Back from Western Cape tour

I'm just back to Cape Town after guiding a group of eight Japanese birders around the Western Cape. This was my second time guiding a Japanese group, and once again they were a lot of fun. I took them to sushi for dinner one night in Cape Town. I thought it was delicious; they weren't impressed. Nonetheless, the tour went great and the birding was very good (as it should be in spring!).

Highlights of the tour included all of the possible bustards, three of which are endemic: Ludwig's (with a very small chick) and Denham's Bustards, and Karoo and Southern Black Korhaans; an amazing pelagic experience with a truly astounding number of birds, plus great looks at Soft-plumaged Petrel, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross, and thousands of the beautiful Pintado Petrel; great looks at Cinnamon-breasted Warbler; the rare African Crowned Eagle; great looks at Cape Rockjumper; and of course much more. A few photos from the tour (click on them for larger images):

Cape Rockjumper is one of the most sought-after Cape endemics. This banded bird is an often-viewed individual, resident at Sir Lowery's Pass, just east of Cape Town.

Black-headed Canary is a nomadic Karoo endemic. It was
particularly numerous this trip in the Tankwa Karoo.