We journeyed up in a well traveled Bakkie with my lady driving, and met up with another of the groups that was doing a count in the area. After finding out where and what was expected of us first timers, we split our group into smaller groups and were allocated strategically placed points above the indigenous forest to watch for our feather friends.
The weather was cold but the scenery was beautiful, and though our group didn’t see any of the parrots on the first day, we could still appreciate our surroundings as the sun dipped below the mountains bathing us in its golden glow.
Back at camp there was talk over who had seen what as we munched happily on our much needed supper – most groups had spotted at least one parrot, so we weren’t feeling so good about not spotting any. It was off to bed early and up earlier, we were up in the darkness at four in the morning so we could get to our posts before the sun rose, as the Parrots are most active in the morning and the afternoon.
Tired cold bodies climbed into the bakkie and we headed up the rocky drive to our vantage point, then making the last hundred meters on foot our over the rough terrain by torchlight. Our fearless team leader (my lady) decided we should change our position as where we were originally positioned didn’t offer us a good view over the forest below. We settled ourselves in against the cold wind (great excuse for me to cuddle closer) and awaited the dawn and the Parrots. I think the parrots decided to cuddle up as well because at about 7:30am they hadn’t made an appearance, getting restless I convinced our fearless leader to join me on a walk into the forest, hoping maybe we’d be able to spot some parrots close up… …we didn’t we did come across a pair of Knysna Louries though, very beautiful brightly coloured birds, and they were perched not three meters away from us.
After our excursion we regioned our fellow group, to continue our vigil, not long after we had our first spotting, and postioned in a better spot to view the group, we watched the parrots until about midmorning, before we headed back to camp to make breakfast up camp and return home.
Tired but happy I climbed into my warm bed on Sunday night ready to dream of Parrots, susets and sunrises, in the company of someone you love.
http://www.ukzn.ac.za/Biology/CapeParrot242.aspx
