The Cape Gannet colony at Lambert’s Bay is a spectacle not to be missed, and must rank as one of the birding highlights of the West Coast. Nearly 14 000 pairs breed on the bay’s Bird Island, now connected to the mainland by a wide concrete breakwater extending from the harbour (see box opposite). Small numbers of African Penguin (p.32*) can also be seen here, and all four marine cormorants breed on the island. A host of gulls and terns, including Swift Tern, are also present. Cape Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) may also be seen in the vicinity.

A good selection of waterfowl and waders usually inhabit Jakkalsvlei, a lake on the northern edge of town (reached from the caravan park). Note, however, that it can be dry for the most part in summer. Regular species here are Greater Flamingo, South African Shelduck, and Cape and Red-billed Teals. The handsome and localized Heaviside’s Dolphin (see box, p.104) sometimes comes close inshore. The strandveld vegetation near Lambert’s Bay holds all the birds profiled on p.44; notable strandveld birds include Clapper and Karoo Larks, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and Rufous-eared Warbler.

Lambert’s Bay can be reached most efficiently by following the N7 national road from Cape Town to Clanwilliam, and then taking the tarred R364 towards the coast (look out for Anteating Chat along the way). It can thus be easily visited as a detour from the N7 while en route to Namaqualand or Bushmanland, and is well combined with a visit to Kransvlei Poort (see overleaf). Those with a little more time may wish to travel along the rather poor unsurfaced roads leading south from Lambert’s Bay towards Velddrif, that offer pleasant wetland and strandveld birding (see below).

Follow the coastal road south from Lambert’s Bay towards Elands Bay (look out for the uncommon Chat Flycatcher), and, after 11.8 km (just before the railway bridge), turn right to follow the railway line until you reach Wadrifsoutpan (‘wagon drift saltpan’) after about 1 km. This is a private road, and you are not permitted to proceed past the toll station adjacent to the pan. Wadrifsoutpan is split in two by the railway line, and the smaller seaward section is worth searching for a selection of waterbird and wader species, including South African Shelduck, Cape Teal and Greater Flamingo. However, it can be largely dry in summer. A wide variety of strandveld birds occur here, most notably Cape Long-billed and Clapper Larks (p. 116*).

Continue along the unsurfaced road to Elands Bay, which is situated at the mouth of the bird-rich Verlorenvlei (‘lost lake’). At Elands Bay, turn southwards along the road that crosses the vlei, and turn to the left at the T-junction on the southern bank. Scan the reedbed edges (such as those in the vicinity of the road bridge) for Little Bittern, African Rail, Red-chested Flufftail, Purple Gallinule, Purple Heron, Malachite Kingfisher and African Marsh Harrier. The rocky slopes lying south of the T-junction hold a host of scrub birds, including Southern Grey Tit. A pair of Black Eagles breeds on the nearby cliffs and are often seen overhead. You may wish to continue along the southern edge of the lake for a few more kilometres, as a wide diversity of waterbird species may be seen from the road. These include Great Crested Grebe, White Pelican, Greater and Lesser Flamingoes, South African Shelduck, African Fish Eagle, Caspian Tern and a variety of waders.

Retrace your route to Elands Bay, then turn right onto the R366. This follows the 40-km length of Verlorenvlei inland towards Redelinghuys (please ask the landowners’ permission should you wish to reach the lake itself at any point), before heading south to Aurora. The mountains to the east of Aurora hold a number of interesting species, including Protea Canary (opposite), and Black and Booted Eagles. The tarred road resumes from Aurora southwards, and ultimately intersects with the R399, 41 km to the east of Velddrif.