It is the Heritage Day long weekend in South Africa, and yesterday we packed the Duster with picnic baskets and grandparents and set out for a most enjoyable morning at our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Large sections of the reserve have recently received management burns to clear moribund grass cover (fire being an essential component of Africa’s grassland and savanna landscapes), and the first spring rains have spurred the growth of new grass, attracting a wide range of birds and animals to these areas.
Reed Cormorant
Cattle Egret
Reed Cormorant
Yellow Mongoose
Yellow Mongoose being chased by a Capped Wheatear
Black-backed Jackal
Crowned Lapwing
Yellow-billed Ducks
Yellow-billed Ducks
Red Hartebeest
Long-tailed Widowbird (female)
Spotted Thick-knee
Spotted Thick-knee
Buffy Pipit
Buffy Pipit
Spur-winged Geese
Ostrich
Hadeda
Capped Wheatear
Blesbok
Lesser Swamp Warbler
Eland
Eland
Eland
White Rhinoceros
Black Wildebeest
Plains Zebra
Red Hartebeest
Blesbok lying on their path
DeWetsWild 
Remarkable to see so much in a day so close to the city. How interesting to see the wheatear chasing the mongoose.
Rietvlei truly is one of Pretoria’s best attributes, an oasis in a desert of development and urban sprawl.
Your description is sadly apt.
Aha! Seeing that Wheatear… remember, you have to look for the Northern Wheatear!! 😉
I still think I have a better chance to win the lottery, AJ
Ag nee Dries… moenie so gou opgee nie!! 😉
Wow, what a selection!
Thank you, Debbie!
Lovely series of captures!
Thank you, Donna!
What a marvelous collection of wildlife and birds you enjoy!
We are blessed for sure!
Another bird with a silly name – the thick-knee! 🙂
I agree, Joanne – sometimes ornithologists just get it plainly wrong – their “old” name, Dikkop (Afrikaans), means “thick-head” and seems much more appropriate.
Looks like an appropriate place to spend Heritage Day.
We certainly thought so!
Wow, what an array of wildlife!
And all only 10km from our home in the capital city!
awesome shots…we often need fire for regrowth here too
Seeing nature rebound after a fire really is wonderful to witness!
Such fascinating photos. I really enjoyed seeing these animals, birds and their lives.
We’re glad and grateful that you did, thanks Anne!
All are gorgeous, but my favorite photo is the one of the cattle egret. So lovely.
Thank you very much!
Happy Heritage Day!!!
And Braai Day!! haha : )
Hope you had a great day as well!
: )
So many different animals, birds! I envy you!
We are blessed to live in this country, Hien.
I am in awe of your photos, Dries.
You are far too kind, Tracy, but thank you nevertheless!
Sjoe, julle het baie gesien, Dries! Pragtige foto’s!
Rietvlei het altyd iets besonders om te deel!
Lovely mix of animals!😊 You really have incredible many animals of different varieties in South Africa.
We absolutely do, John, and to think that all these photos were taken within 10km from our home!