some members on the safari vehicle. We also have many bird and game pictures; these can be viewed by going to our web site at Hermanus Bird Club | A bad day’s Birding beats a good day’s working. (Ctrl + Click to follow link). Please let us know if you require any bird or game photos, we would be happy to oblige (knowing that the photographs are amateur quality).
Thanks again for your cordial reception.
Warm regards,
Michael Kokot, Hermanus Bird Club Committee Member.
List of bird species
African Darter
African Hoopoe
African Oystercatcher
African Penguin
African Rail
African Sacred Ibis
African Spoonbill
African Stonechat
African Swamphen
Alpine Swift
Barn Swallow
Bar-throated Apalis
Black Harrier
Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-headed Heron
Black-necked Grebe
Blacksmith Lapwing
Black-winged Kite
Black-winged Stilt
Blue Crane
Bokmakierie
Brimstone Canary
Brown-throated Martin
Burchell’s Coucal
Cape Bulbul
Cape Bunting
Cape Canary
Cape Cormorant
Cape Longclaw
Cape Penduline Tit
Cape Robin-Chat
Cape Shoveler
Cape Sparrow
Cape Spurfowl
Cape Sugarbird
Cape Teal
Cape Turtle Dove
Cape Wagtail
Cape Weaver
Cape White-eye
Capped Wheatear
Caspian Tern
Chestnut-banded Plover
Common Buzzard
Common Greenshank
Common Moorhen
Common Ostrich
Common Ringed Plover
Common Sandpiper
Common Starling
Common Tern
Common Waxbill
Crowned Lapwing
Curlew Sandpiper
Damara Tern
Egyptian Goose
Eurasian Curlew
Eurasian Whimbrel
Familiar Chat
Fiery-necked Nightjar
Fiscal Flycatcher
Giant Kingfisher
Goliath Heron
Great White Pelican
Greater Crested Tern
Greater Flamingo
Greater Sand Plover
Greater Striped Swallow
Grey Heron
Grey Plover
Grey-backed Cisticola
Grey-headed Gull
Hadada Ibis
Hartlaub’s Gull
Helmeted Guineafowl
House Sparrow
Intermediate Egret
Jackal Buzzard
Karoo Prinia
Karoo Scrub Robin
Kelp Gull
Kittlitz’s Plover
Large-billed Lark
Laughing Dove
Lesser Flamingo
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Levaillant’s Cisticola
Little Egret
Little Grebe
Little Rush Warbler
Little Stint
Little Swift
Long-billed Crombec
Maccoa Duck
Malachite Kingfisher
Mallard
Marsh Sandpiper
Namaqua Dove
Namaqua Warbler
Olive Thrush
Pearl-breasted Swallow
Pied Avocet
Pied Crow
Pied Kingfisher
Pied Starling
Purple Heron
Red Knot
Red-billed Teal
Red-eyed Dove
Red-knobbed Coot
Red-necked Phalarope
Red-winged Starling
Reed Cormorant
Rock Dove
Rock Kestrel
Ruff
Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk
Sanderling
Southern Black Korhaan
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Southern Fiscal
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Southern Masked Weaver
Southern Red Bishop
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Spotted Thick-knee
Spur-winged Goose
Three-banded Plover
Western Barn Owl
Western Cattle Egret
White-backed Mousebird
White-breasted Cormorant
White-fronted Plover
White-necked Raven
White-throated Swallow
Yellow Canary
Yellow-billed Duck
Yellow-billed Kite
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