Bird tour through the daisies

Filled with enthusiasm at the prospect of fields of flowers and particularly an escape into the country after being restricted for so long, my son and I set off for the West Coast National Park early yesterday morning. I had eyed the weather forecast for days, and anticipated that anyone who could go during the week would choose Wednesday, and I was not wrong. The drive up was bumper to bumper and the queue to get in the gate was the kind I don't normally join. The gates had just opened a few minutes before, and we were already about 50 cars from the front. Given that each person was supposed to write down their contact details and have their temperature recorded, a quick calculation meant we would be in by 11.30.  The up side was that there were a few birds to watch from the side of the road and a pair of Black-winged Kites mating on a tree not too far away was captured on camera, as well as a Karoo Scrub Robin and various sightings of LBJs.
It wasn't long before the temperature details appeared to be scrapped for practical purposes, as we inched forward (doesn't sound right to say centimetred) and in fact reached the gate just within the time expected (3.5 hours since leaving home), where only money was taken before we took to the long road through the park. A few cars came in from the Langebaan direction and were subjected to loud hooting from those who had queued for hours - a traffic cop arrived and from then all queue jumpers were sent down Cape Town way to join up at the back - fascinating implementation of fairness.
Our first destination was the view site on top of the boulder near the Langebaan gate. Due to multiple sudden stops and lengthy reversing to identify birds along the way, it took a while to get there, but as one of us was there for the flowers and the other for birds, a compromise had to be made. We saw Southern Black Korhaans, a Black Harrier, rock kestrels, dassies, a Grey-backed Cisticola perched perfectly against a blue backdrop, and a tiny tortoise next to the spoor of a small buck. Amongst this plethora of wildlife were masses of white daisies and the odd patch of orange, all bobbing their heads in the considerable breeze that always sweeps across the granite dome. The only shelter was inside the tiny whitewashed hut that has now been converted into a museum with only enough space for 4 people, so we didn't linger. It was nearly lunchtime and we still had to visit the bird hide at the edge of the lagoon near Geelbek, and most importantly, travel the 30 or so kilometres in the traffic train to Postberg on the far side of the lagoon.
More exciting finds were along the boardwalk - Kittlitz's plover with three fluffy babies, Bar-Tailed Godwits, a Whimbrel, Common Greenshanks and Black-winged Stilts, Greater Flamingos, etc. And then a Yellow-billed Kite with a huge wingspan - it seemed to follow us for the rest of the day, but maybe there was more than one!
The drive to Postberg took a while, and we got there at around 2pm with all the other people who had queued so patiently - some were still arriving at closing time (3.30 they closed the incoming gate) and they must have been mad as snakes for not having doing the research. The mass displays were a delight for the eye, and certainly worth the drive, but for awe-inspiring fields of colour and greater variety, a few days further up into Namaqualand would have been ideal. Interestingly, the man at the gate into Postberg asked for my entrance receipt to the park - of course it had got lost in the general chaos of the car - and I asked him if he thought I had got there by any other means. He waved me through.
We passed a Hamerkop on the way out (posted the first recording on eBird!) and had an encounter with a Jackal Buzzard on the drive down to Cape Town. Home after 10 hours driving, wonderful weather, birding, and flower viewing. Highly recommended but get an early start as lots more time is needed in this lovely reserve. Best to visit out of flower season if you are bird-watching.