3 June 2003

By Etienne Marais

I have recently spent a few days guiding overseas birders in and around Gauteng, and have had some excellent birding.

We covered all the major habitats in the wider Gauteng area, including highveld grassland and wetlands, broadleaved and acacia woodlands, rocky kloofs and bushveld wetland habitats.

Highveld marsh edges provided several excellent views of Marsh Owl, and small stream near Bapsfontein provided crippling scope views of Half-collared Kingfisher and adult Jackal Buzzard, African Black duck and a family of Cape Clawless Otter. Nearby we found Southern Pochard, Greater Kestrel and a juvenile Martial Eagle. The Cullinan area offered calling African Rail, Red-chested Flufftail and Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, while Roodplaat was ever reliable with several views of at least two Bitterns – one of which was watched as it hunted a short distance away. This area also produced Giant Kingfisher and Intermediate Egret, as well as African Fish Eagle, Grey-headed Gull and African Wattled Lapwing.

The Borakalalo area gave a good range of bushveld species, as well as Lanner Falcon. Other great birds seen here included Southern Pied babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Scaly-feathered Finch Purple Roller, Burchell’s Starling, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Bennet’s Woodpecker , Red-headed Weaver, Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Eremomela and Grey Penduline Tit - and by torchlight near our camp, a superb Southern White-faced Owl.

Several groups of Meyer’s Parrot shrieked in the distance and this species was eventually well seen. The area around Klipvoor Dam lake produced a host of waterbirds including an assemblage of Grey, Goliath and Purple Heron and flock of 30+ Great White Egret, African Fish Eagle, Great-crested Grebe, African Jacana - as well as Great Sparrow, Southern Black Flycatcher and Golden-breasted Bunting. 3 Banded Martin moved steadily over the lake – quite late for this species still to be present - and the resident Pearl-breasted Swallows were numerous everywhere.

Towards Vaalkop Dam we encountered Buffy Pipit, Green-backed Heron, White-fronted Bee-eater, Chestnut-backed Finchlark and Southern White Crowned Shrike, at the Dam itself – a long time favourite among Gauteng birders, a massive African Rock Python stood guard along the river. He we saw Comb Duck, Black Egret, White-winged Tern and Giant Kingfisher, The lakeshore provided good views of Kittlitz Plover and a small party of African Pied Wagtail.

A superb sunset heralded the arrival of the Sandgrouse, and there was still enough light to scope these great birds as they came in to drink. Another magnificent Marsh Owl came sailing past – and a pair of Water Dikkop called in the distance.

An early start at Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve – some 50 km South of Johannesburg, always ensures good birding, and this sunny autumn day was no exception, with a great African Rock Pipit, getting things going. Other species here included Red-eyed Bulbul, Malachite Sunbird, Cape Grassbird and Bar-throated Apalis, On the game drive we encountered the first of many Sentinel Rock Thrushes – at least 20 birds being seen; with at one stage 4 birds interacting in the road. Several Cape Rock Thrushes, Eastern Longbilled Lark and adult and juvenile Jackal Buzzard were all well seen, as were several Wing-snapping Cisticola, that didn’t seem to care that winter was almost here! Other common species in this habitat included Mountain Wheatear, Wailing Cisticola, Cape Bunting, Yellow Canary and Cape Longclaw. A lone Peregrine on a Pylon provided a bit of drama as it took off to chase a Rock Kestrel.

Lower down on the slopes we encountered Red-throated Wryneck, Southern Ant-eating Chat, Spike-heeled Lark, Mocking Cliff-chat, Lesser Honeyguide Violet-eared Waxbill, Green-winged Pytilia and a small flock of the Karoo’s “lost” Lark-like Buntings – a new bird for my "Pretoria and surrounds" life list, which now stands at 448 species.

Marievale Bird Sanctuary provides the usual array of fine waterbirds including Greater Flamingo, African Spoonbill and Goliath Heron. Several African Rail were seen, and other local specials (for the Gauteng region) included no less than 17 South African Shelduck, Fantailed Widowbird, Yellow Canary and a lazy circling African Marsh Harrier.

The Seringveld conservancy area in the heart of Dinokeng provided a host of good birds including Striped and Brown-hooded Kingfisher Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Fawn-coloured Lark, Fairy Flycatcher, White-fronted and Little Bee-eater A nice bird party we found here had Brubru, Puffback, Greencapped Eremomela, Chin-spot Batis and Black-crowned Tchagra.

In more rugged country to the north we found Kurrichane, Groundscraper and Karoo Thrush all in close proximity, and also saw several Green Pigeon, Southern Boubou and Mocking Cliff-chat.

The most diverse birding was left until the last of the five days, when we spent several hours in prime acacia thornveld along the Pienaar’s River. Several Northern Black Korhaan greeted the dawn at a site where later on in the spring they will be found performing their strange collective display.
Further on, we encountered a bird party which allowed for excellent views of Barred Wren-Warbler, Green-winged Pytilia, Lesser Honeyguide, Black-cheeked Waxbill, Chinspot Batis and Puffback. In the dry open areas with lots of seedgrass we saw African, Bluebilled and Redbilled Firefinch and Blue Waxbill in abundance, as well as Scaly-feathered Finch.

At this season, Pearl-spotted Owl are more active than usual, and we had some superb views, including one where an owl was mobbed by a range of birds, including White-throated Robin, Southern Penduline Tit and Southern Boubou. Two Kalahari Robin’s hopped around on a falled tree, cocking their tails in their extroverted way.

Dry plains produced some superb birds in the form of several pairs of Capped Wheatear – protecting their anthill burrows, and a pair of wonderfully elegant Temminck’s Courser.

On to one of the local sewerage works, and here we saw a host of ducks and herons. Four species of “white egret” stood in one binocular view, allowing a rarely seen chance to compare these species. In addition, ten species of duck were present, including Southern Pochard, Comb Duck and Cape Shoveller.

A brief foray west of Pretoria, produced two more endemics, in the form of the Pretoria race of the Short-toed Rock Thrush – a Rock Thrush “Slam” is always nice to get in this area – and excellent views of a party of Spike heeled Lark, that seemed to want to frolick in the road where the vehicle stood.

Overall five days birding produced 244 species, and another 16 species "heard only". Of the total 48 species are classified as endemics or near endemics (regional “birders” endemics). Not too shabby, considering that the Johannesburg and Pretoria area is given hardly a second thought as a birding area by some of those who pass through.