De Vasselot – Natures Valley
18 April 2026
Trip Report
by Patrick Raymond
After a wet and stormy night, we arrived at the De Vasselot camping area at 07h30, to be greeted by a damp but sunny morning. As a result of the inclement weather the previous night, we were pleasantly surprised by the turnout.
We split into two groups, with one heading into the camping area and the other moving into the forest via the boardwalk. Even though most the migrants have departed, we managed to identify 40 different species with a couple of notable specials – Grey Cuckoo-shrike, African Fish-eagle, African Olive Pigeon and the “star of the show”, the White-starred Robin. (The full bird list for the morning is attached).
For once the weather played its part, with the sun shining and no wind, which resulted in a very pleasant birding morning with an enthusiastic bunch of fellow birders., most of whom “re-convened” at Natures way for breakfast and coffee.
Together with some of our more popular venues, we will continue to look for new spots in and around Plett and will keep our members informed accordingly.
We look forward to seeing you at the next outing!
*Click on the images below to enlarge.
Bird List:
- Apalis, Bar-throated
- Barbet, Black-collared
- Batis, Cape
- Boubou, Southern
- Brownbul, Terrestrial
- Bush-shrike, Olive
- Buzzard, Jackal
- Camaroptera, Green-backed
- Canary, Forest
- Cisticola, Levaillant’s
- Crow, Cape
- Crow, Pied
- Cuckoo-shrike, Grey
- Drongo, Fork-tailed
- Fish-eagle, African
- Flycatcher, African Dusky
- Greenbul, Sombre
- Guineafowl, Helmeted
- Ibis, Hadeda
- Kingfisher, Giant
- Martin, Rock
- Mousebird, Speckled
- Oriole, Black-headed
- Pigeon, African Olive
- Puffback, Black-backed
- Raven, White-necked
- Robin, White-starred
- Robin-chat, Chorister
- Saw-wing, Black
- Starling, Red-winged
- Sunbird, Amethyst
- Sunbird, Collared
- Sunbird, Greater Double-collared
- Thrush, Olive
- Turaco, Knysna
- Warbler, Yellow-throated Woodland
- White-eye, Cape
- Wood-hoopoe, Green
- Woodpecker, Knysna
- Woodpecker, Olive
*Click on the images below to enlarge.
COMMITTEE:
CHAIRPERSON: Ann Mawer – 082 446 4200
VICE-CHAIRPERSON: Patrick Raymond – 083 377 9580
TREASURER: Darryl Harrison – 082 651 8985
Jenny Wilson – 083 388 5006
SECRETARY: Pippa van Noppen – 082 878 6662
HONORARY PRESIDENT: Mike Bridgeford – 083 266 7634
NEWSLETTER EDITOR / EVENTS: John Home – 082 554 5002
COMMUNICATION DESIGN: Stephan van Wyk – 072 554 3995
Jarryd Dunn – 079 978 0618


