Indicator Birding cc

Introduction

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. 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.

It was largely based around this area, that the Raiders of the Lost Lark in 2005 set an un-official world record (302 species in 24 hours) for a national bird race. This is currently the record for SA's Birding Big Day - (you can see the full report here)