Bird Tours | Guiding | Destination development | Birding and Tour News
Features | Birder Information | About us | Contact us | HOME

Indicator Birding cc

Ezemvelo
birding special
28-30 October '05

Introduction


Come and take part in a birding weekend with a difference! Based at Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, the weekend will focus on a exciting range of challenging and difficult bird groups, including Cisticola's Larks and Pipits.

The weekend will be conducted as a field-course on the identification and mastery of these difficult birds. We will visit nearby localities where an even wider range of birds is expected. In 2004, this weekend was run with the dual focus on seeing over 200 bird species, and the challenge of identifying difficult groups such as larks and cisticolas. This year, based on feedback from participants we have purified the focus and will be concentrating on the wonderful world of LBJ's/ The reason for this is that Ezemvelo is situated in the heart of fantastic birding country, and Larks, Cisticolas and Pipits are all very well represented. This does not mean that you will not have the opportunity to see some other fantastic birds! The area offers African Finfoot, Denham's Bustard and Red-chested Flufftail, among many others (take a look at the birdlist here). Under the expert and enthusiastic guidance of Etienne Marais you will learn about:
  • Calls and displays - how to become proficient and bird-call recognition.
  • Key things to look for in the different groups
  • How to get decent views of Larks, Pipits, Cisticolas and Swallows/Swifts
  • Using the field-guides, and use of bird-sound in birding
  • How to take field notes, which enable you to identify a bird later
  • Understanding Habitats
  • How to sort out various LBJ's including non-breeding bishops, weavers, warblers, pipits and cisticolas.

Ezemvelo Nature Reserve is the base for the BirdLife - Oppenheimer - de Beers Avi-tourism Programme, and this weekend aims to provide impetus to a still embryonic birding route in Dinokeng/ Western Mpumalanga.

Ezemvelo and Surrounds - an area of huge birding potential.

Ezemvelo offers excellent birding in grassland and transitional bankenveld habitats. The Wilge River cuts through kloofs and krantzes, creating habitat for riverine species, including African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher and Black Duck, as well as a host of woodland and bushveld birds. Kloofs, kranztes and rocky outcrops hold Verreaux's Eagle, Alpine Swift, Striped Pipit and both Cape and Short-toed Rock-Thrush. Gauteng's only African Goshawks occur in wooded kloofs in this area.

Extensive vleis hold Red-chested Flufftail and numerous warblers, including Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, which is common here. Patches of ferns in moist valleys are thought to hold Striped Flufftail. The grassland is excellent for larks, including endemic Eastern Clapper, Melodious, Spike-heeled and Eastern Long-billed Lark.

While Ezemvelo is itself a very productive area, nearby grasslands provide added diversity and increase the chance of a seeing an amazing number of 10 Larks and 10 Cisticolas! While looking for these species there is also the chance of bumping into species like Denham's Bustard, Blue Crane and White-bellied Korhaan.

Move a little northwards and the overall diversity starts to become staggering, as one enters the wooded valleys of Mabusa, and the burkea and acacia savannahs of Mdala and Mkhombo. Southern Pied Babbler, Barred wren-Warbler and Southern White Crowned-Shrike are just a few of the hundreds of different bushveld birds present in these reserves. Excellent sub-tropical floodplain habitat often produces 'Nylsvley-like' congregations of water-birds.

Web Site Updated 28 June 2005 © Indicator Birding
Contact: