May ’25 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

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

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:

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
Anhinga rufa	Slanghalsvoel	African Darter
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Ardea purpurea	Rooireier	Purple Heron
Bostrychia hagedash	Hadeda	Hadeda Ibis
Bubulcus ibis	Veereier	Western Cattle Egret
Burhinus capensis	Gewone Dikkop	Spotted Thick-knee
Butorides striata	Groenrugreier	Green-backed Heron
Campethera bennettii	Bennettse speg	Bennett’s Woodpecker
Cecropis cucullata	Grootstreepswael	Greater Striped Swallow
Centropus burchellii	Gewone Vleiloerie	Burchell’s Coucal
Ceryle rudis	Bontvisvanger	Pied Kingfisher
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus	Gryskopmeeu	Grey-headed Gull
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
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 ardens	Rooikeelflap	Red-collared Widowbird
Euplectes orix	Rooivink	Southern Red Bishop
Euplectes progne	Langstertflap	Longtailed Widowbird
Falco biarmicus	Edelvalk	Lanner Falcon
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Gallinago nigripennis	Afrikaanse Snip	African Snipe
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Hirundo rustica	Europese Swael	Barn Swallow
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
Indicator minor	Kleinheuningwyser	Lesser Honeyguide
Jynx ruficollis	Draaihals	Red-throated Wryneck
Lamprotornis bicolor	Witgatspreeu	Pied Starling
Lamprotornis nitens	Kleinglansspreeu	Cape Glossy Starling
Laniarius atrococcineus	Rooiborslaksman	Crimson-breasted Shrike
Laniarius ferrugineus	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	Southern Boubou
Lanius collaris	Fiskaallaksman	Common Fiscal
Lophoceros nasutus	Grysneushoringvoel	African Grey Hornbill
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
Microcarbo africanus	Rietduiker	Reed Cormorant
Micronisus gabar	Kleinsingvalk	Gabar Goshawk
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
Platalea alba	Lepelaar	African Spoonbill
Plectropterus gambensis	Wildemakou	Spur-winged Goose
Ploceus capensis	Kaapse Wewer	Cape Weaver
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Porphyrio madagascariensis	Grootkoningriethaan	African Swamphen
Prinia flavicans	Swartbandlangstertjie	Black-chested Prinia
Prinia subflava	Bruinsylangstertjie	Tawny-flanked Prinia
Psittacula krameri	Ringnekparkiet	Rose-ringed Parakeet
Pternistis swainsonii	Bosveldfisant	Swainson’s Spurfowl
Pycnonotus tricolor	Swartoogtiptol	Dark-capped Bulbul
Riparia paludicola	Afrikaanse Oewerswael	Brown-throated Martin
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Scleroptila gutturalis	Kalaharipatrys	Orange River Francolin
Scleroptila levaillantii	Rooivlerkpatrys	Red-winged Francolin
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
Spatula hottentota	Gevlekte Eend	Blue-billed Teal
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
Tchagra australis	Rooivlerktjagra	Brown-crowned Tchagra
Telophorus zeylonus	Bokmakierie	Bokmakierie
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Skoorsteenveer	African Sacred Ibis
Trachyphonus vaillantii	Kuifkophoutkapper	Crested Barbet
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

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

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Alcelaphus buselaphus	Rooihartbees	Red Hartebeest
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
Hippopotamus amphibius	Seekoei	Hippopotamus
Kobus ellipsyprymnus	Waterbok	Waterbuck
Leptailurus serval	Tierboskat	Serval
Suricata suricatta	Meerkat	Suricate
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland

Long-winged Orange Acraea

Acraea (Hyalites) alalonga

The Long-winged Orange Acraea has a limited distribution, being found only on the Drakensberg escarpment and its foothills from Limpopo to northern Kwazulu-Natal. They inhabit montane grasslands. Adults are seen specifically only in two periods of the year; November to January, and again March to May, and have a wingspan of around 6-7cm. The larvae feed on the leaves of plants from the legume family.

Long-winged Orange Acraea

Giant Waterbug

12 Replies

Family Belostomatidae

The Giant Waterbugs – the South African species, of which there are 7, grow up to 9cm long! – are fierce insect predators that inhabit well vegetated ponds, marshes and slow-flowing streams. These insects store air in a chamber underneath their wings allowing them to stay submerged while hunting for prey. They’ll catch and devour anything that they can overpower, including insects, tadpoles, frogs and fish. The adults are strong fliers and often attracted to outside lights. In five of the local species the male carries the eggs on his back until the larvae hatch, which is why they’re also called Brooding Waterbugs, while the remaining two species simply attach their eggs to vegetation.

Giant / Wrestling Waterbug (Lethocerus niloticus)

Great Waterbug (Hydrocyrius columbiae)

Orange River Francolin

4 Replies

Scleroptila gutturalis

The Orange River Francolin is a ground-living bird that inhabits open, flat and often arid grasslands, where it feeds on a wide range of plant material and invertebrates. In South Africa their distribution centres on Gauteng, the Free State and North West, extending marginally into adjacent provinces. On the African continent there’s two widely separated populations, one in Southern Africa and the other in North-East Africa, which are considered by some authorities to be separate species entirely. According to the IUCN the species is of least concern, though agricultural practices may have a severely negative impact on populations in farming areas.

Orange River Francolins are shy birds and difficult to observe, although their loud crowing often gives away their presence. They’re usually seen in pairs – they’re monogamous and territorial – or in small family groups. These francolins may nest at any time of year in response to rainfall, with the female incubating a clutch of up to 8 eggs in a little hollow she scrapes in the ground surrounded by dense grass. The hatchlings emerge after a 3 week incubation and leave the nest soon after. They grow quickly and start making practice flights even before they’re 2 weeks old! Fully grown they measure about 34cm in length and weigh approximately 400g.

Orange River Francolin

Orange River Francolins

Join us on our 2025 Sweni Wilderness Photographic Safari!

Puku

4 Replies

Today, on Endangered Species Day, we feature another African mammal that isn’t indigenous to South Africa.

Kobus vardonii

The Puku is a medium-sized antelope, with rams standing about 90cm tall at the shoulder and weighing around 75kg. The ewes are considerably smaller. They’re particularly picky about their habitat, always having to be within easy reach of water and preferring the limited areas of grassland wedged between rivers or marshes and the surrounding woodland on higher ground. Pukus are almost exclusively grazing animals and they’re most active at dawn and dusk.

Puku ewes and their lambs live in rather unstable herds numbering up to 50, though usually much smaller, passing through the territories of mature rams which try to keep the herd in his area so he may mate with any receptive females. Rams that aren’t able to compete for territory come together in bachelor herds. Ewes give birth to a single lamb at any time of year, with a peak during the drier months, after an 8 month gestation.

Given a clearly declining and fragmented population the IUCN considers the Puku to be near threatened. The population on the Chobe river floodplain, confined to Botswana’s Chobe National Park, likely numbers less than 200. It was therefore a real thrill for me to see wild Puku on a visit there in 2024, during which these pictures were taken. They’re also found in pockets of Angola, Zambia, the DRC, Malawi and Tanzania.

Puku

Gabar Goshawk

6 Replies

Micronisus (Melierax) gabar

The Gabar Goshawk is a raptorial bird that live in open woodlands, especially where Vachellia thorn trees dominate the vegetation. Small birds make up the bulk of their diet, though they will also occasionally catch rodents, reptiles and large insects.

Like many other birds of prey adult Gabar Goshawks are usually bonded in monogamous, territorial pairs. They normally nest from mid-winter to early summer. During this time the female takes about a month to build the stick-platform nest in a large tree before laying her clutch of 2-4 eggs. She also does most of the incubation duty, which takes about 5 weeks, and then stays with the hatchlings for around 3 weeks while the male brings food to the family. The chicks eventually leave the nest at about 5 to 6 weeks of age but remain dependent on their parents for at least another month thereafter.

According to the IUCN, the Gabar Goshawk is of least concern. They occur widely over sub-Saharan Africa and in our country occurs in parts of every province.

Gabar Goshawk

Immature Gabar Goshawk (photo by Joubert)

Gabar Goshawk

Gabar Goshawk (photo by Joubert)

Giant Mantis

9 Replies

Sphodromantis gastrica

The Giant Mantis, also known as the African Mantis or the Common Green Mantis, is an imposing insect, growing to up to 7cm in length. It is a very common mantid species and occurs in practically every corner of South Africa, being as at home in our gardens as it is in more natural surroundings. They are excellent ambush hunters and feed on invertebrates – they are especially fond of caterpillars – but occasionally even bigger prey, like small frogs and geckos, gets their attention.

As in many other kinds of praying mantis the males of the Giant Mantis may be unlucky enough to be eaten by the female, starting at his head, during or after copulation! The female deposits as many as 100 eggs in a soft cocoon-like egg case, with the babies then hatching at the onset of the spring season. There is no parental care whatsoever and the hatchlings disperse quickly to avoid being cannibalised by their parent or siblings. If they make it to adulthood they may live to about a year old. Females are much more plump than males.

Female Giant Mantis / Common Green Mantis

Male Giant Mantis / Common Green Mantis

Heavily gravid female Common Green Mantis

Southern Pied Babbler

4 Replies

Turdoides bicolor

Southern Pied Babblers inhabit drier savanna woodland and thornveld habitats, subsisting on a diet of insects and other arthropods supplemented by small invertebrates like geckos, lizards and frogs, and apparently do not have any requirement for surface water to drink. They usually forage in groups of 3 to 15, often alongside other kinds of birds, taking turns to keep watch for danger. They also breed cooperatively, usually during spring and summer, with all group members helping to build the nest and feed the clutch of up to 5 hatchlings that hatch after two weeks of incubation. While the chicks fledge before they’re 3 weeks old they will be provided food by other group members until they’re about two-and-a-half months old.

The Southern Pied Babbler occurs only in Namibia, Botswana, south-western Zimbabwe and South Africa (Limpopo, Gauteng, North West and the Northern Cape). According to the IUCN it is considered to be of least concern, despite a declining population.

Southern Pied Babbler

Southern Pied Babbler (photo by Joubert)

Pied Babbler (photo by Joubert)

Southern Pied Babblers

Southern Pied Babbler

Southern Pied Babblers

Serval

13 Replies

Leptailurus serval

The long-legged Serval is a wild cat that inhabits areas with long grass, usually near water, marshes and reedbeds. They feed mainly on rodents but will prey on anything from insects to birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals up to the size of small antelope. Servals mostly hunt on the ground, leaping spectacularly – up to 3m high and 4m long – to stun their prey from above, being successful in about 50% of their attempted hunts and killing on average 16 animals per day.

Servals weigh about 10kg and stand around 55cm high at the shoulder. Males are slightly larger than females.

Like most felids Servals are active from dusk to dawn, taking refuge in dense vegetation, holes, among boulders and even occasionally up in trees during the day. They’re usually seen alone unless when a pair is mating or when a female moves around with her kittens. The extent to which both males and females are territorial is not clearly understood. Servals are quite fast over short distances and given their preferred habitat it is probably no surprise that they’re good swimmers as well. Females give birth to up to 3 kittens after a 2.5 month gestation, their births coinciding with periods during which rodent numbers are likely to peak. The kittens may stay with their mother for up to a year though they can hunt for themselves from about 6 months of age. They may live to 19 years of age though about 12 years is more usual in the wild.

In South Africa the Serval occurs widely in all provinces except the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape, where they are spotted only occasionally following reintroduction programmes and natural range expansion. While it is considered near-threatened in South Africa, mainly due to habitat loss, the IUCN lists the Serval overall as of least concern, being found over most of sub-Saharan Africa with the exception of the tropical rain forests and the arid Kalahari and Namib deserts. An isolated population in Morocco however is considered to be endangered.