This 38km2 Reserve is located 18km south of Pretoria (Tshwane) Central and 38km north of Oliver Tambo International Airport. The Reserve is covered by a network of roads, 40km long. Four Bird Hides are located throughout the reserve as well as one picnic area. One day is more than enough to cover the whole reserve.
Grasslands role over most of the Reserve and the odd clump of indigenous trees line the roads. Two large dams in the reserve are connected via a stream providing a suitable habitat for numerous water birds.
Reception
Laughing Doves usually forage on the ground at reception and a few Southern Masked Weavers build their nests in the trees surrounding the parking lot. As you enter the reserve, the Rietvlei Dam is on your left. Reeds flank the sides and are the home to Southern Red Bishops. The first hide you will reach is Coots Corner(6) although this hide is generally quiet and birds seen here can easily be seen at other hides.
Main Road
Make sure to keep an eye on the sides of the road. Cape Longclaws, African Pipits, Plain-backed Pipits, Crowned, Blacksmith and Wattled Lapwings usually forage next to the road. The grassland on either side provide birds such as Long-tailed Widowbirds, Red-collared Widowbirds, White-winged Widowbirds, Yellow-crowned Bishops, Southern Red Bishops, Ostriches, Banded Martins, Zitting Cisticolas, Rufous-naped Larks and African Stonechats. During the periods when the grass is burnt, Capped Wheatears are easily seen and Pied Crows gather in groups on the ground. The Lapwings also tend to congregate during these periods.
North Road (Northern section)
The Otter Brug (Otter Bridge) along the North Road is a promising area to stop at. Specials such as the Malachite Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Green-backed Heron, Squacco Heron and Little Egret can be seen here if you are patient enough. The latter is particularly used to cars and comes fairly close to you. Yellow-billed Duck, African Black Duck, Red-billed Teal, Hottentot Teal, Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Egyptian Goose, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow and Cape Robin-Chats are common birds in the area.
Vlei Route (Western section)
Red-throated Wrynecks are often seen and heard on the Vlei Route amongst the trees. Keep an ear out for Woodpeckers tapping the dead wood in the area. A pair of Common Fiscals has been seen nesting along this route and a pair of Bokmakieries are generally seen. Crested and Black-collared Barbets put in an odd appearance in this area.
Island View Bird Hide
Island View Bird Hide (7) is my favourite hide. However, it seems to be the most productive during winter mornings. In winter, the water level is lower and the shore and fallen trees in the water are exposed. The shore lures Common Sandpipers and Three-banded Plovers. African Darters, Reed Cormorants, White-breasted Cormorants and Pied Kingfishers perch on the exposed trees. The above mentioned birds also call the island their home. Grey-headed Gulls are always in the vicinity and a pair of African Fish Eagles is resident. African Purple Swamphens and Black Crakes forage at the bottom of the reeds and Little Bitterns often fly past. Drones of Red-knobbed Coots patrol the water and a few Little Grebes as well as the odd Great Crested Grebe is seen. In summer, the water rises relatively high. The breeding migrants: White-throated Swallows build their mud nests underneath and inside the hide itself. More recently, a Whiskered Tern was seen at the hide.
Acacia Route
The Acacia Route (otherwise known as Korhaan Corner to my family) is a good place to look for Northern Black Korhaans, particularly late afternoon or early morning. Secretarybirds, Black-shouldered Kites and African Snipes have been recorded here.
Vlei Route (Eastern section)
The Vlei Route is fairly quiet, the homestead being the most productive area on the route. Chestnut-vented Tit-babblers, Spotted Thick-knees, Fork-tailed Drongos and garden birds can be seen in the homestead area. African Grey Hornbills are seen occasionally. White-fronted Bee-eaters generally occupy the area near the homestead. The rest of this route is best known for its Leviallant Cisticolas.
Marais Dam
The Marais Dam Bird Hide (3) is the most reliable area in the reserve to see a Malachite Kingfisher. White-throated and Greater-striped Swallows both nest underneath the hide (often perching on a nail protruding out of the left hand-side of the hide). White-fronted Bee-eaters are also known to hawk insects from behind the hide. The woodland habitat here provides Southen Boubous, Kurrichane Thrushes, Spotted Flycatchers, Black-crowned Tchagra, Arrow-marked Babbler, Diderick Cuckoos, Black-throated Canaries and the two Barbets. Pin-tailed Whydahs and other seed eaters are lured to the picnic site with the promise of bread scrapes.
South Road
A marsh area just south of the Marais Dam is a good area for Spur-winged Goose, African Spoonbill, Great White Egret, White-throated Duck, Southern Pochard, Black-winged Stilt, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper and African Snipes. However, the reeds are becoming overgrown and it is increasingly impossible to see the other side of the marsh where these birds keep to.
General
In winter, Marsh Owls can be seen gliding over the grassland on the main road. Raptors such as Brown Snake-Eagle, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Steppe Buzzard, Greater Kestrel and Amur Falcons often perch on the power lines in the eastern side of the reserve. Amur Falcons start appearing in the reserve in December and leave the reserve well before winter approaches.
Other birds in the reserve worth a mention: Natal Spurfowl, Swainson’s Spurfowl, Ant-eating Chats (eastern side), Black Stork, Hamerkop, Purple Heron, Black-headed herons, Grey-headed Herons, Black Heron, Brown-throated Martins, Great Reed Warbler, Greater Flamingo, Common Waxbill, African Quailfinch, Groundscraper Thrush, Speckled and Red-faced Mousebirds.
Persons 12 years and older: R30 Children 6 - 12 years : R15 Pre-school children 0 - 6 years : free Persons 60 years and older : R15 Season Tickets are also available Call: +27 12 345 2274 / 5103 / 4
brilliant write-up, Candy and beautiful photos!You have definitely made sure that I will visit this spot when I get to your end of the country!
2Comment at Friday, 15 January 2010 07:30by Muis
Am always hearing of everyone birding here without myself knowing anything about the place. Thanks for the great write up & photos Candy :-)
3Comment at Friday, 15 January 2010 13:29by wildtuinman
Candy, I know this reserve fairly and I just want to say to you that a bright future awaits you. this is a top notch writeup and it belongs in some or other birding book.
Well done!
4Comment at Wednesday, 20 January 2010 10:16by DotDaan
I agree with WTM... what an excellent write up and would not be out of sorts in a book like the Chamberlains Gauteng birding book!!
5Comment at Wednesday, 20 January 2010 12:19by Laine
brilliant brilliant brilliant!
well done Candy!
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