Isn’t it amazing how quickly the things we enjoy doing fly past!? I can’t believe another month of guiding drives at our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve is behind me already. Time then to take a look at what Rietvlei dished up in the month of April. Autumn is most definitely here and it is noticeable not only in the changing colours of the grass and leaves but also in the absence of most of the birds that visit our part of the world during summer.
Sunrise at Rietvlei
Julia Skimmer Dragonfly
Nile Monitor trying to swallow a huge crab
Reed seed
Black-chested Snake Eagle – with prey – in silhouette
Sharp-tooth Catfish at Marais Dam
Yellow-billed Duck in silhouette
Nile Monitor
Leopard Tortoise (photo by Joubert)
Buffalo in the wetland
Island View
I ticked 93 species of birds while guiding guests through the reserve this April.
Blacksmith Lapwing (photo by Joubert)
Immature Little Bittern
Bokmakierie
Red-knobbed Coot
Reed Cormorant (photo by Joubert)
White-breasted Cormorant
Pied Crow (photo by Joubert)
Cape Turtle Dove
Fork-tailed Drongo
African Black Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
African Fish Eagle
Immature Black-chested Snake Eagle
Cattle Egret
Peregrine Falcon
Black-necked Grebe
Little Grebe
Helmeted Guineafowl
Hadedas
Hamerkop
Black-headed Heron
Sacred Ibis
Giant Kingfisher (photo by Joubert)
Black-winged Kite
Wattled Lapwing
Rufous-naped Lark
Common Moorhen
Female ostrich (photo by Joubert)
Male ostrich (photo by Joubert)
Southern Pochard
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Streaky-headed Seed-eater
African Snipe
Cape Glossy Starling
African Stonechat
African Swamphen
Red-billed Teal
Cape Wagtail
Southern Masked Weaver
Long-tailed Widowbird male in transitional plumage
Red-throated Wryneck
One of the highlights of the month was watching this pair of Pied Starlings sharing tiny red berries.
African Pied Starlings
African Pied Starlings (photo by Joubert)
African Pied Starlings
African Pied Starlings
African Pied Starlings
African Pied Starlings
African Pied Starlings
African Pied Starlings (photo by Joubert)
African Pied Starlings
Fifteen species of mammal showed themselves during our drives in April.
African Buffalo
African Buffalo
Blesbok (photo by Joubert)
Eland
Hippo
Black-backed Jackal
Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)
Yellow Mongoose
Yellow Mongoose
Yellow Mongoose
Waterbuck
Waterbuck
Waterbuck
Waterbuck (photo by Joubert)
Black Wildebeest
Plains Zebras
Plains Zebra
Plains Zebras
List of mammals seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve in April 2024:
| Scientific | Afrikaans | English |
| Alcelaphus buselaphus | Rooihartbees | Red Hartebeest |
| Antidorcas marsupialis | Springbok | Springbuck |
| Canis mesomelas | Rooijakkals | Black-backed Jackal |
| Ceratotherium simum | Witrenoster | White Rhinoceros |
| Connochaetes gnou | Swartwildebees | Black Wildebeest |
| Cynictis penicillata | Witkwasmuishond | Yellow Mongoose |
| Damaliscus pygargus | Blesbok | Blesbuck |
| Equus quagga | Bontsebra | Plains Zebra |
| Herpestes sanguineus | Swartkwasmuishond | Slender Mongoose |
| Hippopotamus amphibius | Seekoei | Hippopotamus |
| Hydrictis maculicollis | Kleinotter | Spotted-necked Otter |
| Kobus ellipsyprymnus | Waterbok | Waterbuck |
| Syncerus caffer | Buffel | Cape Buffalo |
| Taurotragus oryx | Eland | Eland |
| Microchiroptera | Insekvretende vlermuis (spesie onbekend) |
Insect-eating bat (species unknown) |
List of birds seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve in April 2024:
| Scientific | Afrikaans | English |
| Acridotheres tristis | Indiese Spreeu | Common Myna |
| Acrocephalus gracilirostris | Kaapse Rietsanger | Lesser Swamp Warbler |
| Afrotis afraoides | Witvlerkkorhaan | Northern Black Korhaan |
| Alopochen aegyptiaca | Kolgans | Egyptian Goose |
| Amandava subflava | Rooiassie | Orange-breasted Waxbill |
| Amblyospiza albifrons | Dikbekwewer | Thick-billed Weaver |
| Anas erythrorhyncha | Rooibekeend | Red-billed Teal |
| Anas sparsa | Swarteend | African Black Duck |
| Anas undulata | Geelbekeend | Yellow-billed Duck |
| Anthus cinnamomeus | Gewone Koester | African Pipit |
| Apus caffer | Witkruiswindswael | White-rumped Swift |
| Ardea melanocephala | Swartkopreier | Black-headed Heron |
| Batis molitor | Witliesbosbontrokkie | Chinspot Batis |
| Bostrychia hagedash | Hadeda | Hadeda Ibis |
| Bubulcus ibis | Veereier | Western Cattle Egret |
| Burhinus capensis | Gewone Dikkop | Spotted Thick-knee |
| Butorides striata | Groenrugreier | Green-backed Heron |
| Cecropis cucullata | Grootstreepswael | Greater Striped Swallow |
| Centropus burchellii | Gewone Vleiloerie | Burchell’s Coucal |
| Ceryle rudis | Bontvisvanger | Pied Kingfisher |
| Chalcomitra amethystina | Swartsuikerbekkie | Amethyst Sunbird |
| Chrysococcyx caprius | Diederikkie | Diederik Cuckoo |
| Cinnyris talatala | Witpenssuikerbekkie | White-belled Sunbird |
| Circaetus pectoralis | Swartborsslangarend | Black-chested Snake Eagle |
| Cisticola tinniens | Vleitinktinkie | Levaillant’s Cisticola |
| Colius striatus | Gevlekte Muisvoel | Speckled Mousebird |
| Columba arquatrix | Geelbekbosduif | African Olive Pigeon |
| Corvus albus | Witborskraai | Pied Cow |
| Corythornis cristatus | Kuifkopvisvanger | Malachite Kingfisher |
| Crinifer concolor | Kwevoel | Grey Go-Away Bird |
| Crithagra gularis | Streepkopkanarie | Streaky-headed Seedeater |
| Curruca subcoerulea | Bosveldtjeriktik | Chestnut-vented Warbler |
| Dessonornis caffer | Gewone Janfrederik | Cape Robin-Chat |
| Dicrurus adsimilis | Mikstertbyvanger | Fork-tailed Drongo |
| Elanus caeruleus | Blouvalk | Black-winged Kite |
| Estrilda astrild | Rooibeksysie | Common Waxbill |
| Euplectes albonotatus | Witvlerkflap | White-winged Widowbird |
| Euplectes ardens | Rooikeelflap | Red-collared Widowbird |
| Euplectes orix | Rooivink | Southern Red Bishop |
| Euplectes progne | Langstertflap | Longtailed Widowbird |
| Falco biarmicus | Edelvalk | Lanner Falcon |
| Falco peregrinus | Swerfvalk | Peregrine Falcon |
| Falco rupicolus | Kransvalk | Rock Kestrel |
| Fulica cristata | Bleshoender | Red-knobbed Coot |
| Gallinago nigripennis | Afrikaanse Snip | African Snipe |
| Gallinula chloropus | Grootwaterhoender | Common Moorhen |
| Hirundo albigularis | Witkeelswael | White-throated Swallow |
| Hirundo rustica | Huisswael | Barn Swallow |
| Icthyophaga vocifer | Visarend | Fish Eagle |
| Ixobrychus minutus | Klein Rietreier | Little Bittern |
| Jynx ruficollis | Draaihals | Red-throated Wryneck |
| Lamprotornis bicolor | Witgatspreeu | Pied Starling |
| Lamprotornis nitens | Klein Glansspreeu | Cape Glossy Starling |
| Laniarius ferrugineus | Suidelike Waterfiskaal | Southern Boubou |
| Lanius collaris | Fiskaallaksman | Common Fiscal |
| Lybius torquatus | Rooikophoutkapper | Black-collared Barbet |
| Macronyx capensis | Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie | Cape Longclaw |
| Megaceryle maxima | Reuse Visvanger | Giant Kingfisher |
| Microcarbo africanus | Rietduiker | Reed Cormorant |
| Mirafra africana | Rooineklewerik | Rufous-naped Lark |
| Motacilla capensis | Gewone Kwikkie | Cape Wagtail |
| Netta erythrophthalma | Bruineend | Southern Pochard |
| Numida meleagris | Gewone Tarentaal | Helmeted Guineafowl |
| Passer diffusus | Gryskopmossie | Southern Grey-headed Sparrow |
| Passer melanurus | Gewone Mossie | Cape Sparrow |
| Phalacrocorax lucidus | Witborsduiker | White-breasted Cormorant |
| Phoeniculus purpureus | Rooibekkakelaar | Green Wood-hoopoe |
| Ploceus velatus | Swartkeelgeelvink | Southern Masked Weaver |
| Podiceps nigricollis | Swrtnekdobbertjie | Black-necked Grebe |
| Porphyrio madagascariensis | Grootkoningriethaan | African Swamphen |
| Prinia subflava | Bruinsylangstertjie | Tawny-flanked Prinia |
| Psittacula krameri | Ringnekparakiet | Rose-ringed Parakeet |
| Pternistis swainsonii | Bosveldfisant | Swainson’s Spurfowl |
| Pycnonotus tricolor | Swartoogtiptol | Dark-capped Bulbul |
| Quelea quelea | Rooibekkwelea | Red-billed Quelea |
| Saxicola torquatus | Gewone Bontrokkie | African Stonechat |
| Scopus umbretta | Hamerkop | Hamerkop |
| Sigelus silens | Fiskaalvlieevanger | Fiscal Flycatcher |
| Spilopelia senegalensis | Rooiborsduifie | Laughing Dove |
| Streptopelia capicola | Gewone Tortelduif | Cape Turtle Dove |
| Streptopelia semitorquata | Grootringduif | Red-eyed Dove |
| Struthio camelus | Volstruis | Common Ostrich |
| Tachybaptus ruficollis | Kleindobbertjie | Little Grebe |
| Tadorna cana | Kopereend | South African Shelduck |
| Telophorus zeylonus | Bokmakierie | Bokmakierie |
| Threskiornis aethiopicus | Skoorsteenveer | African Sacred Ibis |
| Turdoides jardineii | Pylvlekkatlagter | Arrow-marked Babbler |
| Turdus smithi | Geelbeklyster | Karoo Thrush |
| Urocolius indicus | Rooiwangmuisvoel | Red-faced Mousebird |
| Vanellus armatus | Bontkiewiet | Blacksmith Lapwing |
| Vanellus coronatus | Kroonkiewiet | Crowned Lapwing |
| Vanellus senegallus | Lelkiewiet | Wattled Lapwing |
| Zosterops virens | Kaapse Glasogie | Cape White-eye |
If you’d like to join me on a guided tour of Rietvlei – on a hike or on an open vehicle drive – you can book through melanie@rietvleicoffee.co.za / +27(0)74-820-9926.
DeWetsWild 
Die sonsopkoms by Rietvlei is so mooi! Die geelbek eend (is dit die Afrikaanse naam?) is prentjie mooi en terwyl ek nou na jou foto van die visarend kyk, hoor ek een hier onder by ons rivier – dit was nogal “weird”. Pragtige foto’s van al die voëls en die sebras is net so mooi. Wat ‘n voorreg om omring te wees deur soveel wilde diere en voëls.
Dit is regtig n voorreg en n seen om soveel van my tyd in die natuur te kan deurbring!
What an overwhelming collection! I particularly enjoyed the bird gallery though I was fascinated by the Nile monitor eating the crab. I also enjoyed the ostrich with the zebra, and the slightly winking waterbuck. The pied starling sequence is lovely. Was that some kind of nuptial gift-giving do you think?
Thank you very much, Carol!
The Starling’s behaviour had me guessing as well, but given that winter’s ahead now and the nesting period is still some months away, and the fact that the one presenting the gift did so deep into the other one’s mouth, I’d wager that it was probably a parent feeding the berries to an offspring that should have been able to fend for itself by now. Why it would then pass the berry back to the parent though I don’t understand – maybe its tummy was just full!
Wow!!! Spectacular photos DeWets! What fortunate guests to have you as their guide.
Thank you very much, Carol!
Lucky, lucky guests I would say having both you (and Joubert sometimes!) guiding them through this slice of heaven on earth. I hope you print out your checklists for guests to tick off. The photographs are lovely – of course I love the one of the black-backed jackal the most!
So very kind of you to say, Anne! I am enjoying every second of sharing Rietvlei’s secrets with my guests and it is a blessing that Joubert and Marilize can sometimes join in as well!
Dis ongelooflik hoe baie voëls en ander gediertes jy daar gesien het Dries! Jou en Joubert se foto’s is so pragtig. Ek sal vir my ‘n beter lens moet kry vir voëls afneem. Dankie dat jy die met ons deel. You’re living your dream!☺️
Rietvlei is n kleine juweel hier op ons stoep, Aletta, en wat n seen om dit my “werk” te kan noem!
Dis wonderlik 😊
Thank you for all the wonderful photos and the details.
Glad you enjoyed it, Lakshmi
What an embarrassment of riches, Dries! The sunrise shot is stunning and I love Joubert s photo of the cormorant.
Thank you very much, Janet!