With May drawing to a close I can reflect on the blessing of more chances to explore our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve with guests interested in learning more about this little piece of paradise right on our capital city’s doorstep. Winter’s definitely starting to bite, and sightings of of reptiles and butterflies are dwindling.

Eland, with Rietvlei Dam in the background

Painted Lady Butterfly

Puff Adder

Speckled Rock Skink

Juvenile Mole Snake

The migrant birds that spend the summer in our part of the world have disappeared, and the resident birds have exchanged their best summer breeding plumage for drabber colouration. Nevertheless, Rietvlei is still an amazing place for bird watchers and I ticked off 96 species in the past month.

African Darter

African Pipit

Arrow-marked Babbler

Bearded Woodpecker

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Blue-billed Teal

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Cape Glossy Starling

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Fiscal Flycatcher

Fork-tailed Drongo

Green-backed Heron

Green Woodhoopoe

Grey Go-away Bird

Northern Black Korhaan

Orange River Francolins

Reed Cormorant – feeding time!

Reed Cormorant

Streaky-headed Seed-eater

Swainson’s Spurfowl

White-breasted Cormorant

Zitting Cisticola

With the veld opening up as the grass starts drying the mammal viewing at Rietvlei is definitely getting easier, with the larger herbivorous animals starting to congregate near water and in areas with greener pastures.

Eland

Waterbuck cow

Red Hartebeest

Black-backed Jackal

Plains Zebra drinking

Waterbuck bull

Hippopotamus

Black Wildebeest

Buffalo

Serval

Serval

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.

List of birds seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during May 2025:

List of mammals seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during May 2025: