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April ’24 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

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.

Red Bishop (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 (photo by Joubert)

African Pied Starlings

Fifteen species of mammal showed themselves during our drives in April.

African Buffalo

Blesbok (photo by Joubert)

Eland

Hippo

Black-backed Jackal

Black-backed Jackal (photo by Joubert)

Yellow Mongoose

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.

March ’24 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

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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

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

Humpback Whale

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One of the most memorable sightings of my recent tour of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park was of a small pod of Humpback Whales playing just offshore of the St. Lucia estuary one overcast morning.

Humpbacked Whale tail-slamming off St. Lucia

Humpbacked Whale fin-slapping off St. Lucia

Humpbacked Whale tail-slamming off St. Lucia

Humpbacked Whale fin-slapping off St. Lucia

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback Whales occur throughout the world’s oceans at different times of the year. Locally they migrate past our shores from about June to overwinter in the tropical waters off both Africa’s Atlantic and Indian Ocean coastlines, returning to their Antarctic feeding grounds from about November at the start of the austral summer and covering as much as 16,000km on these journeys. Humpback Whales feed mainly on krill, other plankton and schools of fish, gulped down in enormous quantities after being encircled by “curtains” of bubbles released from the blowholes of the circling whales. These whales are well known for their spectacular breaches out of the water as well as their playful tail-slamming and fin-slapping behaviour (as captured in the above video). They may dive up to 150m deep and stay underwater for up to 15 minutes. While usually seen in small groups and even as single cows with their latest calf, Humpback Whales may at times congregate in pods up to 200 strong in good feeding grounds.

While in the more tropical climes the females give birth to single calves after an almost year-long gestation. The calves will suckle for up to a year, though they start eating at about 6 months of age. Females calf every two years and mating also takes place in the tropical latitudes during winter. At birth the calves weigh about a metric ton and measure more than 4 metres in length; fully grown they will weigh approximately 40,000kg and reach up to 18m in length! It is estimated that Humpback Whales live to at least 50 years of age.

Citing an increasing population estimated at approximately 84,000 mature animals (of a total of 135,000) worldwide, the IUCN lists the Humpback Whale as being of least concern. When whaling was banned in 1966 there was probably only 5,000 Humpback Whales left.

Over the years we’ve been fortunate to see these enigmatic creatures a number of times while visiting some of South Africa’s wild places, most notably the Garden Route National Park and, of course, iSimangaliso. DeWetsWild will assist you with reservations and guided tours of these places and even arrange whale watching excursions with experienced skippers if you are interested in seeing Humpback Whales up close.

Humpback Whale

iSimangaliso is a very wet Wetland Park at the moment

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I mentioned in my previous post about my latest tour of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park that I have never seen the Park so wet. There seemed to be water everywhere, and in enormous quantities. And the most astounding thing about that is that we are only at the start of the rainy season (over 150mm of rain fell just in just 2 days during our trip). It is amazing how resiliently nature is rebounding in a part of the country that, not even a generation ago, was almost completely covered by thirsty plantations of exotic pine and bluegum trees.

Sunrise over the wetlands

A stretch of the vastly expanded Lake Bhangazi

Mfabeni Swamp

A quiet corner of the Mfabeni Swamp

Banded Tilapia. The newly formed ponds have quickly been populated by fish and tadpoles.

Mfabeni Swamp

I took this video from the Mziki viewpoint near Mission Rocks, to show just a portion of the extent of the wetlands on the eastern shores of Lake Saint Lucia. The bird songs coming from the forest in the foreground is rather special as well.

Lake Bhangazi is a beautiful freshwater lake near Cape Vidal in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Remember that DeWetsWild will gladly assist you with reservations and guided tours of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park if you’d like to visit this wonderful place as well.

I just can’t stay away from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

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I’m fresh back from a 10 day tour through the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, visiting the Eastern and Western Shores of Lake Saint Lucia, the estuary, beaches and trails around the town of Saint Lucia as well as the uMkhuze section of the Park. Regular readers will know that this is one of my favourite South African wild places to visit and take guests to, but in almost thirty years of visiting I have never seen the Park live up to the “Wetland” part of its moniker as wonderfully as I have on this latest trip. Of course there’s a lot of photographs and videos in store for you in the weeks to come, but here’s a little appetizer to tide you over while I get down to the business of sorting and editing hundreds more.

An enormous jellyfish that drifted out of a rough sea on the beach at St. Lucia

Humpbacked Whale tail-slamming off St. Lucia

Cattle Egrets in flight over the sea at the estuary of Lake St. Lucia

Common Bush Brown butterfly

Spotted Buff butterfly

The bright flowers of the Canary Creeper

Mushrooms thriving in the damp coastal forest

Blue Pansy butterfly

African Piedspot Dragonfly

Mating Common Blue butterflies

Yellow Weaver

Kudu calf

Bushbuck ram

Crested Guineafowl

African Pygmy Geese among Blue Water Lilies

Immature Kelp Gull

Collared Pratincole

Lesser Moorhen

Sunrise over the wetlands

Narina Trogon

Road through the swamp forest near Cape Vidal

Squacco Heron

A stretch of the vastly expanded Lake Bhangazi

Huge Nile Crocodile slipping into the Mfabeni swamp

Reed Cormorant with a Platanna

Mission Rocks

Natal Rock Crab

Blue Water Lilies

African Buffalo

Sunrise over the wetlands

Spotted Hyena

African Buffalo

This leucistic Samango Monkey is a familiar inhabitant of Cape Vidal

Mfabeni Swamp

Secretary Bird

Plains Zebras

Platanna

Cape Vidal at low tide

Swift Tern

Samango Monkeys

Little Bee-eaters

African Swamphen

Kudu couple

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Purple Heron

Hippopotamus

The toes of a Foam Nest Frog

Flatface Longhorn Beetle (Lasiopezus longimanus), identified with the kind assistance of the “Insects only – Southern Africa” facebook page.

Marsh Terrapins

Slug close-up

Foam Nest Frogs mating

Foam Nest Frog in Kumasinga Hide

Foam Nest Frogs mating

Elephant bull on a walk about

Elephant bull at uMkhuze

Remember that DeWetsWild will gladly assist you with reservations and guided tours of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park if you’d like to visit this wonderful place as well.

A few minutes at Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary

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Earlier this week Joubert and I quickly popped into the hide at the Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary while we were whiling away a few minutes before attending to some other (more boring) chores. Despite the cold and overcast weather the little reserve was alive with birds of all description (as it always is!) and again we were amazed that such a precious place still exists inside one of the capital city’s oldest neighbourhoods.

Southern Masked Weaver (photo by Joubert)

Grey Crowned Crane (photo by Joubert)

Yellow-billed Duck (photo by Joubert)

Village Weaver (photo by Joubert)

Yellow-billed Duck (photo by Joubert)

Arrow-leaved Arum Lily (photo by Joubert)

Little Egret (photo by Joubert)

Yellow-billed Duck (photo by Joubert)

Egyptian Goose (photo by Joubert)

The photographs are all courtesy of Joubert, while I was responsible for the videos.

Marakele’s Magic

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The Marakele National Park, and the Waterberg Mountains it protects, is a beautiful place.

Marakele scenery

Plectranthus hereroensis – the Herero Spur Flower

Stand of Plectranthus hereroensis – the Herero Spur Flower

Plectranthus hereroensis – the Herero Spur Flower – thrives on the rocky slopes of the Waterberg at Marakele’s Lenong Viewpoint

I suspect this is the blooms of a type of Senecio

Traveling on the plains below the Waterberg reveals a very different community of plants

Marakele’s Magic!

Towering cliffs of the Waterberg

Looking down into the valley from atop the Waterberg

Beautiful woodland lining a road through Marakele National Park

A small river running through Marakele

Remember that DeWetsWild will gladly assist you with a reservation and planning if you’re interested in visiting Marakele National Park and making the most of your visit.

African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary

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African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Thornhill area west of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), developed from one man’s love of birds, taking in injured and orphaned wild birds and unwanted pet birds to look after them. Soon other animals were also ending up at Percy Hickman’s door, and in 1997 the numbers grew to such an extent that his sanctuary was opened to the public in order to help subsidize the cost of food and medical care for the animals. There’s a small restaurant on site as well as ample space for family picnics.

Hundreds of animals have passed through the sanctuary and been released back into the wild, but of course there are some that are either too badly impacted to be returned to the wild, or are exotic to our country, and these are housed in the sanctuary’s excellent facilities. Casual visitors are not allowed to pet or otherwise interact with the animals in their enclosures, but for people with time, effort and expertise to offer African Dawn has a well established volunteer programme in support of their conservation efforts.

African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary

Southern African Ground Squirrel

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Male Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Hen and chicks pecking up crumbs at our picnic table

Indian Peacock

Indian Peafowl hen (photo by Joubert)

Indian Peafowl chick

Blue Duiker

Grey Crowned Crane

Blue Crane

Blue crane chick

Ostrich nest

Suni (photo by Joubert)

Common, or Grey, Duiker

Leprous Grasshopper

Serval (photo by Joubert)

Cheetah

A one time cattle farm, most of African Dawn’s property is today a beautiful nature reserve where several kinds of animals indigenous to South Africa roam freely. Visitors traverse this section of the sanctuary in the comfort of their own vehicle, or along a hiking trail (advance booking is required for the latter). A wonderful feature at regular intervals along the drive is the signboards providing interesting information about the animals visitors pass on their way. Obviously the reserve staff know which areas the various animals prefer, as we encountered several species within view of the sign dedicated to them.

African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary

Along the game drive route in African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary there’s interesting signboards like these giving visitors more information about the animals they’re seeing

Plains Zebra mare and newborn foal

Blesbok

White Blesbok

White and normal-coloured Blesbok

White Blesbok

White-flanked Impala ewe (an aberrant colour variation)

Impalas (photo by Joubert)

Young Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Black Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Helmeted Guineafowl

Giraffe

Giraffe (photo by Joubert)

Male Ostrich

“Golden” Blue Wildebeest

Nyala bull

Koppie Foam Grasshopper

Looking for an interesting day out while visiting PE and surrounds? You can’t go wrong with a visit to African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary, and you will be supporting them in their important work.

Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area

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The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is a collaboration among 25 different landowners and the community of Elim to protect their irreplaceable 460km² slice of the Agulhas Plain in the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province. By successfully marrying conservation and sustainable farming practices since 2002 this driven group of people is simultaneously protecting the complex ecosystem that sustains their livelihoods and doing their part to keep food on South African tables. The indigenous vegetation of the SMA is characterised as Lowland Fynbos, with around 1,850 species occurring here. Remaining pockets of this threatened plant community have been connected through corridors between the agricultural fields and invasive alien plants are continuously eradicated. Animals that were hunted to local extinction 150-200 years ago, among them buffalo, hippo, bontebok and eland, have been re-introduced, and the reserve already has a list of over 230 bird species that’ve been recorded.

Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area

Driving through the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area

Waskraalvlei in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area

Unidentified little bloom emerging on the bank of the Waskraalvlei

Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area

A view over the Waskraalvlei in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area

Pincushion

Lowland Fynbos on the Agulhas Plain

Protea

Brunia

Canola field

Nuwejaars Wetland

An excellent way to experience the Nuwejaars Wetland is by joining one of the guided wildlife tours the organisation offers in the summer months. We did just that in December and were taken on a drive along the banks of the Waskraalvlei and onto the hill that looks out over it by Eugene Hahndiek, the SMA’s Conservation Manager for Game & Veld Management. So rich was the experience of sights, smells and sounds, not forgetting the fascinating information about the reserve, farms and ecology that Eugene shared with us, that we’ll definitely never travel through this area again without booking another tour. And as soon as DeWetsWild starts guided itineraries we’ll definitely include it in the package too. Anyone with a love for nature will come away from the 3-hour experience with a deep appreciation for the scale and importance of what the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is trying to achieve.

Black-headed Heron

Spurwinged Geese flying over the Nuwejaars Wetland (photo by Joubert)

Kittlitz’s Plover

Red Hartebeest

African Fish Eagle in flight over the Nuwejaars Wetland

Cape Sugarbird (photo by Joubert)

Orange-breasted Sunbird on a Pincushion flower

Fallow Deer are exotics that roam widely over the Overberg landscape

Black-winged Kite using a fence to look for rodents in a canola field

African Marsh Harrier coursing over a canola field

African Marsh Harrier coursing over a canola field (photo by Joubert)

Cape Spurfowl

Herd of Black Wildebeest

Herd of Springbok

Blue cranes with their chick

Agulhas Long-billed Lark

Bontebok

Black Wildebeest race

Bontebok on the run

Yellow-billed Kite

One of the most inspiring projects that the NWSMA is involved in involves the breeding of zebras that resemble the extinct quagga (Equus quagga quagga), the southernmost subspecies of the plains zebra that was hunted to extinction in the late 1870’s, with the last specimen of this uniquely South African species of horse, a mare, dying in distant Amsterdam Zoo in 1883. Over a century later however it was realised, through DNA analysis, that the quagga was a localised race of the still extant plains zebra, and the Quagga Project came into being to try and bring them back through selective breeding. With each subsequent generation showing more and more quagga-like characteristics, one day we may again see true-to-form quaggas roaming their native country in vast numbers. At this point, the Nuwejaars Wetland boasts three viable breeding herds of remarkably quagga-like zebras, and seeing them was a highlight of our visit.

Bachelor “quaggas” at the Nuwejaars Wetlands

Bachelor “quagga” at the Nuwejaars Wetlands

Three bachelor “quaggas” at the Nuwejaars Wetlands

A herd of “quaggas” mixing with buffaloes – a sight not seen in this part of the world for hundreds of years!

Three of the Nuwejaar’s Wetland’s prized “quaggas”

One of the Nuwejaar’s Wetland’s prized “quaggas”

De Hoop Nature Reserve

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De Hoop Nature Reserve, 26 December 2022

At 360km² in extent, De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the largest conservation areas in our Western Cape Province. The reserve came into existence in 1957 following the purchase of the first two farms for the breeding of rare wildlife species. With the value of the reserve in protecting the ever more threatened biodiversity of the region realised, more land was continually added to its territory until 1991. In addition, a marine reserve extending 5km into the Indian Ocean along De Hoop’s 57km long protected coastline was declared in 1986. De Hoop is included in the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2004.

The reserve protects extensive tracts of Fynbos heathland vegetation growing on plains and low lying limestone ridges, much transformed by agricultural activities outside the reserve, an immense 14km long wetland known as De Hoop Vlei, substantial dune fields and long white beaches interspersed by rocky shores. Of the roughly 1,500 plant species that occur in the area at least 40 species, and probably more, occur only in De Hoop. Including marine species, De Hoop and the adjacent marine reserve is home to 86 mammal species (including the largest single population of Bontebok anywhere in the world), 49 kinds of reptiles, 14 kinds of frogs and toads, at least 250 kinds of saltwater fish and more than 260 bird species – including the southernmost breeding colony of vultures (Cape Vultures) on the continent.

De Hoop Nature Reserve

Male Ostrich

Grey Rhebok (Bontebok in background)

Ostrich female with chicks

Eland

Cape Hare

Bontebok

Bokmakierie

Common Fiscal

Bontebok (photo by Joubert)

Cape Sugarbird

Cape Mountain Zebra

Cattle Egrets

White-throated Canary

Capped Wheatear

Cape Mountain Zebras

Namaqua Sandgrouse pair

Cape Mountain Zebras

Chacma Baboon

Conebush

Grey-backed Cisticola

Cape Mountain Zebra

Cape Spurfowl

African Spoonbill (photo by Joubert)

African Pipit (photo by Joubert)

Secretary Bird

Large-billed Lark

Cape Spurfowl (photo by Joubert)

Small herd of Grey Rhebok being accompanied by a female ostrich

Eland

Southern Rock Agama

Young Baboon

The De Hoop Vlei is an immense wetland fed by the Sout (Salt) River, cut off from the sea by a 2km wide field of white sand dunes. The vlei hosts an enormous number and variety of water birds.

View over De Hoop Vlei at Tierhoek

Black-crowned Night Heron

Tropical Bluetail damselfly

Dwarf Blue (photo by Joubert)

Male Ostriches

De Hoop Nature Reserve

De Hoop Vlei

Cape Shovelers

Great Crested Grebes

Red-knobbed Coots

Cape Shovelers

Southern Pochard (photo by Joubert)

Eland

Koppie Alleen is the most easily accessible beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve, and one of the most reliable spots in the country to watch Southern Right Whales which come here to calf and mate between June and November every year. Intertidal life thrives in the rock pools with their clear water – perfect for snorkeling – and the walk down to the beach from the parking area allows visitors to revel in the sight and smell of the fynbos vegetation.

The road to Koppie Alleen follows a line of partially vegetated, pure white sand dunes

Koppie Alleen

Diverse Fynbos vegetation on the slope at Koppie Alleen

One of around 1,500 Fynbos plant species finding protection at De Hoop

Koppie Alleen

African Oystercatcher (photo by Joubert)

Koppie Alleen Beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve

Rock pool – complete with whale rib – at Koppie Alleen

Koppie Alleen

White-breasted Cormorants

Grey-backed Cisticola

Koppie Alleen Beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve

The De Hoop Nature Reserve is managed by CapeNature and DeWetsWild can assist you with bookings in the accommodation and camping at Die Opstal (main camp) and Die Melkkamer across the vlei. It is wonderful to see wild animals and birds so tamely moving among the human visitors as here at De Hoop. There’s a restaurant and gift shop at the main accommodation complex, and fuel and supplies can be obtained in one of the nearby towns. Visitors to the western portion of the reserve have access to a limited gravel road network linking the entrance gate to the main visitor complex, the picnic area at Tierhoek, a couple of viewpoints over the wetland at De Mond, and Koppie Alleen. For the more energetic there’s numerous hiking and mountain bike trails leading from the main complex. Guided drives, walks and boat trips are also on offer.

View coming from Tierhoek towards Die Opstal

De Hoop Vlei seen from Die Opstal camp

Cape Mountain Zebra in the Opstal Camp

Bontebok lamb

Accommodation at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve

Restaurant at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve

Accommodation at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve

Boat trips are available on the De Hoop Vlei

Cape Mountain Zebra in the Opstal Camp

The Potberg section of the reserve, about 20km away from the main complex, was incorporated into the reserve in 1978 and is a popular day hiking destination. Potberg is also the starting point for the very popular Whale Trail, taking hikers through beautiful mountain, fynbos and seaside scenery for 55km over five nights (spent in well equipped and recently upgraded accommodation) before ending at Koppie Alleen. An environmental education centre at Potberg caters to the needs of visiting school groups and youth clubs. The breeding colony of Cape Vultures on the Potberg Mountain is the last of its kind in the Western Cape and the enormous birds can usually be seen flying overhead.

Bontebok

Start of the hiking trails at Potberg

Baboons on the roof of the reception office at Potberg

Cape Vulture in flight

Cape Vultures and White-necked Ravens near Potberg

Bontebok herd (photo by Joubert)

Seeing that it was simply too hot to go hiking while we were at Postberg but it was still too early to head back to our farm cottage at Aloe Canyons, we decided to go and check out one of the other nearby attractions in the Overberg – one of the very few pontoon ferries still operating in South Africa, the one across the Breede River at Malgas.