Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

A bird of moist savannas, woodlands and forests, often found near large rivers and permanent water bodies, the Broad-billed Roller subsists on a diet that is mainly made up of termite and ant alates, beetles and other invertebrates caught in flight. They start breeding after good rains, nesting in holes in dead trees where clutches of 2-4 chicks are raised. Adults weigh about 100g and measure approximately 29cm in length.

The Broad-billed Roller has a wide distribution over Africa’s tropical and sub-tropical regions and is also found in Madagascar. They migrate to South Africa around mid-spring and depart again by the end of summer and have a very limited local range, occurring only in coastal northern Kwazulu-Natal, the Lowveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and in the Limpopo River Valley. The IUCN lists the Broad-billed Roller as being of least concern.

Broad-billed Roller

Broad-billed rollers

Broad-billed Roller

Purple Roller

14 Replies

Coracias naevius

The Purple Roller occurs fairly widely in the woodland and savannah areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, and the IUCN considers it to be of least concern. Here in South Africa they’re found from the north of Kwazulu-Natal through the Lowveld and Bushveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo to the North West Province and Kalahari regions of the Northern Cape, but isn’t commonly encountered anywhere.

Purple Rollers feed mainly on insects but will also snap up other invertebrates and even small lizards, mice and baby birds! They’re usually seen alone or in monogamous, territorial pairs. Partners perform elaborate aerial courtship displays – hence the family name – and strengthen the pair bond by feeding each other. They usually nest in cavities in dead trees, laying clutches of 2-5 eggs, during spring and summer. Both parents take care of the chicks at the nest. Adults weigh above 150g and measure about 33cm in length.

Purple Roller

Purple Roller (photo by Joubert)

Purple Roller

Purple Roller (photo by Joubert)

Purple Roller

Caspian Tern

10 Replies

Hydroprogne (Sterna) caspia

While the IUCN considers the global population of the Caspian Tern as being of least concern, with the species being found on all the continents except South America and Antarctica, the South African population is considered to be vulnerable and is estimated at less than 1,000 adults birds with only about 300 breeding pairs in the country. Here they’re found along our entire coastline, preferring river mouths and bays, and at permanent water bodies on the Highveld. Caspian Terns feed almost exclusively on fish, caught by hovering and then diving to snatch the prey from the water. They’re mostly seen alone or in small flocks, often mixing with other kinds of water birds.

Caspian Terns form permanent pairs, breeding during the summer season in nests that are little more than a shallow scrape on the ground lined with a few pieces of dried plant material. The parents work together to incubate clutches of 1-3 eggs over a three week period. While the chicks leave the nest when they are only around a week old, they can’t fly till they’re about a month old and remain with their parents until about 8 months of age. Fully grown Caspian Terns, the largest species in the family, weigh almost 700g and measure around 50cm long.

Caspian Tern

Willow Warbler

10 Replies

Phylloscopus trochilus

The Willow Warbler is a bird that visits South Africa during our summer months, the first ones arriving towards the end of September and the last departing again by May. While they’re here they may be found in all our provinces, though they rarely venture into the dry western parts of the country. Willow Warblers breed across a large swathe of Eurasia. The IUCN estimates their total population at as many as 650-million birds and lists the species as being of least concern.

Willow Warblers eat insects and other invertebrates and lives in a variety of woodland and savanna habitats and also well planted parks and gardens. These are restless birds, usually seen singly, in pairs or small groups of 3 or 4 (rarely up to 30), and often associate with other small insectivorous birds in mixed “feeding parties”.

Adult Willow Warblers weigh only about 9g and measure only around 12cm in length.

Willow Warbler

Willow Warbler (photo by Joubert)

Willow Warbler

Willow Warblers (photo by Joubert)

Willow Warbler

Pea Blue Butterfly

5 Replies

Lampides boeticus

One of the most widespread butterflies in the world, being found in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa, the Pea Blue, or Long-tailed Blue, occurs all over South Africa. They’re quite catholic in their habitat requirements and very common in gardens. They can be a pest where peas and beans are farmed; the larvae feeding on plants from the legume family.

Adult Pea Blues are seen throughout the year and boast a wingspan of only 2-3cm. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern.

Pea Blue

Pea Blue butterflies

Long-tailed Blue

Long-tailed Blue Butterfly

Pea Blue

Southern Pochard

4 Replies

Netta erythrophthalma

The Southern Pochard is a species of duck found in both Africa and South America. They occur naturally in wetlands with deep water and lots of water plants but have also adapted to farm dams and sewage treatment works. They feed on seeds and leaves, usually taken from the water by diving and dabbling.

Southern Pochards may breed throughout the year in response to favourable conditions. Pairs are monogamous. The female constructs the bowl-shaped nest on the ground, well hidden by the surrounding vegetation, near the water’s edge. She may lay clutches of more than a dozen eggs, one per day, before starting to incubate them. The chicks then hatch after 3-4 weeks and can swim and dive almost straight away. The growing chicks can feed themselves and eat a lot more insects and other invertebrates than their parents do. They can fly by the time they’re about 2 months old.

Despite mentioning a declining population, the IUCN considers the Southern Pochard to be of least concern. In South Africa they’re found at suitable habitat in all our provinces with most of the population centred on the Highveld and in the Western Cape. These are nomadic birds, often making treks of up to 3,000km in search of watery habitats that suit their requirements.

Southern Pochard

Southern Pochard (photo by Joubert)

Southern Pochard

Southern Pochard female

Southern Pochards

Southern Pochard

Southern Pochards

Southern Pochard (photo by Joubert)

Southern Pochards

Female Southern Pochard

Southern Pochard

Southern Pochards

Southern Pochard

Southern Pochards

Southern Pochard

Sandmen Butterflies

9 Replies

Genus Spialia

The Sandmen is a familiar and widespread genus of tiny butterflies, with some species occurring in almost every corner of South Africa in almost every habitat, from forests to semi-deserts, while others have extremely limited ranges and very specific habitat requirements. They all look very similar and are difficult to identify to species level in the field. Adults have a wingspan of only 2-3cm and fly low to the ground, settling often on fresh dung, flowers, leaves, rocks or on the bare ground and regularly returning to the same spot. Their larvae feed on a wide range of indigenous plants.

South Africa is home to 14 species of Spialia Sandmen:
Boland Sandman (S. sataspes)
Bushveld Sandman (S. colotes)
Common Sandman (S. diomus)
Confusing Sandman (S. confusa)
Delagoa Sandman (S. delagoae)
Dwarf Sandman (S. nanus)
Forest Sandman (S. dromus)
Grassveld Sandman (S. agylla)
Mafa Sandman (S. mafa)
Mite Sandman (S. paula)
Mountain Sandman (S. spio)
Star Sandman (S. asterodia)
Wandering Sandman (S. depauperata)
Wolkberg Sandman (S. secessus)

Sandman Butterfly

Marsh Owl

16 Replies

Asio capensis

The Marsh Owl inhabits wetlands, covered by reeds and sedges, and tall grasslands, occasionally venturing into areas of thorny savanna, and are quite nomadic. Where it occurs it is seen more easily than most other kinds of owls as they are often active from early dusk till well after first light, especially when feeding chicks. They’re also much more social than others of their kind and may congregate in groups of more than 50 birds outside of the breeding season. Marsh Owls hunt mostly on the wing, gliding low to the ground and taking prey ranging in size from termites and snails to bats, rodents, snakes, lizards, frogs and birds up to the size of pigeons. They often store their captured prey in a larder to consume later.

Marsh Owls nest in shallow depressions on the ground, well hidden at the base of dense vegetation, usually during the dry season. They form monogamous pairs and the female takes sole responsibility for incubation of the clutch of 2-6 eggs while the male brings her food at the nest. The chicks stay in the nest for only about two-and-a-half weeks, even though they won’t be able to fly for several weeks more, staying well hidden in dense vegetation at ground level until they fledge. They probably remain dependent on their parents until they’re about 3 months old. Fully grown Marsh Owls measure about 35cm in length and weigh approximately 300g.

The IUCN considers the Marsh Owl to be of least concern. It is widely distributed in Madagascar and east, central and southern Africa, with isolated populations on various parts of West Africa and Morocco. Here in South Africa they’re mainly found in the grasslands of the Highveld (Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West) where the Rietvlei Nature Reserve on Pretoria’s southern outskirts is an excellent location to find and view them.

Marsh Owl in flight (photo by Joubert)

Marsh Owl in flight

Marsh Owl hunting over a wetland

Marsh Owl – bird being cared for at Dullstroom Bird of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre

Marsh Owl

March ’24 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

7 Replies

Since late February I’ve been guiding hiking groups and game drives in our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve on a freelance basis. Regular readers of our blog will know that we are rather fond of Rietvlei, so it is especially rewarding to be showcasing this special reserve in this way. I thought I might start doing a monthly round-up of what Rietvlei revealed while I explored it with my guests (assisted by Joubert who accompanied me on several of the trips).

Storm clouds building up over Rietvlei

A quiet corner of Rietvlei Dam

Doll’s Protea is in fact a member of the daisy family, despite its resemblance to protea flowers

An exotic fruit tree with a very pronounced browsing line!

Black Wildebeest, Plains Zebra and Eland share a hillside in Rietvlei

Black Wildebeest, Plains Zebra and Blesbok share a hillside in Rietvlei

Big herd of Eland

Green Milkweed Locust nymphs

Green Milkweed Locust

Red-veined Dropwing Dragonfly

Blue Pansy Butterfly

Broad-bordered Grass Yellow

African Leopard Butterfly

Black-tipped Acraea

Sandman Butterfly

Natal Acraea

Spotted Joker

Sooty Blue / African Grass Blue butterfly

Common Hottentot Skipper (male)

Long-tailed Blue Butterfly

Honey Bee on a Verbena flower

Sharptooth Catfish feeding on duckweed (photo by Joubert)

Nile Monitor

Speckled Rock Skink

Baby Speckled Rock Skink

Leopard Tortoise

All counted I managed to see and identify 111 species of birds at Rietvlei in the month of March, including a couple of summer visitors that will soon depart for warmer climes. You can find the complete list at the end of this post.

European Bee-eaters

Red Bishop male

Red Bishop female

Bokmakierie

Dark-capped Bulbul

Zitting Cisticola

Reed Cormorant

Diederik Cuckoo

African Black Duck

Carolina Wood Duck male in eclipse plumage

Carolina Wood Duck female (photo by Joubert)

Yellow-billed Duck

Yellow-billed Ducks

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Long-crested Eagle

Cattle Egret

Peregrine Falcon

Cuckoo Finch male

Spotted Flycatcher

Cape Grassbird

Helmeted Guineafowl chick (photo by Joubert)

Black-headed Heron

Green-backed Heron

Giant Kingfisher

Malachite Kingfisher

Northern Black Korhaan male

Eastern Long-billed Lark

Rufous-naped Lark

Blacksmith Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing

Cape Longclaws

Cape Longclaw

Common Moorhen

Speckled Mousebird

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron

Ostrich face

Ostriches

Marsh Owl

Southern Pochard female

Southern Pochards

Southern Pochard (photo by Joubert)

Common Fiscal

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Pied Starlings pecking flies from the back of a rhino

Pied Starling

African Stonechat female

African Stonechat

White-throated Swallow

Red-billed Teals

Spotted Thick-knee

Cape Wagtail

Willow Warbler

Common Waxbills

Pin-tailed Whydah

Red-throated Wryneck

A recently independent Black-chested Snake Eagle has put on some amazing displays.

Immature Black-chested Snake Eagle

The males of various kinds of widow-birds were still displaying in their feathery finery early in the month, desperately trying to mate with as many females as possible before the end of the summer breeding season. By the end of the month they were rapidly transitioning into their drabber winter garb.

White-winged Widowbird

Long-tailed Widowbird

Long-tailed Widowbird female

Long-tailed Widowbird

Long-tailed Widowbird having lost much of its breeding plumage (photo by Joubert)

The biggest birding highlight of the month for me was my first ever sighting of an Orange River Francolin, taking my tally to 611 species of bird seen in South Africa.

At the end of the summer season Rietvlei’s mammals are in excellent condition and during the month of March I recorded 16 species. The tall grass made it difficult to spot the smaller species though and the list might grow as we progress through autumn and winter.

Black-backed Jackal

Black-backed Jackals

Black Wildebeest

Blesbok

Buffalo calf

Buffalo family

Buffalo calf

Buffalo bull

Buffalo cows and calf

Buffalo bull

Buffalo cow

Buffalo bull

Cheetah

Eland

For their size eland are remarkable jumpers!

Hippopotamus

Red Hartebeest

Waterbuck

Plains Zebra

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 March 2024:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Acridotheres tristis	Indiese Spreeu	Common Myna
Acrocephalus gracilirostris	Kaapse Rietsanger	Lesser Swamp Warbler
Afrotis afraoides	Witvlerkkorhaan	Northern Black Korhaan
Aix sponsa	Carolina Eend	Wood Duck
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
Anomalospiza imberbis	Koekoekvink	Cuckoo-Finch
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Apus apus	Europese Windswael	Common Swift
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Asio capensis	Vlei-uil	Marsh Owl
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
Calendulauda sabota	Sabota Lewerik	Sabota Lark
Caprimulgus pectoralis	Afrikaanse Naguil	Fiery-necked Nightjar
Cecropis cucullata	Grootstreepswael	Greater Striped Swallow
Centropus burchellii	Gewone Vlieloerie	Burchell’s Coucal
Certhilauda semitorquata	Grasveldlangbeklewerik	Eastern Long-billed Lark
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 juncidis	Landeryklopkloppie	Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola tinniens	Vleitinktinkie	Levaillant’s Cisticola
Colius striatus	Gevlekte Muisvoel	Speckled Mousebird
Corvus albus	Witborskraai	Pied Cow
Corythornis cristatus	Kuifkopvisvanger	Malachite Kingfisher
Coturnix coturnix	Afrikaanse Kwartel	Common Quail
Crinifer concolor	Kwevoel	Grey Go-Away Bird
Crithagra gularis	Streepkopkanarie	Streaky-headed Seedeater
Cypsiurus parvus	Palmwindswael	African Palm Swift
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 afer	Goudgeelvink	Yellow-crowned Bishop
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
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Gallinago nigripennis	Afrikaanse Snip	African Snipe
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Glaucidium perlatum	Witkoluiltjie	Pearl-spotted Owlet
Hirundo albigularis	Witkeelswael	White-throated Swallow
Hirundo rustica	Huisswael	Barn Swallow
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
Jynx ruficollis	Draaihals	Red-throated Wryneck
Lamprotornis bicolor	Witgatspreeu	Pied Starling
Lamprotornis nitens	Klein Glansspreeu	Cape Glossy Starling
Laniarius atrococcineus	Rooiborslaksman	Crimson-breasted Shrike
Laniarius ferrugineus	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	Southern Boubou
Lanius collaris	Fiskaallaksman	Common Fiscal
Lanius minor	Gryslaksman	Lesser Grey Shrike
Lophaetus occipitalis	Langkuifarend	Long-crested Eagle
Lybius torquatus	Rooikophoutkapper	Black-collared Barbet
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
Megaceryle maxima	Reuse Visvanger	Giant Kingfisher
Merops apiaster	Europese Byvreter	European Bee-eater
Microcarbo africanus	Rietduiker	Reed Cormorant
Mirafra africana	Rooineklewerik	Rufous-naped Lark
Motacilla capensis	Gewone Kwikkie	Cape Wagtail
Muscicapa striata	Europese Vlieevanger	Spotted Flycatcher
Netta erythrophthalma	Bruineend	Southern Pochard
Numida meleagris	Gewone Tarentaal	Helmeted Guineafowl
Nycticorax nycticorax	Gewone Nagreier	Black-crowned Night Heron
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
Phylloscopus trochilus	Hofsanger	Willow Warbler
Plectropterus gambensis	Wildemakou	Spur-winged Goose
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Prinia flavicans	Swartbandlangstertjie	Black-chested Prinia
Prinia subflava	Bruinsylangstertjie	Tawny-flanked Prinia
Psittacula krameri	Ringnekparakiet	Rose-ringed Parakeet
Pternistis swainsonii	Bosveldfisant	Swainson’s Spurfowl
Pycnonotus tricolor	Swartoogtiptol	Dark-capped Bulbul
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Scleroptila gutturalis	Kalaharipatrys	Orange River Francolin
Scopus umbretta	Hamerkop	Hamerkop
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
Sphenoeacus afer	Grasvoel	Cape Grassbird
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
Terpsiphone viridis	Paradysvlieevanger	African Paradise Flycatcher
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Skoorsteenveer	African Sacred Ibis
Trachyphonus vaillantii	Kuifkophoutkapper	Crested Barbet
Turdoides jardineii	Pylvlekkatlagter	Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdus smithi	Geelbeklyster	Karoo Thrush
Upupa africana	Hoephoep	African Hoopoe
Vanellus armatus	Bontkiewiet	Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus	Kroonkiewiet	Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus	Lelkiewiet	Wattled Lapwing
Vidua macroura	Koningrooibekkie	Pin-tailed Whydah
Zosterops virens	Kaapse Glasogie	Cape White-eye

List of mammals seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during March 2024:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Acinonyx jubatus	Jagluiperd	Cheetah
Alcelaphus buselaphus	Rooihartbees	Red Hartebeest
Antidorcas marsupialis	Springbok	Springbuck
Canis mesomelas	Rooijakkals	Black-backed Jackal
Ceratotherium simum	Witrenoster	White Rhinoceros
Chlorocebus pygerythrus	Blouaap	Vervet Monkey
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

African Reed Warbler

4 Replies

Acrocephalus baeticatus

As its name suggests the African Reed Warbler is a small (∼10g in weight, ∼13cm in length) insectivorous bird closely associated with reedbeds and wetlands and even garden ponds, farm dams, sewage works and sugar-cane fields.

African Reed Warblers are monogamous and territorial and breed during spring and summer. Their nest is a cup-shaped construction of grass and reed leaves attached to emergent vegetation or willow twigs drooping over the water. Both parents incubate the clutch of 2 or 3 eggs for about a fortnight, with the chicks leaving the nest when they’re around two weeks old.

African Reed Warblers are found at suitable habitat throughout South Africa throughout the year and over much of Sub-Saharan Africa and Arabia as well. The IUCN considers the African Reed Warbler to be a subspecies of the Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) which is also found in Europe and parts of Asia and which it lists as being of least concern.