Birds & Flower Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden

Bird Photography at Kirstenbosch

A morning of small bird and flower photography at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden with practical composition, light, and observation techniques in a natural setting.

A morning of Small Birds and Flowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Small birds and flowers photographed during a morning photography training session at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Swee Waxbill Kirstenbosch Garden Cape Town

Friday Morning at Kirstenbosch: Small perched birds and a Garden full of Peace

I expected a lot from this morning. I did not get it in the form of many small birds, but a peaceful walkabout around Kirstenbosch on a fabulous Friday morning.

Again, after quite a few rainy days in Cape Town, I returned to Kirstenbosch with the Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera / EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

Best Spots for Bird Photography

  • Protea and Erica Garden: Located in the upper sections, this area attracts vibrant nectar-feeding species like the Orange-breasted Sunbird, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, and Cape Sugarbird. 
  • Boomslang Canopy Walkway: Ideal for eye-level shots of forest-dwelling birds among the treetops.
  • Indigenous Forest Patches: Quieter, shaded paths where you can find the Lemon Dove, Cape Batis, African Paradise Flycatcher, and Dusky Flycatcher.
Double-Collared Sunbird Observation Kirstenbosch

Kirstenbosch birds photographed during the morning:
  • Swee waxbill
  • Southern Double-Collared Sunbird
  • Swee waxbill
  • Upside down Sunbird portrait
  • Dusky flycatcher
  • Cape bulbul

Canon Camera / Lens: Birds and Flowers Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Lens
  • Manual Mode: 400mm @ f/5.6 / Auto- ISO (Various) / 1/1000s - 1/1250s shutter speeds
  • No Lens IS / Handheld
Learn practical bird and flower photography techniques at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. Photography Training Kirstenbosch Garden

Post-Processing: Adobe Lightroom


Arum Lily Photography, Cape Town

Perched Small Birds at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Bird Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
Southern Double-Collared Sunbird Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town


BirdPhotography at Kirstenbosch Garden
Swee Waxbill Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Bird Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
Sunbird Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Bird Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
African Dusky Flycatcher Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Birds Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
Cape Bulbul Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Bird Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
Boubou Shrike Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town


Plants / Flowers at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden

Flower Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
King Protea Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

Flower Photography at Kirstenbosch Garden
Strelitzia (Bird of Paradise) Flower Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden Cape Town

History of Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

Location: Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town

Post Processing: Adobe Lightroom Classic

Canon Photography Training Milnerton Woodbridge Island | Kirstenbosch Cape Town

Cape Town-based Canon photography trainer, educator, and Conscious Intelligence (CI) researcher specialising in nature photography, visual perception, Canon EOS systems and AI.

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