Nicky Hoseck

Wings On The Hoof:
Our Top 10 Wild Coast Birds

Not all your time in the saddle is spent speeding along with the wind rushing past your ears and tears pouring from your eyes. A significant part of the Wild Coast experience is spent meandering along at a leisurely pace, soaking up the stunning vistas, admiring the tangle of ancient forests, and spotting some of the natural residents.

The Wild Coast is no game reserve but the birds don’t know that, and they flock here in a kaleidoscope of colours and shapes of all kinds, feasting on seeds, fruit, fish, and a cornucopia of insect life.

It’s not always easy to spot or identify birds from horseback, but there are a few exceptional residents and visitors who are unmistakable, either because of their appearance or their distinctive voice.

Before embarking on your Wild Coast Horseback Adventure, take a moment to familiarize yourself with these resident and migrant birds - they’ll still be here whether you’re arriving next week or next year!

#1 African Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer)

The iconic call of the African Fish Eagle is as distinctive as a lion’s roar and considered one of the most evocative sounds of Africa. On trail, it’s rare for a day to pass without us hearing or seeing a Fish Eagle, soaring over the rugged coastline.

With its large size and distinctive black-and-white colouring, the African Fish Eagle is hard to miss, even when it’s soaring overhead. Strong and athletic, the Fish Eagle performs impressive aerial maneuvers as it hunts, achieving speeds of 200-300km/h as it dives for its prey.

Although their diet is comprised primarily of live fish, Fish Eagles will also hunt other birds, and steal their catch in a practice known as kleptoparasitism.

#2 Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus)

It’s rare that a ride goes by without a jackal buzzard stunning us with its aerial stability and sheer audacity. No matter how strong the wind, the jackal buzzard hangs effortlessly in the air, steering its way through the sky by making tiny adjustments to the angle of its wings.

These conspicuous raptors occur in mountainous and rocky regions throughout Southern Africa and we often see them along the Wild Coast, either perched on a branch or hovering overhead.

The Jackal Buzzard’s distinctive call is similar to the howls of the black-backed jackal, which is how the bird got its name.

Monogamous and territorial, Jackal Buzzards are usually solitary, except during breeding season when pairs work together to build large stick nests in which to raise their young.

#3 Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum

Sporting a golden crown of stiff golden feathers, these birds have an almost regal appearance, which they emphasize in a complex courtship dance.

Luckily for us, they also love grain and visit our horse paddocks in Kei Mouth almost daily in search of food. Although they lack the bulk of the Southern Ground Hornbill, they are still one of the largest birds we see on the Wild Coast, standing up to one metre tall, with a wingspan of up to two meters.

Crowned cranes mate are monogamous birds, remaining with the same partner for their entire lives. Each year, they return to the same breeding grounds where the pair work together to create a safe haven for the 2-3 chicks they produce annually.

Many years ago, large flocks of Crowned Crane used to congregate on Wavecrest beach, creating an unforgettable phenomenon. Sadly, environmental changes and increased human activity have led to a significant decline in their numbers and this once-common sight has become increasingly rare.

#4 African Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

Another unmistakable occupant of the Wild Coast is the African Oystercatcher. With its bright red beak and legs contrasting with its jet-black plumage, the Oystercatcher cuts a distinctive figure against the sandy beaches and rocky shorelines it calls home.

Like the Crowned Crane, the African Oystercatcher is a monogamous species that remains loyal to a single partner throughout their lives. They are also strongly territorial and once they’ve laid claim to a section of coastline, will defend it vigorously for the rest of their lives.

#5 Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri)

This endangered bird is one of the largest in South Africa, standing between 90 to 129cm tall and weighing up to 6kg. With only 400-500 groups left in South Africa, we’re very fortunate to see these birds on the Wild Coast as we ride.

Although sightings are by no means frequent, when they do occur, they’re unforgettable. Seeing these enormous birds launch themselves into the air is truly breathtaking. Their wings, which can reach up to 2.5 meters wide, create a dramatic silhouette as they take to the skies.

Sadly, Southern ground hornbills are slow to breed, producing only one chick every few years. They are also one of the few species in which only the dominant pair breed. The rest of the group dedicate themselves to raising the chosen chick, leaving the others to perish.

Conservation efforts are crucial for the survival of these unusual birds and every sighting we get of them is both a privilege and a hopeful sign for the future.

#6 White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus)

If you think you’ve seen a penguin on the beach while riding with Wild Coast Horses, chances are you’ve just spotted a White-breasted Cormorant.

The largest of the cormorants common to this area, White-breasted Cormorants are frequently seen resting on the beach with their wings out-stretched, drying in the African sun.

Unlike penguins and other birds that dive for their prey, the white-breasted cormorants' feathers aren’t waterproof - a feature that’s both advantageous and inconvenient! When wet, the added weight of the feathers helps the White-breasted cormorant dive deeper and swim faster. On the downside, once the dive is complete, it must dry in the sun before attempting another dive.

For us riders, this creates a dramatic spectacle, with the birds appearing almost statuesque as they bask in the sun.

#7 Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

The Wild Coast boasts a wide variety of kingfishers, from the diminutive Pygmy Kingfisher to the more sizable Giant Kingfishers.

Of the seven species occurring in the area, we most commonly see the Brown-hooded and the Pied.

As eye-catching as the Brown-hooded Kingfisher is, it lacks the aerial acrobatics that make the Pied Kingfisher stand out from the rest. With its unique hovering technique, speed and agility, the Pied Kingfisher frequently entertains us as we ride.

Like most kingfishers, the Pied lives on a diet of fish and, after hovering 50-65 feet above the water, performs a gravity-defying plunge into the water, often emerging with a wriggling fish firmly clasped in its beak.

Unlike other kingfishers, the Pied can eat on the wing, so is free to hunt over large expanses of water that prove too challenging for other species. A predominantly coastal bird, Pied Kingfishers sometimes venture inland, fishing in dams and rivers, as well as coastal lagoons and estuaries.

#8 Cape (Glossy) Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

While residents tend to take the Cape Starling’s presence for granted, visitors delight in its shiny, iridescent plumage. Sparkling in the bright sunlight, the Cape Starling’s blue-green feathers appear almost metallic, with hints of purple and bronze.

Like most starlings, this brightly coloured bird is highly adaptable. It thrives in diverse habitats, from Wild Coast grasslands to urban gardens, where it can become a nuisance by dominating feeders and scaring off other species.

Cape Starlings have also taken over the duties of the locally extinct oxpecker and can often be seen picking parasites, such as ticks, off the backs of the Wild Coast’s free-ranging cows.

#9 Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

A single common tern perched on the beach is unlikely to turn heads, but when a flock of 100 or more suddenly takes off, it creates a spectacle of avian choreography, complete with coordinated aerobatics and flashing white wings.

Large flocks of terns congregate on the Wild Coast beaches daily, lingering on the sand until the very last moment, when they suddenly take to the air in response to the threat posed by horses and riders. As their sleek bodies and forked tails cut through the air, they transform the tranquil beach into a maelstrom of activity, accompanied by a loud chorus of high-pitched calls.

Common terns aren’t as ordinary as their name suggests - they’re quite unusual in that they can drink either salt or freshwater, using their specially adapted nasal glands to excrete any excess salt. They are also impressive architects who add bones and shell fragments to their nests to protect them against high tides.

#10 Goliath Heron (Ardea Goliath)

The Goliath heron is an Instagrammer’s dream - always willing to pose for the perfect shot, especially on Wavecrest beach where the resident giant likes to create a towering silhouette against the dawn sky.

If you walk down onto the beach after it, you’ll find footprints as big as your own, which is hardly surprising given that the Goliath Heron stands an impressive 120 to 152 cm tall. Inevitably, a bird of this size has an insatiable appetite, which it attempts to satisfy by catching two to three large fish a day. Its average prey weighs around 500g - nearly four times heavier than your average portion of fish and chips!

Like many of our favourite Wild Coast birds, the Goliath Heron mates for life, although it’s not the most attentive of partners, spending three-quarters of its life standing alone while surveying the water for likely prey.

Conclusion

While we have barely scratched the surface of the multitude of birds you might see on a Wild Coast Horse Trail, we have managed to highlight some of our favourite feathered friends.

We don’t expect every rider to be a keen bird watcher or avid twitcher (Tom Kompier - you are the exception), but we do hope you’ll appreciate the avian spectacles we get to witness and value the rarity of some of those encounters.

As I said before the Wild Coast is no game reserve, but it's still home to a rich and diverse array of birdlife that never fails to entertain.

As you ride the trails, keep your eyes and ears open. You never know when you might spot a rare species or witness an extraordinary display of avian behaviour. These encounters, big and small, contribute to the unique magic of the Wild Coast Horse Trail, making each journey an adventure in discovery.

Photos: Thanks to Kei Mouth Tourism, Gareth Yearsley, and Pixabay

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