Tim Cockcroft Birding - Guided Birding Tours

04/12/2024

My client enjoyed a successful morning of birding near Port Alfred, with a few lifers adding to the experience. Our first couple of stops brought us some good sightings of Collared Sunbird, Barn Swallow and Diederik Cuckoo. The river valley yielded Dark-backed Weaver and Narina Trogon. Further on, we saw Black Cuckooshrike, Greater Honeyguide, Village Weaver and Whiskered Tern. Another pond on our route produced Red-knobbed Coot, Little Grebe and White-backed Duck. By now the temperature was quite hot, and the bush birds became scarce, except for Yellow-breasted Apalis. We ended the tour at the estuary, where Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Little Stint, Common Greenshank and Common Ringed Plover showed well.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

29/11/2024

The focus for my two clients today was mainly waders, with some birds inhabiting adjacent ponds and reedbeds. The first estuary we visited was quite productive. Before we reached the venue, we paused to see Eastern Golden Weaver. White-fronted Plover, Sanderling, Common Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Caspian Tern and Goliath Heron were seen at our first stop. We also made a turn at another part of the estuary, where we saw Ruddy Turnstone, Little Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern and Kittlitz's Plover. Not long after leaving the estuary, we stopped at two ponds with reedbeds. Common Moorehen. Red-knobbed Coot, African Swamphen, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Southern Red Bishop and Malachite Kingfisher were also seen here. At the second estuary, our final stop, we had a few repeat sightings of some of what we saw at the previous spots, with the addition of Greater Sandplover.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

23/11/2024

My two clients had a good, full morning of birding. The estuary was once again our starting point, where Little Stint, Whimbrel, Terek Sandpiper, Common Ringed Plover and Kittlitz's Plover. The backroad route, consisting of a wide variety of habitats, was productive, with sightings of Burchell's Coucal, Hamerkop, Lazy Cisticola, Brimstone Canary, Black Cuckoo, Golden-breasted Bunting and Trumpeter Hornbill. Other birds seen along the route were White-backed Duck, Barn Swallow, Grey Sunbird and Red-fronted Tinkerbird.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

22/11/2024

My two clients enjoyed their full morning of birding. The estuary was more quiet than usual, apart from Whimbrel, Terek Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt and little else. The first part of our back route yielded Yellow-fronted Canary, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Burchell's Coucal and Lazy Cisticola. In the denser bush, we saw Dark-backed Weaver, while Brown Scrub Robin and Narina Trogon called, but remained hidden. The habitat then opened up, and we had decent views of Wailing Cisticola, White-backed Duck, Red-throated Wryneck, Pearl-breasted Swallow and Plain-backed Pipit. The next wooded valley produced Grey-headed Bushshrike, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Common Buzzard, Red-faced Mousebird and Red-backed Shrike sightings, while a Scaly-throated Honeyguide was heard calling some distance away. The vegetation opened up to grassland once again, where Long-tailed Widowbird, Grey Crowned Crane and Secretarybird were seen. We then decided to give the estuary another try, and this time we were rewarded with sightings of Greater Sandplover, Little Stint, Common Ringed Plover and Common Greenshank.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

16/11/2024

The Market Traders Store in Van der Riet Street, Port Alfred, is stocking my greeting cards and notebooks. Please feel free to go and have a look if you are in the area.

16/11/2024

An ideal Christmas present!

15/11/2024

My two clients were very pleased with a morning's birding near Bathurst. Our first stop was very productive, with Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Black Saw-wing, Black Cuckooshrike, Black-bellied Starling and Chorister Robin-Chat all showing very well. Other birds seen in the village included Collared Sunbird and African Hoopoe. From there, we headed out on a backroad towards the river valley. Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Peregrine Falcon and Grey Sunbird were seen on this part of the route. On our way back to Port Alfred, we stopped to see Secretarybird, African Stonechat, Long-tailed Widowbird, Cape Longclaw and Pin-tailed Whydah. At another stop, we had both Black and Klaas's Cuckoos in the same tree at the same time. One last detour didn't produce much, but we did see a European Honey Buzzard, which was quite special. Our final stop in town yielded what we were hoping for, namely Knysna Warbler.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

12/11/2024

My two clients were very satisfied with their full morning of birding. The estuary yielded White-fronted Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Greater Sandplover and Whimbrel. From there, we took some backroads. Lesser Striped Swallow, White-throated Swallow, Pin-tailed Whydah, Lazy Cisticola, Yellow-fronted Canary, Crowned Eagle, Yellow-breasted Apalis and Cape Rock Thrush were seen in the bush, scrub and more open habitats. White-backed Duck, Yellow-billed Duck and Spur-winged Goose were seen at various small bodies of water. Further along, Diederik Cuckoo, African Pipit and Ant-eating Chat showed very well. Through the valley and beyond, Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Cardinal Woodpecker and Long-crested Eagle were seen. Our final stop of the morning produced a satisfactorily visible yet somewhat obscure view of Narina Trogon.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

10/11/2024

My two clients had a very satisfactory afternoon (Saturday) and morning (Sunday) of birding near Port Alfred. Neale (my cousin whom I had not met in person until now) and Tracy were able to add a few lifers to their respective lists. Saturday afternoon was spent birding in town, where Eastern Golden Weaver, Cape Weaver, Reed Cormorant and Lesser Swamp Warbler all showed well. At our next stop, two Knysna Warblers were heard calling, but proved difficult to see. However, patience paid off and one posed beautifully for us. At this spot, we also saw Spectacled Weaver.
On Sunday morning, we started our birding at the estuary for some waders. Early morning fishermen along the river sent most of the birds upstream. Common Greenshank, Eurasian Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper and Yellow-billed Kite were some of the species seen here. From the estuary, we headed for the bush, where there was a lot of activity... which meant many of the birds seen would not keep still for decent sightings. Among such "culprits" were Grey Sunbird, Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Narina Trogon, Terrestrial Brownbul and Southern Tchagra. The grasslands produced African Stonechat, Malachite Sunbird, Long-tailed Widowbird and Wailing Cisticola. The morning's birding ended on a high note with a sighting of a Knysna Woodpecker, high on Neale and Tracy's wish list.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

01/11/2024

All of these are still available. Please message me for more details. No NFTs.

01/11/2024

Here is a recent review.

01/11/2024

26/10/2024

My two clients had a productive day's birding, with a good number of lifers for both of them. We started at the estuary, where Common Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Terek Sandpiper and Whimbrel were seen.
From there we headed for the bush and other habitats. Here we had good views of Long-crested Eagle, Lazy Cisticola, Golden-breasted Bunting and Yellow-breasted Apalis. Another stop just a little bit further on yielded Narina Trogon, Brown Scrub Robin and Grey Sunbird. A pleasant surprise a little further along was a group of at least five White-backed Ducks. Not long after coming out of the river valley, we saw Black Cuckooshrike and Orange-breasted Bushshrike. Back in town, we made a few stops to find Knysna Warbler and Olive Bushshrike.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.

23/10/2024

Yellow-billed Stork, watercolour. Available. No NFTs.

23/10/2024

Now is the time to book your birdwatching tour if you are planning a trip to Port Alfred.
https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding

23/10/2024

These original watercolour paintings (currently unframed) need new homes. Ideal for living rooms, offices, game lodges, etc. This would also be the ideal gift for anyone moving into a new home, office or lodge. Private viewing can be arranged, by appointment. Please message me for more details. No NFTs.

14/10/2024

Five clients braved the windy weather for a good morning's birding. We started at the estuary, where we saw Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Common Greenshank, Little Stint, Common Ringed Plover and Zitting Cisticola. From there we headed for the backroads, where White-throated Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow, Greater Striped Swallow and Black-winged Lapwing were seen. The valley bush produced Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Lazy Cisticola, Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and Green Wood Hoopoe. Further on, African Stonechat, Long-tailed Widowbird, Wailing Cisticola and Cape Longclaw were seen in the grasslands. After a short break in Bathurst, we took a detour back to Port Alfred via another backroad. Here we saw Spectacled Weaver, Narina Trogon and Secretarybird. Our final stop of the morning yielded Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Cape Weaver and Olive Bushshrike.
Please visit https://timwcroft.wixsite.com/timcockcroftbirding for more information on my local birdwatching tours.