April ’25 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

March and April knell in the autumn season in our part of the world, and while we still had lots of rain in both months temperatures have also declined noticeably of late with the sun rising ever later and setting ever earlier. Misty mornings are the order of the day now at our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve and the colours in the leaves are matched by a large number of autumn butterflies. I’ve had the pleasure of guiding several groups on drives through the reserve the past two months, and in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography we also hosted learners from Joubert’s high school’s photography club on a wildlife and nature photography workshop.

Rietvlei sunrise

Rietvlei scenery

Eyed Pansy

Dotted Blues

Broad-bordered Grass Yellows

Net-winged Beetles

Sooty Blue

Citrus Swallowtail

Giant Bullfrog juvenile

Heavily gravid female Common Green Mantis

Rain storm passing over Rietvlei

Sunset at Rietvlei

Rietvlei sunset

As mentioned, we’re experiencing many misty mornings at this time of the year and, while it makes early morning game-viewing tricky the multitude of wet spiderwebs illuminated by the first rays of sunlight are a sight to behold!

Waterbuck in the mist

Eland in the mist

Spiderwebs on a misty morning

Spiderweb (photo by Joubert)

Spiderweb

Spiderweb (photo by Joubert)

African Stone-Chat in a misty sunrise

A most remarkable sighting this past month was of a Black-headed Heron that had caught a Brown House Snake!

Black-headed Heron with a snake it caught

Rietvlei is still delivering lots of interest for bird lovers, not least of which was a flock of cuckoo finches that spent several weeks in the reserve before moving on.

African Darter

African Fish Eagle

Pair of African Fish Eagles calling

African Paradise Flycatcher

African Snipe

African Stone-chat

Banded Martin

Black-winged Kite

Burchell’s Coucal

Cape Glossy Starling

Cape Grassbird

Cape Longclaw

Cape Robin-Chat

Cape Wagtail

Cattle Egret

Crowned Lapwing (photo by Joubert)

Cuckoo Finch male

Dark-capped Bulbul

Fiscal Shrike

Green-backed Heron

Jacobin Cuckoo

Levaillant’s Cisticola

Long-tailed Widowbird male in flight

Malachite Kingfisher (photo by Joubert)

Marsh Owl

Northern Black Korhaan female

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Smiling Ostrich

Pin-tailed Whydah male

Female Pin-tailed Whydah

Reed Cormorants

Southern Masked Weaver

Swainson’s Spurfowl chicks

African Wattled Lapwing

White-breasted Cormorants

Zitting Ciscticola

Ostrich family gathering (photo by Joubert)

Rietvlei’s densely vegetated grasslands is still making it very difficult to see any of the smaller kinds of mammals that call the reserve home, but thankfully the large population and wide variety of larger animals are still playing their part to make our guided drives and walks most memorable.

Black-backed Jackal

Black Wildebeest

Blesbok

Blesbok running across Otter Bridge (photo by Joubert)

Buffalo bull looking fearsome (photo by Joubert)

Buffalo cow

Buffalo calf (photo by Joubert)

Buffaloes crossing a road in Rietvlei (photo by Joubert)

Buffalo rushing through the long grass (photo by Joubert)

Young eland cows

Eland bull

Spotted-neck Otter

Plains Zebra portrait

Waterbuck

Waterbuck cow

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 we saw at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during March and April 2025 (109 species):

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 sparsa	Swarteend	African Black Duck
Anas undulata	Geelbekeend	Yellow-billed Duck
Anhinga rufa	Slanghalsvoel	African Darter
Anomalospiza imberbis	Koekoekvink	Cuckoo-Finch
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Apus apus	Europese Windswael	Common Swift
Apus caffer	Witkruiswindswael	White-rumped 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
Caprimulgus pectoralis	Afrikaanse Naguil	Fiery-necked Nightjar
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
Circus ranivorus	Afrikaanse Vleivalk	African Marsh Harrier
Cisticola fulvicapilla	Neddikkie	Neddicky
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 mozambica	Geeloogkanarie	Yellow-fronted Canary
Dendropicos fuscescens	Kardinaalspeg	Cardinal Woodpecker
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 axillaris	Kortstertflap	Fan-tailed Whydah
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 albigularis	Witkeelswael	White-throated Swallow
Hirundo rustica	Europese Swael	Barn Swallow
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
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
Lanius minor	Gryslaksman	Lesser Grey Shrike
Lophoceros nasutus	Grysneushoringvoel	African Grey Hornbill
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
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
Neophedina cincta	Gebande Oewerswael	Banded Martin
Numida meleagris	Gewone Tarentaal	Helmeted Guineafowl
Oena capensis	Namakwaduifie	Namaqua Dove
Ortygospiza atricollis	Gewone Kwartelvinkie	African Quail Finch
Oxylophus jacobinus	Bontnuwejaarsvoel	Jacobin Cuckoo
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
Ploceus capensis	Kaapse Wewer	Cape Weaver
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Prinia flavicans	Swartbandlangstertjie	Black-chested Prinia
Prinia subflava	Bruinsylangstertjie	Tawny-flanked Prinia
Pternistis swainsonii	Bosveldfisant	Swainson’s Spurfowl
Pycnonotus tricolor	Swartoogtiptol	Dark-capped Bulbul
Quelea quelea	Rooibekkwelea	Red-billed Quelea
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
Tchagra senegalus	Swartkroontjagra	Black-crowned Tchagra
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
Urocolius indicus	Rooiwangmuisvoel	Red-faced Mousebird
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 we saw at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during March and April 2025 (14 species):

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
Hippopotamus amphibius	Seekoei	Hippopotamus
Hydrictis maculicollis	Kleinotter	Spotted-necked Otter
Kobus ellipsyprymnus	Waterbok	Waterbuck
Sylvicapra grimmia	Grysduiker	Common Duiker
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland

Dotted Blue Butterfly

11 Replies

Tarucus sybaris

The tiny Dotted Blue butterfly – it has a wingspan of only about 2.5cm – may be seen throughout the year but they’re much more numerous during spring, summer and early autumn. They fly slow and low to the ground, settling often on small flowers and muddy patches of ground. Larvae feed on the leaves of the buffalo thorn tree and its close relatives. In South Africa they are found from the Eastern Cape, through the Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, North West and Gauteng to Limpopo and Mpumalanga, indicative of their preference for grassland and savanna habitats.

Dotted Blue

Dotted Blue male in flight

Dotted Blues

Lesser Swamp Warbler

6 Replies

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Lesser Swamp Warblers, as their name suggests, confine themselves to reedbeds and stands of bullrushes in a wide variety of wet habitats – marshes, estuaries, riversides and even man-made wetlands like sewage ponds. Here they feed on a wide range of invertebrates picked off the surface of the water or emergent plants.

Lesser Swamp Warblers are usually seen in pairs – they are monogamous and territorial. The female builds their conical nest using strands of reeds and other plant material, usually placing it in a well-vegetated thicket over the water. They breed through spring and summer. Both parents incubate the clutch of 2 or 3 eggs over a two week period and then feed the nestlings until they fledge about 2 weeks after hatching.

In South Africa, Lesser Swamp Warblers are found in suitable habitat throughout the country, having expanded their distribution even into arid areas thanks to artificial water bodies constructed on farms and for municipal water supply and waste water treatment. Aside from isolated populations in Nigeria and Tchad it occurs widely through the eastern, central and southern parts of the continent. The IUCN considers the Lesser Swamp Warbler to be of least concern.

Lesser Swamp Warblers

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Banded Martin

4 Replies

Neophedina cincta

Banded Martins prefer open habitats, such as grassveld, marshlands and the fynbos shrublands. They visit South Africa during our spring and summer, arriving from about September to breed and then departing again by May to their overwintering areas in central Africa. They feed on flying insects caught in flight and are usually seen in pairs or small flocks. Banded Martins nest in tunnels that they dig in aardvark burrows, stream banks or eroded gullies. Both parents care for the 2-4 chicks, which leave the nest when they’re about 3 weeks old.

In South Africa Banded Martins are commonly found on our central highlands, with a smaller concentration occurring in the Western Cape and scattered records from elsewhere. Depending on the season they roam over most of sub-Saharan Africa. The IUCN lists the Banded Martin as being of least concern and note that their population is probably increasing due to agricultural practices opening up more areas for them to utilise.

Banded Martin

Black-chested Prinia

4 Replies

Prinia flavicans

A denizen of shrublands, thornveld and riverine thickets in more open areas, the Black-chested Prinia is a very active little insectivorous bird, hopping about the branches gleaning its food from among the leaves and bark of shrubs and trees. Black-chested Prinias are usually encountered in pairs and may nest at any time of year, though more usually in the spring and summer months, incubating a clutch of 2-6 eggs over a 2 week period in a pear-shaped nest woven of green grass and placed in a dense shrub. The chicks leave the nest about 2 weeks after hatching. The cuckoo finch – which we featured a short while ago here on DeWetsWild – often parasitizes the nests of Black-chested Prinias.

The Black-chested Prinia occurs widely in north-western and central South Africa and in Namibia and Botswana, as well as in western Zimbabwe and Zambia and southern Angola. According to the IUCN it is in no danger of extinction.

Black-chested Prinia

Black-chested Prinia (non-breeding)

Black-chested Prinia

African Quail-Finch

5 Replies

Ortygospiza atricollis

The African Quail-Finch occurs throughout South Africa, being absent only from the arid west of the country, and patchily through most of sub-Saharan Africa. Though difficult to observe up close due to their skittish nature, these highly nomadic flock-living birds are common in grasslands and woodlands with bare ground, where they feed on seeds and small insects, and usually found close to water. Their nesting season coincides with periods of high rainfall when grasses are in seed. It takes a little over 2 weeks for the clutch of up to 6 eggs to hatch. The chicks leave the nest when they’re about 3 weeks old and become self-sufficient about a month later.

The IUCN lists the African Quail-Finch as being of least concern.

African Quail-Finch

African Quail Finch

Sagewood

14 Replies

Buddleja salviifolia

With its sweetly-scented flowers, being a feature of our spring season, and its aromatic leaves, the Sagewood has become a popular garden plant frequented by a variety of birds and insects like bees and butterflies. It’s usual growth form is a shrub that may grow up to 4m tall. Sagewood occurs naturally throughout the wetter parts of South Africa, from the Western Cape to Limpopo, growing along streams and on hillsides. In traditional medicine the roots are boiled as a remedy for cough and colic, and in olden days the wood was used to make spears and fishing poles.

Sagewood

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

9 Replies

Trachylepis striata wahlbergii

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink distribution centres in the Zambezi basin, from southern Angola, Zambia and western Mozambique into Zimbabwe, northern Botswana and northern Namibia. Some taxonomists consider it to be a species in own right, though more research is required to determine whether it is fact not only a subspecies of the Striped Skink, with which it shares many behavioural traits, including giving birth to live babies from eggs that develop and hatch inside the mother’s body instead of being laid. They are quite large and may grow to a length of 11cm, excluding the tail from the measurement.

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Cuckoo Finch

9 Replies

Anomalospiza imberbis

The Cuckoo Finch is an uncommon and highly nomadic bird in South Africa, with a patchy distribution across parts of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Kwazulu-Natal, and a much sought-after tick on the list of many avid local birdwatchers. These seed-eaters may migrate widely in response to rainfall and are usually seen in small flocks of between 8 and 50, though sometimes up to a thousand may move together. They’re also found over much of sub-Saharan Africa, though in a similarly patchily distributed and nomadic fashion.

Cuckoo Finches inhabit moist grasslands and wetlands and get their name from their habit of laying their own eggs in the nests of species of Cisticola and Prinia. Females lay up to 30 eggs during the summer season, leaving a single egg per nest after removing all the host’s own eggs from it. The chick hatches within two weeks and, being fed insects by its adoptive parents, grows quickly to the point where it is able to leave the nest before it is 3 weeks old. Its host parents will take care of it for several more weeks before it joins up with a flock of other Cuckoo Finches.

The IUCN lists the Cuckoo Finch as being of least concern.

Cuckoo Finch male

Cuckoo Finch female

Cuckoo Finch male

Cape Skink

4 Replies

Trachylepis capensis

The Cape Skink inhabits a wide range of habitats and occurs in all South Africa’s provinces, in Namibia, Lesotho and parts of Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana, and the IUCN considers the species to be of least concern. Sadly they suffer badly in urban areas due to predation by domestic cats. They tame easily and are quite gentle. These lizards are diurnal and hunt for insects in open patches. Females give birth to up to 18 live babies, usually in the summer months. Fully grown, and not including the tail, they may reach a length of 13cm.