Pelagic Sea Birds

Birds: 10/10
Scenery: 6/10
General tourism value: 4/10

Overview:

The continental shelf off Cape Town is regarded as one of the best pelagic birding spots in the world, where one can see up to six albatross species on a single day. Sailing from Simonstown or Hout Bay to the fishing grounds of the highly productive Benguela current, derived from Antarctica's icy waters, you will be awed by the sheer spectacle of thousands of seabirds, of 15 to 20 different species, squabbling over scraps behind fishing trawlers. Once the initial adrenaline rush is under control, and you have fought off the crippling views of Black-browed, Shy and Yellow-nosed albatrosses, White-chinned Petrel, Cape Gannet, Sooty Shearwater and Wilson's Storm Petrel, we will sift through the clouds of birds in search of less common species. The composition of the flocks differs depending on the time of year, as does your chance of seeing various species.

In Winter (May-August) one would have the best chance of picking up the enigmatic Wandering Albatross, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, Pintado Petrel, Broad-billed, Antarctic and Salvin's prions, Subantarctic Skua and Antarctic Fulmar. Spring (September-October) brings passage migrants such as Softplumaged Petrel and Great Shearwater. In summer (November - February), the Benguela attracts palearctic migrants including Cory's and Manx shearwaters, European Storm Petrel, Arctic Skua and Sabine's Gull. Other Summer visitors include Flesh-footed Shearwater, Great-winged Petrel and Leach's Storm Petrel. Autumn (March-April) brings the best chance of seeing the Black-bellied Storm Petrel as it heads for warmer tropical climes. The Western Cape is known for its variety of vagrant pelagic species. Although unlikely, the following are some of the more spectacular species that are always possible: Royal, Grey-headed and Dark-mantled Sooty albatrosses, Little Shearwater, and one of the best chances in the world of seeing the extremely rare and endangered Spectacled Petrel.

Cape Town's oceanic waters can be rough, and we advise, for the comfort of our clients, that an alternative day be selected should inclement weather prevent the boat from leaving harbour. Fortunately, a variety of other birding activities are available in and around Cape Town should the pelagic trip have to be postponed for an alternative day.