SOME PRIZED “SPECIALS” – A GOOD REASON TO VISIT CLARENS

Clarens sits at an elevation of roughly 1,750m, right at the base of the Maluti Mountains and adjacent to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Because of this mixture of high-altitude sandstone cliffs, pristine montane grasslands, wooded river valleys, kloofs, and local wetlands/dams, the avian diversity in and around Clarens is phenomenal—with over 250 to 300 species recorded in the local area.

High-Altitude & Cliff Specials (Rare/Threatened)

 * Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) [CR]: The iconic Lammergeier. Highly endangered in Southern Africa, these giant raptors soar high along the sandstone escarpments and cliffs near Golden Gate and the surrounding ranges.

 * Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) [EN]: Often seen roosting or riding thermals in groups along high ridge lines.

 * Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) [VU]: Distinctive with its bare red head and iridescents. Frequently seen foraging in burnt or short-grazed montane grassland pastures.

 * Drakensberg Rockjumper (Chaetops aurantius) [NT]: High-elevation specialist found hopping across exposed boulder slopes and rocky outcrops.

 * Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris) [VU]: A rare endemic found in pristine, high-altitude alpine grasslands.

 * Blue Korhaan (Eupodotis caerulescens) [NT]: Endemic to the central highveld grasslands, recognizable by its bluish neck and loud, frog-like calling.

Highveld & Mountain Grassland Endemics

 * Ground Woodpecker (Geocolaptes olivaceus): Uniquely terrestrial woodpecker; look for small family groups perched on rocks or termite mounds along slopes.

 * Buff-streaked Chat (Oenanthe bifasciata): Very common along rocky hillsides and quarry edges.

 * Sentinel Rock Thrush & Cape Rock Thrush: Found regularly around rock formations and cliffs.

 * Grey-winged Francolin & Red-winged Francolin: Best spotted early morning calling along grass edges or roadside verges.

 * Gurney’s Sugarbird (Promerops gurneyi): Found feeding wherever flowering proteas or aloes dominate the slopes.

 * Mountain Wheatear/Mountain Chat: Bold and frequently seen hopping across rocky patches and stone walls.

Town, Gardens, Kloof Valleys & Woodland

 * African Dusky Flycatcher & African Paradise Flycatcher: Active insectivores along shady kloofs.

 * Cape Batis: Distinctive call heard in thickets and indigenous forest patches.

 * Cape Grassbird & Wailing Cisticola: Common singers from the grass tussocks and shrub boundaries.

 * Greater Double-collared Sunbird & Malachite Sunbird: Brilliant jewel-toned birds attracted to flowering garden plants and wild dagga.

 * Cape Robin-Chat & Karoo Thrush: Familiar garden residents hunting through leaf litter.

 * Pied Starling & Red-winged Starling: Very vocal around buildings, cliffs, and rocky outcrops.

 * African Red-eyed Bulbul: Common garden frugivore.

 * Bush Blackcap & Barratt’s Warbler: Secretive birds of dense thickets and riverine scrub along kloof streams.

Dams, Wetlands & Reedbeds

 * Cape Weaver & Southern Red Bishop: Noisy summer breeders weaving nests in tall reeds.

 * Yellow-billed Duck, South African Shelduck & Spur-winged Goose: Common waterfowl.

 * Lesser Swamp Warbler & African Reed Warbler: Heard chattering from within thick reedbeds.

 * White-throated Swallow & South African Cliff Swallow: Breeding summer migrants skimming water bodies and nesting under eaves or bridges.

 * Giant Kingfisher & Pied Kingfisher: Frequently seen along stream banks and farm dams.

Raptors & Aerial Species

 * Verreaux’s Eagle (Black Eagle): Majestic apex predator soaring along sandstone cliff walls.

 * Jackal Buzzard: High-density resident species often perched on fence posts or hovering over grassy slopes.

 * Lanner Falcon & Peregrine Falcon: Fast-flying hunters along mountain crags.

 * Black Swift & Alpine Swift: Large wheeling flocks feeding high overhead, especially prior to rain fronts.