Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1
The Region ............................................................................................................... 2
Topography............................................................................................................... 2
Vegetation/ Habitats.................................................................................................. 3
1. Summit Montane Grassland (above 1800m) .................................................... 4
2. Steep-slope Grassland (1700-1800m) ............................................................. 5
3. Plains Grassland and Old Lands (mainly below 1700m) .................................. 6
4. Kloof Bush ....................................................................................................... 7
5. Sweet Thorn Savannah ................................................................................... 8
6. Isolated Bush ................................................................................................... 9
7. Rocky Shrubland ............................................................................................. 9
8. Streams and Wetlands................................................................................... 10
9. Cliffs .............................................................................................................. 10
10.

Alien Trees ................................................................................................. 11

11.

Infrastructure (buildings, bridges, and ruins) ............................................... 11

12.

Aerial .......................................................................................................... 12

Geology .................................................................................................................. 12
Climate ................................................................................................................... 13
Nomenclature used ................................................................................................. 16
Conservation........................................................................................................... 16
Avitourism ............................................................................................................... 17
Species accounts .................................................................................................... 24
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 24
Species accounts .................................................................................................... 25
Species requiring confirmation .............................................................................. 151
Erroneous records ................................................................................................ 154
References ........................................................................................................... 156

FIGURE 1. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve shown in green in the south-east of Gauteng.
The reserve lies west of Heidelberg and is bounded by the N3 to the east, the R550 to thenorth and the R42 to the south.

to the physical and spiritual well-beingof the people of this province.

Introduction

In the first annotated bird checklist for
Suikerbosrand
Nature Reserve
which was published before thereserve was even opened to the
public, Deryck Day praised the foresightof
those
responsibleforthedevelopmentofthe“hillsof
Suikerbosrand” as ‘a recreation areaand nature reserve for the people of the
Witwatersrand’ (Day 1975). Almost fifty
years later, as land transformation
continues apace in the Gauteng City
Region, the Suikerbosrand Nature
Reserve is becoming ever more criticalto biodiversity conservation efforts. As a
tranquil retreat from the clamour of thesurrounding urban-industrial complex
the reserve is also of incalculable value

The launch of the Southern African Bird
Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2) in 2007
stimulated a renewed national focus on
avifaunal
surveys.
Morerecenttechnological advances in hardware
and software available for recording
bird sightings (i.e., smart phones andthe BirdLasser application) has made it
feasible to capture numerous, highresolution spatial records. It is therefore
an opportune time to revisit Day’s
authoritative account and to reassessthe diversity and status of bird species
occurring within what has grown tobecome Gauteng’s premier protected
area.

1

The ridge is drained by numerous small
streams that have eroded steep kloofs
and open valleys. Those in the northdrain mainly towards the Rietspruit andNatalspruit, while those in the south
feed the Blesbokspruit. The mostdramatic cliffs are Feeskrans andBobbejaankrans in the Steenbokkloof
on the southern side of the ridge. Low
rocky hills in the east add further
topographical diversity.

The Region
uikerbosrand Nature Reserve is aprovincial protected area locatedin south-eastern Gauteng.

S

TopographyT

he Suikerbosrand range runs
from east to west across thereserve and is one of the mostoutstanding
topographicalfeatures of the region. The reserve
slopes from below 1600m on the grassy
and wooded plains to the north, south
and west of the ridge to 1917m at
Toringkop on the central plateau (Thusi2019), the highest point in Gauteng.

FIGURE 2. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve with 20m contour intervals shown in grey anddrainage lines in blue. Altitude varies from below 1600m to just over 1900m across thereserve.

2

Natural grassland dominates the ridge
crests and high plateaus (Summit
montane grassland). While floristicallysimilar habitat occurs on adjacentslopes and lower hilltops (Steep-slope
grassland), some bird species appear
to be largely restricted to areas above
1800m. Shrubs are more common atlower altitudes and typically grow larger
and form denser patches on rocky
outcrops and in sheltered drainage
lines. Steep-sided valleys may be wellwooded (Kloof bush) with exposed
shallow rock faces and cliffs (Cliffs).

Vegetation/ Habitats

Despite its location and reputation
as a premier highveld birding
destination, both the grasslandand savannah biomes are well
represented on Suikerbosrand Nature
Reserve. Three broad vegetation types:
Tsakane Clay Grassland, Andesite
Mountain Bushveld and Gold Reed
Mountain Bushveld (Mucina andRutherford 2005) and eight plantcommunities (Panagos 1999, Hoare
2006) are recognised within its
boundaries. The habitat descriptions
below correspond broadly with theseplant communities, although some havebeen merged or sub-divided andadditional categories have been
introduced where appropriate. Moredetailed descriptions follow the initialoutline.

Northern plains grasslands

The broad, gently sloping lowlands tothe north of the ridge (mainly below
1700m) comprise a patchy mosaic ofpreviously cultivated fields and remnant
natural grassland (Plains grasslandand old lands) interspersed withdrainage lines, dams, and marshes(Streams and wetlands) and patches
of woodland (Isolated bush). Low-lying
grassland in the south and east has also
been affected by past agriculture and isless extensive. In the west, former
grasslands and old lands have been
largely replaced by encroachingthornveld (Sweet thorn savannah).
The shrub dominated rocky hills in theSouthern slopes and grasslands

3

FIGURE 3. The habitat of Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve has been divided into eightcategories, seven of these are terrestrial and one is aquatic. Three of the terrestrial habitats
are grassland, three are woodland and the last is scrub dominated.

east are geologically and floristicallydistinct from the rest of the reserve(Rockyshrubland).
Standsofintroduced trees (Alien trees) and manmade structures (Infrastructure) arealso exploited to varying degrees bybirds.

woodland may attract bird species thatmight otherwise be absent from thebroader habitat. These patches
respond dynamically to prevailingconditions and bird species distributions
are expected to shift accordingly.

1. Summit Montane Grassland(above 1800m)

Plants are influenced by aspect, slope,soil, rainfall and other climate variables,
fire, grazing pressure, and long-term
management
history.
Theaccompanying habitat map is adaptedfrom vegetation mapping work done by
Panagos (1999) and Hoare (2006) andis intended to provide only ageneralised representation of thelocation and extent of the broad habitat
categories described below. On a finerscale, clumps of trees within low open
vegetation or open patches withinThese grasslands occur mainly
along the ridgeline from Diepkloof
in the west to Perdekop in theeast, but also incorporate thehigh central plateau (Springbokvlakte)
and several surrounding prominences.
They are essentially unwooded.
Diagnostic species include Harpochloa
falx (Caterpillar Grass) and Indigofera
hedyantha (Black-bud Indigo).
4

The isolated tree and shrub species of
thisgrassland
includeSearsia(previously Rhus) discolor (Grassveld
Current), Searsia rigida var. margaretae(Margaret’s Rock Currant) and isolated
individuals of Halleria lucida (TreeFuchsia); dominant grasses andannuals include Hyparrhenia hirta(Common Thatching Grass), Themeda
triandra (Red Grass), Eragrostis
chloromelas (Blue Love Grass),
Digitaria diagonalis (Brown-seed Finger
Grass), Setaria nigrirostris (Large Seed
Setaria), Setaria sphacelata (Common
Bristle Grass), Cymbopogon validus(Giant Turpentine Grass), Trachypogon
spicatus(GiantSpear
Grass),
Heteropogon contortus (Tanglehead orSpear Grass), Brachiaria serrata (Redtopped Signal Grass), Berkheya
setifera (Buffalo-tongue Thistle) and
Acalypha caperonioides (False-nettleBush). Spongy mats of Selaginella
dregei, one of several species that
share
the
commonnameofResurrection Plant, grow on sheets ofotherwise bare rock turning silver grey
during the dry season.

Sunbird, Mountain Wheatear and Longtailed and Red-collared Widowbirds.
Yellow Bishop, Grey-winged Francolinand Eastern Long-billed Lark appear to
be largely restricted to higher
elevations.

2. Steep-slope(1700-1800m)

A

Grasslandt higher elevations the distinction
between this habitat and summit
montane grassland is altitudinalrather than floristic and thetransition to plains grassland and oldlands at lower altitudes is also poorly
defined. Pockets of spectacular
Cussonia
paniculata(Highveld
Cabbage Tree) and the annual
Hermannia
grandistipula(Yellow
Granny Bonnets) are characteristic ofshrub-dominatedpatcheswhilesheltered valleys on the warmer
northern slopes are wooded withvarious broadleaved trees and shrubs
such as Euclea crispa (Blue Guarri),
Buddlejasaligna(FalseOlive),
Afrocanthium mundianum (Rock-alder),Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild Peach) andGymnosporia (previously Maytenus)
heterophylla (Angle-stem Spikethorn).
Leucosidea sericea (Oldwood), Searsia
pyroides (Common Wild Currant),
Diospyros
lycioides(Bluebush),
Vachellia (previously Acacia) karroo,
Rhoicissus tridentata (Wild Grape) andAfrocanthium gilfillanii (Velvet Rockalder) are other common tree and shrub
species found here; grasses andannuals include Hyparrhenia hirta(Common Thatching Grass), Eragrostis
curvula(AfricanLove
Grass),
Cymbopogon validus (Giant Turpentine
Grass), Eragrostis chloromelas (Blue

Summit montane grassland

Typical birds of this habitat include
Wailing and Levaillant’s Cisticolas,
Cape Longclaw, Cape and Sentinel
Rock Thrushes (the latter in the austral
winter), African Stonechat, Malachite
5Love Grass), Aristida canescens (Pale
Three-awn Grass), Elionurus muticus(Lemon or Wire Grass), Themeda
triandra (Red Grass), Hyparrhenia
dregeana (Tambuki Grass), Setaria
nigrirostris (Large Seed Setaria),
Heteropogon contortus (Tanglehead orSpear Grass) and Trachypogon
spicatus (Giant Spear Grass).

Steep slope grasslands –paniculata and Aloe marlothii

previously cultivated lands, some ofwhich are still weed dominated whileothers have matured into stablesecondary grassland with good basal
cover. The grasslands to east wereheavily grazed by domestic livestockprior to the establishment of the reserveand these have become encroached by
the dwarf shrub Seriphium plumosum(Silver Stoebe or Bankrotbos). Those to
the south are currently favoured bylarge ungulate herds and the grasslayer is kept sort by intensive grazing.
Previously cultivated areas in the southand east have reverted to grassland
while in the west sweet thorn savannah
predominates. Seriphium plumosumand Eragrostis plana (Tough Love
Grass) are diagnostic species.

Cussonia

Other dominant grass and annual
species include Hyparrhenia hirta(Common Thatching Grass), Eragrostis
chloromelas (Blue Love Grass),
Hyparrhenia
dregeana(TambukiGrass),
Heteropogon
contortus(Tangleheador
Spear
Grass),
Eragrostis curvula (African Love
Grass), Themeda triandra (Red Grass),
Trachypogon spicatus (Giant Spear
Grass), Setaria sphacelata (Common
Bristle Grass), Elionurus muticus(Lemonor
Wire
Grass)
andHelichrysum
rugulosum(Wrinkly
Everlasting).

Birds typical of grassy slopes at lower
altitudes include Wailing Cisticola,
Mountain
Wheatear,
Red-winged
Francolin, Rufous-naped Lark, andNicholson’s Pipit. Bar-throated Apalis,
Black-collared Barbet, African Redeyed Bulbul, Bokmakierie, Fairy (austral
winter) and Fiscal Flycatchers, Cape
Grassbird, African Hoopoe, Cape
Robin-Chat and Cape White-eye
frequent shrub patches and wooded
drainages.

3. Plains Grassland and Old
Lands (mainly below 1700m)

Typical birds of this habitat are
Southern Red Bishop, Ant-eating Chat,
Zitting and Levaillant’s Cisticolas,
Orange River Francolin, Helmeted
Guineafowl,
Black-winged
Kite,
Northern Black Korhaan, Rufous-naped
and Eastern Clapper Larks, CapeLongclaw,
African
Quail-finch,
Secretarybird,
CappedWheatearThe extensive northern plains are
a comparatively recent addition to
the reserve. The area ispredominantly flat to rollingcountryside with a shallow slope andlittle surface rock. Here natural
grasslandisinterspersedwith6

(mainly austral winter), Red-collaredand Long-tailed Widows, and Common
Waxbill. Flocks of Orange-breasted
Waxbill are common along theEendracht Road and other sought-after
specials such as Melodious and Pinkbilled Larks as well as Yellow-breasted
Pipit have also been recorded here.

(Common Hook-thorn) woodland atlower altitudes. The shade grass
Ehrharta erecta (Panic Veld Grass)dominates the understorey. Other
characteristic tree and shrub species of
the Kloof Bush include Vachellia karroo(SweetThorn),
Tarchonanthus
camphoratus (Trident Camphor Bush),
Ziziphus mucronata (Buffalo Thorn),
Myrsine africana (African Boxwood),
Rhamnus prinoides (African Dogwood),
Pittosporum viridiflorum (Cheesewood),
Ehretia rigida (Puzzle Bush), Searsia
leptodictya(Mountain
Karee),
Rhoicissus tridentata (Wild Grape),
Afrocanthium gilfillanii (Velvet Rockalder), Searsia pyroides (Common Wild
Currant); grasses and annuals include
Eragrostis curvula (African Love
Grass), Hypoestes forskaolii (White
Ribbon Bush), Didymodoxa caffra andvarious introduced species including
Bidens pilosa (Blackjack), Salvia tiliifolia(Lindenleaf Sage), Bidens bipinnata(Spanish Blackjack) and Achyranthes
aspera (Burrweed).

Plains grasslands and old lands

4.

Kloof BushL

argely restricted to steep slopes
andshelteredsouth-facing
valleys, this woodland comprises
a mixture of tree and shrub
species and may be open or closed.
Exceptional
grovesofSearsia
leptodictya (Mountain Karee), Olea
europaea (African Olive) and Celtis
africana (White Stinkwood) occur in the
Steenbokkloof and a magnificent standof Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe)
dominates the south-eastern slopes of
the Kareekloof. Rocky scree slopes andCliffs are also prominent features of thishabitat.

Kloof bush of the Langkloof

The dense mixed bush of the steep
upper slopes between Feeskrans andHolhoek merges into Senegalia caffra
7

The picnic site at Holhoek currently
provides the best access to this habitatfor day visitors.

Aristida canescens (Pale Three-awn
Grass). Two introduced weeds, Bidens
pilosa (Blackjack) and Tagetes minuta(Khaki Bush), are also abundant inplaces.

Birds that typically may be found in thevicinity include Bar-throated Apalis,
Acacia Pied, Black-collared andCrested Barbets, Red-chested Cuckoo(austral summer), African Paradise
Flycatcher (austral summer), Lesser
Honeyguide, Common Scimitarbill,
Ashy Tit, Willow (austral summer) and
Chestnut-vented Warblers, Cardinal
Woodpecker,
andRed-throatedWryneck. Violet-backed Starling has
also been recorded in this area on
occasion.

5.

Sweet thorn savannah

Tree and shrub diversity are higher on
the surrounding slopes. In the north
Senegalia caffra (Common Hookthorn), Tarchonanthus camphoratus(Trident Camphor Bush), Searsia
leptodictya (Mountain Karee), Ehretia
rigida(PuzzleBush),
Cussonia
paniculata (Mountain Cabbage Tree),Aloemarlothii(Mountain
Aloe),
Dombeya rotundifolia (Wild Pear) andRhoicissus tridentata (Wild Grape) arecommon where Sweet thorn savannahmerges into Steep-slope grassland. On
the low-lying hills in the south, Euclea
crispa (Blue Guarri) is among the morecommon species with impressive
specimens of Ziziphus mucronata(Buffalo Thorn) and Celtis africana(White Stinkwood) often indicatingstone-walled ruins. Vachellia karroo isalso encroaching into previously
cultivated areas at Elandsvlakte in thesouth and is expected to become evenmore prevalent in future.

Sweet Thorn SavannahT

he lower western slopes of the
Suikerbosrand converge to oldagricultural lands at Wolwekloof
and Schoongezicht. While somegrassland remains, the clay-richlowlands in this area are now
dominated by the pioneer thorn tree
Vachellia karroo (Sweet Thorn) andPanicum maximum (Guinea Grass), a
shade-loving grass. Other dominant
species
includeGymnosporia
polyacantha (Buffalo Spike-thorn),either as small trees or low
impenetrable clumps, the sweetscented shrub Asparagus laricinus(Cluster-leaved
Asparagus),
Helichrysum
aureonitens(GoldenEverlasting) and various grasses
Hyparrhenia hirta (Common Thatching
Grass), Themeda triandra (Red Grass),
Eragrostis chloromelas (Blue Love
Grass), Elionurus muticus (Lemon or
Wire Grass), Setaria sphacelata(Common Bristle Grass), Eragrostis
curvula (African Love Grass) andTypical birds here include Rattling
Cisticola, Jameson’s Firefinch, Whitebacked Mousebird, Green-winged
Pytilia, Common Scimitarbill, Kalahari
8

Scrub-Robin, White-browed Sparrowweaver,Brown-crowned
Tchagra,Chestnut-vented Warbler, Black-faced
and Violet-eared Waxbill. Crimsonbreasted Shrike and Sabota Lark have
only been recorded in this habitat.

6.

(Mountain Three-awn Grass). It is oneof the few areas where the reserve lives
up to its name and Protea caffra(Common Sugarbush) may be quite
common on some slopes. Narrow
wooded kloofs, rocky Pteridium
aquilinum (Bracken Fern) dominateddrainage lines and small dams add tothe local habitat diversity. Much of this‘wilderness’ is currently inaccessible tothe casual day visitor but can be
explored by hikers using the marked
trail and overnight huts.

Isolated Bushurrounded by Plains Grassland
and Old Lands, these patches ofthick bush on the northern slopesof isolated rocky hills are
dominated by Vachellia robusta(Broadpod Robust Thorn), Vachellia
karroo (Sweet Thorn) and Senegalia
caffra (Common Hook-thorn) which
attract a diversity of woodland bird
species to this otherwise open
landscape. Stonewalled ruins provide
abundant evidence of former humanoccupation.

S

Dominant species includes the shrubs
Afrocanthium mundianum (Rock-alder),Afrocanthium gilfillanii (Velvet Rockalder), Mundulea sericea (Cork Bush),
Ancylobotrys capensis (Rock Milk
Apricot), Searsia magalismontana(Bergtaaibos), Indigofera melanadenia
and Diospyros lycioides (Bluebush) andthe grasses Eragrostis curvula (African
Love Grass), Loudetia simplex (Russet
Grass) and Cymbopogon nardus (Giant
Turpentine Grass).

Typical birds here include Crested andBlack-collared Barbets, Brown-crowned
Tchagra, Fiscal Flycatcher, Cape
Robin-Chat and Fairy Flycatcher(austral winter). Spotted Eagle-Owl
have been recorded here on occasion
and this type of bush also provides
excellent
breeding
habitatfor
Secretarybird.

7.

Rocky ShrublandT

he eastern section of the reserve
falls within the Witwatersrand
Geological Formation and assuch is botanically quite different
from the rest. Extending from 1600m tojust below 1800m, this area of broken
hills is characterised by the low shrub
Englerophytum
magalismontanum(Transvaal Milkplum or Stamvrug) andthe grass Aristida transvaalensis

Rocky shrubland

Typical birds here include Bokmakierie,
Cape Bunting, Mocking Cliff Chat,
Wailing Cisticola, Fiscal Flycatcher,
Freckled Nightjar, Black-chested Prinia,
9Cape Robin-chat, and Swainson’s
Spurfowl. Specials such as African
Rock Pipit and Dark-capped Yellow
Warbler have also been recorded.

8.

and
the
Diepkloof
visitor(administrative) centre are the mostrewarding waterbird habitats that areaccessible to visitors.

Streams and WetlandsT

he reserve has an abundance ofsmall streams, but most areseasonal and only the largest
dams
retainwater
duringextended dry periods. The northward
expansion of the reserve has greatly
increased the extent of this habitat
under protection. Kloof bush extends
into more open country along some ofthedeeperwatercourses,
but
Leucosidea sericea (Oldwood/Ouhout)and Setaria sphacelata (Golden Bristle
Grass) are considered characteristic of
this habitat.

Wetlands

Red-knobbed Coot, Reed Cormorant,
Yellow-billed Duck, Little Grebe,
Common Moorhen, and Lesser Swampand Little Rush Warblers occur mainly
on dams with open water and patchesof tall emergent vegetation. Threebanded Plover, African Snipe and Cape
Wagtail frequent open shorelines andmuddy patches in larger wetlands while
Marsh Owl and Fan-tailed Widow arelargely restricted to wetland areas withgood grass cover. African Grass Owl isa rarely seen resident and Whitebacked Duck are also recorded on
occasion.

Other dominant grass and annual
species include Phragmites australis(CommonReed),
Hyparrhenia
dregeana (Tambuki Grass), Imperata
cylindrica(Cotton-wool
Grass),
Schoenoplectus
brachyceras,
Arundinella nepalensis (River Grass),
Leersia hexandra (Rice Grass),
Andropogon appendiculatus (Blue
Grass), Persicaria attenuata (Velvet
Knotweed), Ludwigia palustris (Water
Purslane) and the introduced Verbena
brasiliensis (Brazilian Verbena).

9.

Cliffsliffs ranging in height from 1545m occur mainly along thesteeper southern slopes of theridge and these are often
associated with patches of Kloof bush.
The
mostimpressive
isBobbejaanskrans in the Steenbokkloof
where Verreaux’s Eagle nested
regularly in the past and are still seenon occasion.

C

The wetland at Elandsvlakte in thesouth and the headwaters of the
Natalspruit and Rietspruit in the north
are the most extensive areas of marsh
habitat on the reserve. The two northern
wetlands and Koppieskraal Dam arevisible from the Eendracht Road andtogether with several smaller roadsidedams located between the main gate
10

farmsteads include Amur Falcon(austral summer), Southern Fiscal,
Cape Sparrow, White-browed Sparrowweaver, Cape Starling, and Redthroated Wryneck.

Cliffs and kloof bush

Birds typical of cliff habitat include
Mocking Cliff Chat, Peregrine Falcon,
Cape Rock Thrush, Cape Bunting, andMountain Wheatear. Patches of fresh
whitewash in the vicinity of Holhoek andelsewhere warrant further investigation.

Eucalyptus tree at Mayfair

11. Infrastructure
bridges, and ruins)

10. Alien TreesM

anagement of invasive alienplant species is a priority for the
reserve. The severe historicalinfestationsof
Acacia,
Eucalyptus and Pinus species havebeen cleared and after the successfultreatment of regrowth at Delvillebos in2019 and subsequent regular follow-up,
only isolated specimens of Acacia
mearnsii (Black Wattle) remain.
Populus canescens (Grey Poplar) ispresent in several drainage lines andmany inaccessible cliffs have beencolonised by Opuntia ficus-indica(Sweet Prickly Pear) which is likely toprove extremely difficult to eradicate.
The biggest threat at present is theinvasive
species
Campuloclinium
macrocephalum (Pompom Weed), but
specimens are controlled as they areencountered.

(buildings,

T

heDiepkloof
visitor(administrative) centre includes a
farm museum, picnic area,
natural bush, planted woodland,
lawns and ponds. This artificial
concentration of habitats attracts a wide
diversityofbird
speciesandconsequently provides excellent birding
opportunities.
Staff
and
visitoraccommodation (including trail huts),
entrance gates, derelict farmhouses
and
their
outbuildings,
stables,
paddocks, bridges, culverts, livestock
troughs and leaking taps are all
exploited by birds to the extent that theirindividual preferences and tolerance ofhuman proximity permit.
Only the introduced House Sparrowappears to be restricted to man-madehabitat, but Mocking Cliff Chat, BarnOwl, Speckled Pigeon, Pied Starling,
and South African Cliff Swallow alsofrequent such areas.

Species associated with remaining
stands of alien trees in the gardens andyards of more recently incorporated
11

Protea camp

Cliff Swallows feeding over northern
extension plains grasslands and wetlands

Stone-walled ruins occur widely within
the reserve, and these have long been
acknowledged as evidence of prioroccupation by ancestors of today’s
Setswana-speaking people (e.g., Day
1975). A more recent study employing
laser technology known as LiDAR (lightdetection and ranging) has cast newlight on the significance of thestructures revealing the remains of a‘lost African city’ (Sadr 2018). The
extended period of concentrated humanoccupation continued into the 1800s inthewesternfoothillsoftheSuikerbosrand, including much of thearea now characterised by Sweet thorn
savannah.

GeologyT

he reserve incorporates parts of
two quite distinct geologicalsystems
(Day
1975
and
references therein, Norman and
Whitfield 2006, Thusi 2019). The low
rocky hills in the east and south-east are
sedimentary in origin and aredominated by quartzite and quartz
pebble conglomerate of the older
WitwatersrandSupergroup.
Theremaining approximately 82% of thereserve is overlain with volcanic rock(mainly basalt, but with narrow bands offeldspar porphyry and tuff in the east) of
the younger Ventersdorp Supergroup.
Small dolerite and diabase intrusions
have also been identified. Geology
influences soil and vegetation and while
there is considerable overlap in theavifauna of the two systems there isless habitat diversity in the east.

12. Aerial
everal species are mainly seen inskies above and while they may
settle on perches, collect mudfrom pools or build nests, theycannot readily be assigned to any
terrestrial habitat.

S

Swallows, martins, and swifts are themost obvious members of this groups,
but many raptor species are also morecommonly recorded in flight.

12bring more gentle rain that may last forseveral days (Thusi 2019). At times thebarrier effect of the ridge may restrict
rain to either the north or south (Day1975).

ClimateR

ainfall and maximum andminimum temperatures were
measured daily at the Diepkloof
weatherstationat
Suikerbosrand
NatureReservebetween 2018 and 2022 (D. Koen,
unpublished data). Mean annual rainfall
was 683mm (range 610-874mm) withmost rain falling between October andApril (Figure 4.). Rainfall in 2018 and2020 was below the long-term averageof 650-700mm measured between
1980 and 2016, (Thusi 2019), 2019 and2021 were average years while 2022
was wet (874mm). Rainfall is variable
across the reserve tending to be higher
in the east (Day 1975). Short heavy
showers, frequent lightning strikes andoccasional hail are typical of highveld
thunderstorms, while frontal systems

Overnight temperatures occasionallydropped below zero between May and
September (minimum -3.6°C). Whilefrost is regular, snowfall is infrequent(Thusi 2019) and last fell on 10 July
2023. No snow fell during our surveys.
Daytimetemperatures
typicallyremained below 20°C during the coldest
months. There was little variation in themean maximum daytime temperaturesduring the warmest months (26-28°C)
with a maximum of 37°C. Early
mornings may still be cold (especially ifthere is wind) and a jersey or light jacket
is essential.

FIGURE 4. Climate data for Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve indicate two main
seasons. Warm and wet conditions are expected between October and Marchwhile it is cold and dry during May and August.

13

There are effectively two main seasons.
October to March is warm and wet while
May to August is cool and dry. April and
September are transitional months ofdeclining or increasing temperatures
respectively
andlower,
more
unpredictable rainfall.

the original extent of the reserve alone.
The fieldwork occurred mainly between
September 1970 and June 1972,
though supplementary records werecollected by S. Wolff of the Transvaal
Nature Conservation Division up until
January 1975 (Day 1975). In thatsurvey, effort varied amongst habitat
types according to the preferences ofthe observers and not all habitat types
were visited each week. The surveys
per habitat and the number of visits tothese on which each species was
sighted or heard were noted but not the
number of observers, the duration ofeach survey nor the overall number ofweeks in which species that use morethan one habitat were recorded. For
purposes of comparison with thecurrent study, an approximate baseline
reporting rate was calculated (as for our
survey) based on data provided by Day(1975).

Description of data usedM

ost of the recent bird
distribution records used in thisanalysis were collected by theauthors during 76 intensive
surveys (lasting 1-4 days) between
February 2018 and January 2023. The
number of survey days per monthranged from 5-18 (Table 1). Various
travel and access restrictions during theheight of the Covid-19 pandemic
severely constrained fieldwork in 2020.
Observations were captured using the
BirdLasser App for smart phones andall records were submitted to theSouthern African Bird Atlas Project 2(SABAP2) either as full protocol (twohours to five days duration) or ad hoc
cards (less than two hours). Surveys
spanned the original reserve and thenorthern extension. The Reporting
Rates (frequency of observations) for
each species were calculated by
dividing the number of surveys (allpentads combined) on which a given
species was recorded by the total
number of surveys conducted andshown as a percentage.

This approach is expected to underreport the prevalence of species
utilising only a mixture of relatively
poorly surveyed habitats. Cliffs, rocky
shrubland and sweet thorn savannah
were the least well surveyed with visits
over 15, 22 and 28 weeks out of 50
respectively. Aerial species weresurveyed each week and those using
mixed habitats including kloof bush on≥90% of visits, so reporting rates areequivalent to ours and those calculated
for BIRP during 1995-2003 (Harebottle
et al. 2004). Reporting rates for waterassociated species and others confined
to a single habitat were calculated using
the actual number of visits to that
habitat and are also broadly equivalent
to ours. Comparable reporting rates
are all indicated with an asterisk.

By comparison, the original checklist
compiled by members of the
Witwatersrand Bird Club (Day 1975)
was based on an intensive 50-weeksurvey of 61 square-mile blocks within
14

The Birds in Reserves Project (BIRP)
initiated and coordinated by the Avian
Demography
Unit(laterAnimalDemography Unit) of the University ofCape Town provides a third major bird
occurrence dataset for the reserve(including the northern extension after
2000). Between 1995-2003, 195 BIRP
cards were compiled for Suikerbosrand
Nature Reserve and the results wereanalysed by Harebottle et al. (2004).
Observers were encouraged to visit all
habitats over a minimum of three hours
and a reporting rate was calculated foreach species. Participants would have
had access to hiking trails and the
Diepkloof and Holhoek picnic sites, but
most observations elsewhere would
have been from a vehicle.

survey design and execution are
acknowledged and these should beconsidered when comparing reporting
rates amongst the studies.
The reserve falls into six main SABAP2
survey grids which are known as
pentads (i.e., 2625_2810, 2825_2815,
2630_2810,
and
2630_2815,
2625_2805 and 2630_2805) – a
seventh pentad was only surveyed
once (i.e., 2625_2820 – that being at
the eastern perimeter of the reserve –the western outskirts of Heidelberg
town - and difficult to access). These
have all been well surveyed (67 to 728
full protocol cards between 2007 andNovember 2023). While the provincial
protected areas network provides anobvious focal point for atlas surveys(relatively safe, accessible, andrepresenting a diversity of natural
habitats), lists generated for SABAP2
can include sightings made anywhere
within a pentad over a five-day period.
It is therefore possible that somespecies recorded for a pentad do notoccur in the protected area of interest.

TABLE 1. Breakdown of monthly sampling
trips during 1995-2003 and 2018-2023 (daysin brackets).

Years
1995-2003 2018-2023
MonthsJanuary16
4 (5)February11
9 (11)March14
6 (10)
April
20
6 (9)
May
11
7 (18)
June
15
6 (9)
July
19
7 (10)
August22
7 (9)September
20
7 (9)October10
6 (9)November19
7 (10)
December18
4 (8)Species that are known to occur in thearea but have yet to be confirmed for
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve or forwhich there is uncertainty about theaccuracy of the available records werelisted separately and require follow-up
work. Additional species not recordedby us but confirmed for the reserve byother observers were included in the
checklist and maps where relevant
details could be obtained from theobserver. Similarly, verifiable records ofspecies considered unusual for the
reserve that were reported by otherobservers either directly to the authors

All three studies were aimed atproviding a representative picture of theavifauna present at the time.
Nevertheless, important differences in15

or via various social media platforms
with a strong birding focus were used tosupplement our own observations.

ConservationIn 1970/1 portions of nine farms in the
Heidelberg District of the thenTransvaal (totalling 11 595ha) werepurchased for the development of arecreation area and nature reserve(Thusi 2019). Roads, hiking trails andother visitor facilities were built, internal
fences were removed, and a perimetergame fence was erected (Duggan
1983). Various ungulate species suchas Blesbok (Damaliscus pygargus
phillipsi),
Springbok(Antidorcas
marsupialis),
Red
Hartebeest(Alcelaphus buselaphus), Mountain
Reedbuck(Redunca
fulvorufula),Southern
Reedbuck(Redunca
arundinum),Black
Wildebeest(Connochaetes gnou), Plains Zebra(Equus quagga), Common Eland(Taurotragus oryx) and Greater Kudu
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros) that would
have occurred in the area when it was
first settled were reintroduced (Thusi2019). The area was formallyproclaimed as the Suikerbosrand
Nature Reserve in 1974 (Day 1975) andhas been managed by the provincial
government as a state protected area
since its inception. Cheetahs werereintroduced in 1975 (Duggan 1983) but
bred too prolifically, and consequently
impacting too much on some game
animals, that at the time it was deemednecessary to remove them.

The frequency with which species areobserved within a protected area may
differ from that calculated for thebroader pentad. White Storks, African
Sacred Ibis and Grey-headed Gulls forexample, are regular visitors to the
Platkop Landfill Site just north of theR550 but are seldom found within thereserve. The reverse may also apply
with species that are common within thereserve being rare or absent from thebroader agricultural and urban mosaic
around the reserve.
Additional data sources were used tosupplement species distribution maps
and months of occurrence tables and assources of breeding and population
data. These included the full BIRP
database (1995-2009) (BIRP 2012),
Coordinated
Waterbird
Counts(CWAC) (2006-2022), CoordinatedAvifaunal Roadcounts (CAR) (20042022), owl surveys (2009-2022 but
excluding 2020 and 2021), SAFRING
ringing records (1971-2017), lists
compiled by reserve bird monitoring
teams (2005-2008), ad hoc sightings ofrare or interesting species reported by
GDARDE staff (mainly D. Koen, R.
Deysel and N. De Beer (née Horn)(2000-2022) and previously publishedchecklists (e.g., Anon 1986).

Additional portions of seven farms to
the north of the ridge totalling a further
6 300ha (referred to as the extension)
were purchased between 2000 and2006 (Thusi 2019). Part of theadditional land was formally proclaimedin June 2014 while much of theremainder is now owned by theNomenclature usedNomenclature is based on the
Checklist of Birds of South Africa
as published annually by
BirdLife South Africa.
16

Koppieskraal Community Property
Association but is managed as part of
the reserve (Thusi 2019). This brings
the total area under conservation
managementtoapproximately
18 000ha.
The reserve is classified as a criticalbiodiversity area in terms of version 3.3of the Gauteng Conservation Plan andis a priority conservation area for theprovince. It is also recognised as an
Important Bird and Biodiversity Area by
BirdLife South Africa (Marnewick et al.
2015).

across the Plains grassland and oldlands of the north-eastern corner of theextension to the reserve and includes
Streams and wetlands associated withheadwaters of the Rietspruit andNatalspruit.
The condition of the road surface has
deteriorated in recent years andsections may become treacherous after
heavy rains. The network of tracks thatbranch off the Eendracht Road are formanagement purposes only and are notopen to the public. As with birding on
any public road in Gauteng, be sure topull over to the side before stopping.
While this may seem like an excellent
area for a leg stretch and a restorative
cup of coffee, be aware of yoursurroundings as there is currently noaccess control and criminals are known
to use this road.

The reserve has a fire management
programme, routinely assesses grazingpressure, and manages wild ungulate
populations accordingly. Illegal hunting
and plant harvesting, arson fires,
overhead powerlines and barbed wire
fences are long-standing threats tobirds and their habitats and efforts toaddress these are ongoing. Bird
diversity and abundance data iscollected on an ongoing basis through abroad suite of well-established survey
and monitoring programmes (e.g.,
SABAP2, CAR, CWAC).

Depending on the wind direction, thetraffic noise can be intrusive, especiallyclose to the R550, and it is worth driving
to the first bridge before stopping. This
area is raised above the surrounding
landscape and affords a wonderful
panoramic view of the extension with
the Suikerbosrand as a backdrop. It isalso a favourite area for swifts andswallows in the austral summer.

Avitourism

T

his is excellent highveld birding
country and is about an hour’sdrive from Johannesburg. To gethere take the N3 highway
towards Heidelberg (Durban). Look out
for the R550 (Nigel/Lenasia) off-ramp;
take this exit and then turn right,
crossing the freeway. Suikerbosrand
Nature Reserve is then on your left withthe well-known Eendracht Road about
3km from the R550-N3 intersection.
This 5km stretch of gravel road cuts

Levaillant’s and Zitting Cisticolas,
African Stonechat, Red-capped Lark,
Orange River Francolin, Swainson’s
Spurfowl, South African Cliff Swallow(austral summer), Red and Yellowcrowned Bishops, Orange-breasted
Waxbill, Capped Wheatear (austral
winter), Marsh Owl, Black-winged Kite
and Amur Falcon (austral summer) arecommon here. Pink-billed Lark,
17

Melodious Lark, Secretarybird, African
Grass Owl, African Marsh and Black
Harriers are rarer specials while Redfooted Falcon and Yellow-breasted Pipit
have been recorded on only a few
occasions. Firebreaks are usually burnt
along both sides of the road before theonset of the austral winter which
improves roadside visibility for several
months until the flush of new growth
begins with the first rains.

A walk around the Diepkloof visitor(administrative) centre can be very
rewarding. This area includes alandscaped garden, a farm museum,picnic site, visitor parking area and a
700m paved path (the Toktokkie Trail)
which is wheelchair accessible andsuitable for visually impaired visitors.
African Red-eyed Bulbul, Red-faced
Mousebird, Acacia Pied, Black-collared
and Crested Barbets, White-bellied
Sunbird, Familiar Chat, Cape RobinChat, Fiscal Flycatcher, Thick-billed
Weaver and Bar-throated Apalis arecommon here. Specials include
Mocking Cliff Chat, Cape Rock Thrush,Red-throated Wryneck and Fairy
Flycatcher (austral winter). The
accommodation at Kippersol, Protea
and Ouhout camps is closed at present.

To get to the main entrance gate at
Diepkloof in the north (26.4520° S;
28.2201° E) return to the R550, turn left
and continue to the signs proclaiming
the reserve and turn left again. There isa second public entrance gate at
Kareekloof in the west (26.5260° S;
28.1561° E) that is approached via theR557 which provides direct access into
an area of Sweet thorn savannah. This
entrance was severely damaged by firein 2021 and at the time of writing it had
not yet been reopened. Barn Owls havebeen recorded in the thatched roof
sections of both entrance gates.

The Cheetah and Bokmakierie hiking
trails for day visitors both start at
Diepkloof. For the more adventurous
overnight visitor, there are also varietyof longer hiking trails to explore. The
trail network includes six huts thatprovide basic overnight accommodation
for up to ten people. For birders withplenty of energy and time to spare,walking the various trails is the best way
to appreciate what the reserve has tooffer.

The drive to the Diepkloof visitor(administrative) centre at the base of
the Suikerbosrand is through open
Plains grassland and old lands. The
few recent sightings of White-bellied
Korhaan have been along the base of
the low ridge to the west of this road.
Northern Black Korhaan and Rufousnaped Lark are also commonly heard
calling here. While the reserve is notrenowned for its waterbirds, several
small roadside dams have produced
specials such as White-backed Duckand Lesser Moorhen. Marsh and Grass
Owls breed in the marshy areas
between these dams.

There is a 60km tarred tourist route thattakes the visitor through all the various
habitats. Birders may struggle to makeit around the entire route in one day
and, as traffic flow is mainly in one
direction, it is worth reassessing
progress before passing the westerngate (assuming this has beenreopened). A shorter 10km loop isavailable for those with very limited
18

time, but this does not traverse rocky
shrubland, kloof bush or sweet thorn
savannah. Be aware that these roads
are also open to cyclists so do drive
carefully and remember that the rules of
the reserve are that you are not allowedout of your vehicle except at designatedpoints.

high plateau. Sightings of African Rock
Pipit have previously been reported
from here, but not during the current
survey.
The Summit montane grassland ishome to several of Suikerbosrand’s
most sought after specials including
Grey-winged Francolin, Sentinel RockThrush (austral winter) and Yellow
Bishop which are rarely encounteredelsewhere in the province. Eastern
Long-billed Lark, Malachite Sunbird andCape Rock-Thrush may be quite
common at times but are not always
present
orobvious.
Mountain
Wheatear, Cape Longclaw, African
Stonechat, Bokmakierie, Levaillant’s,
Wailing and Wing-snapping Cisticolas
and Red-collared Widow are among themost obvious species in this habitat but
are not restricted to high altitude
grassland.

From the visitor centre the road climbs
steeply up the Diepkloof with a rapidtransition from Plains grassland,through Steep-slope grassland into
Summitmontanegrassland.
Mountain Wheatear in their various
colour morphs are among the mostobvious species in this area. Large
flocks of Red-collared Widow occur
here at times and both Cape andCinnamon-breasted Buntings frequent
the road surface. Check the bulbuls
carefully as both the African Red-eyedand Dark-capped Bulbuls occur here,
and they may be difficult to distinguishat times. Listen for the distinctive call of
the Cape Grassbird as this attractive
species is otherwise easily over-looked.
The patches of thicker bush in thebottom of the valley support a widearray of more typically woodland
species and the stone bridge about halfway to the summit provides an excellent
vantage point for scanning this habitat.
Bush Blackcap was once observed
from here.

From the high plateau the road passes
briefly through Steep-slope grasslandand back into Plains grassland where
Cloud, Desert and Wing-snapping
Cisticolas, Eastern Clapper andRufous-naped Larks, Ant-eating Chat,
Banded Martin and variety of swifts andswallows may be found. Extremely
heavy rains late in 2021 breached thewall of Sedaven Dam and thispreviously picturesque stopping point
has been altered beyond recognition. It
is too early to know what habitat will
eventually establish here, but the newly
formed ‘sand cliffs’ are a unique feature
for the reserve and may attract a varietyof bank nesting species in time. The
road passes briefly through a patch of
Rocky shrubland which is otherwise

At the T-junction at the top of theDiepkloof turn right to access the 10km
loop or left for the main tourist route.
The first approximately 2km of the main
tourist route accommodates traffic inboth directions and is ideal from those
who plan to drive the shorter route but
would nevertheless still like to visit the19

FIGURE 5. The farms of Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve. Farms and portions north of thedotted orange line constitute the northern extension. The survey by Day (1975) and mostof the contributions to BIRP focussed on the original extent of the reserve. Our surveys
spanned both areas, but more time was spent south of the line. Management tracks in thenorth may be impassable during the wet season and public access is restricted to theEendracht Road.

inaccessible to day visitors. Hikers
overnighting at Duiker and Hartebees
huts will probably encounter a resident
pair of Mocking Cliff Chat and could also
see or hear Spotted Eagle Owl andFreckled Nightjar. African Rock Pipit
was apparently reliably found in thisarea but has proven elusive in recent
years, as has the Ground Woodpecker.
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler has beenrecorded once.

Kareekloof (currently closed). This is anarea of dramatic contrasts. The
southern side of the ridge ischaracterised by sheer cliffs, seasonal
waterfalls and steep, thickly wooded
kloofs. Below the road, trees give way
to grassland. This area attracts large
mixed game herds throughout the year
andtheresultantshort-grazed
grassland is favoured by Ant-eating
Chat, African Pipit, Cape Longclaw andCrowned Lapwing. Red-billed Oxpecker
have recently been seen together with
Eland in this area. The large Wetland at
Elandsvlakte is good for Marsh Owl and

Beyond Sedaven the road turns
gradually westward following the baseof Suikerbosrand to the gate at20

African Snipe but is probably bestviewed from the R42 which runs along
the southern boundary of the reserve.
The only record of White-winged
Flufftail for Gauteng comes from a
specimen picked up in this area.

yourself. It offers braais, shaded picnic
tables and ablution facilities and achance to finally get a visual on some ofthe species detected on call elsewherein this habitat. There is also a patch ofmature woodland just beyond the picnic
site and the broad gravel shoulder of theroad provides a convenient and shadyspot to pull over.

The tourist route passes throughseveral patches of Kloof bush and it isworth stopping often to listen and scan
the roadside vegetation for species
such as Ashy Tit, Chinspot Batis,
Kalahari Scrub Robin, Brubru, Violetbacked Starling, Cardinal and Goldentailed
Woodpeckers,
Red-backed
Shrike (austral summer), Common
Scimitarbill, Willow Warbler (australsummer), Fairy Flycatcher (austral
winter) and Cuckoo-finch. Whitebrowed Sparrow-Weaver with theiruntidy straw nests and Chestnut-vented
Warbler are particularly common. At
certain times so too is the unmistakablecall of the Red-chested Cuckoo. A pairof Verreaux’s Eagle previously nestedon the Bobbejaankrans where a
prominent patch of whitewash is still
evident. A search of the cliffs and pylons
can be very rewarding as a wide variety
of raptors including Peregrine Falcon,
Jackal and Common Buzzards, Brown
and Black-chested Snake Eagles,
Booted Eagle, Martial Eagle and Cape
Vulture have been seen in this area.
Swallow-tailed
Bee-eater,
Purplecrested Turaco and Bush Blackcap arerare visitors.

After Holhoek the vegetation opens
again for several kilometres offering
anotherchanceat
speciescharacteristicof
Steep-slope
grassland and Plains grassland.
Unfortunately, the interesting patch of
Sweet thorn savannah in the southwestern corner of the reserve is often
reached too late in the day to fully
appreciate what it has to offer. Sabota
Lark appears largely restricted to thearea south of the Kareekloof gate, but ahost of extremely attractive species
including Violet-eared and Blackcheeked Waxbills, Long-tailed Paradise
Whydah,Green-winged
Pytilia,
Jameson’s
Firefinch,
Long-billed
Crombec, Kalahari Scrub Robin,
Chinspot Batis, Bar-throated Apalis,
Rattling Cisticola and White-backed
Mousebird can be found throughout thishabitat. Once densely settled, stonewalled ruins may be glimpsed throughencroaching vegetation on the low hills
to the left of the road.
The Kareekloof resort and access roadremain closed to visitors, and theextensive aloe forest on the northfacing slopes of the ridge can only beviewed from a distance. This area has
produced some rare and unusual
records in the past including SouthThe Holhoek picnic site (temporarilyclosed at the time of writing) on thesouthern side of the reserve is also
located in Kloof bush. This is a popular
stopping area especially at weekends
but during the week you could get it to21

FIGURE 6. Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is served by an extensive network of tarred
tourist roads and hiking trails. Less well-known place names are shown in italics.

African Shelduck, Red-billed Oxpecker,
Lilac-breasted Roller, Cape Eagle Owl,
Pearl-spotted Owlet, Southern BaldIbis, and even Olive Woodpecker! From
the Kareekloof gate the tourist routeascends gradually back up to the highplateau. The road crosses several
drainage lines, and it is worth stoppingat the various culverts and stonebordered bridges along the way. The
Asparagus-filled drainage line justbefore the Schoongezicht ranger’s
house regularly attracts a surprising
diversity of waxbills. Namaqua Dove,White-backed Mousebird and Blackwinged Kite are also often recorded
here. Listen for Willow, Garden andMarsh Warblers as well as Yellowbellied Eremomela where the roadcrosses higher drainage lines withthicker bush. The long climb up theBlesboklaagte valley is particularly
open and scenic. The habitat is diverse
and even in the late afternoon may
produce species missed elsewhere on
theroute.
GroundWoodpecker
occurred here in the past (Day 1975).
Visitors are required to return to themain gate via the short tourist loop andmay not use the single direction road up
the Diepkloof. Late afternoon visitors
are unlikely to add many species to theirdays tally, but the scenery is attractive.
In the early morning the Steep-slope
grassland is good for Red-winged
Francolin while Spike-heeled Lark, Anteating Chat and Cape Longclaw are
22

FIGURE 7. Example map for Violet-eared Waxbill showing the farm Schoongezicht where
Day (1975) reported the species originally as a light green polygon. The most recent
sightings (2018-2023) are marked with red dots and older records (mainly 2000-2017) as
black triangles.

common in the Plains grassland lower
down. Pools in the rocky stream
partway along the route often holdwater late into the dry season and thisis a favourite afternoon drinking spot forvariety of seedeaters including Pintailed
Whydah.
HamerkopandSecretarybird have nested up the valley
and a pair of Blue Crane were recorded
here in 2022, a first for the reserve.
Gates are open from 6am to 6pm insummer (1 October to 31 March) and7am to 5pm in winter (1 April to 30
September) and there is small entrance
fee per person and per vehicle payableby credit card.

A contact telephone number is +27 11
439 6300; summarised reserve rules
areavailableathttps://friendsofsuikerbosrand.co.za/reserve_info.html
Over the years various ‘where to
guides’ have included Suikerbosrand
Nature Reserve as a regional highlight[e.g., Ryan and Isom (1990), Cohen etal. (2006) and Marais and Peacock(2008)]. Each offers a slightly different
yet enticing perspective on how best to
unlock the delights of this premierbirding destination. If you are nothooked after the first visit, go again,
you’re not doing it right!
23

Species accounts

AcknowledgementsE

his document follows a templatedeveloped with Ernst Retief of
BirdLife South Africa and comessome 50 years after the
Witwatersrand
Bird
Club
series“Southern Birds” on which this revision
is based. We acknowledge the qualityof the original survey overseen by
Deryck Day. We, also, value his input
to this latest publication.
We aregrateful to the numerous citizen
scientists who contributed to SABAP2and BIRP. We are greatly indebted toHenk Nel and his birding app,
Birdlasser, which allowed us toassimilate our data digitally enabling amore efficient analysis. We are also
grateful to our families who saw us
going off “on holiday” at least once amonth for a few days and tolerated
periods of neglect during the writing
phase. Our wives also provided
valuable and much appreciatedformatting expertise during the final
phase of the project. The staff andmanagers of SNR are thanked forallowing access and the use of theovernight huts.
We particularly
acknowledge the valuable contributionsof time, data, and knowledge by Daniel
Koen, Rouxdene Deysel and Natalie de
Beer.

T

ach species account includes:
1. a monthly occurrence bar.
2.
text
covering
anassessment of the status of thespecies within the reserve (resident,
migrant, visitor or vagrant); relevant
population data where this wasavailable (e.g. estimated size, trend,groups size, etc.); evidence of breeding;details of preferred habitats; and anyother relevant information or knowledge
gaps.
3. a reporting rate table – based on
statistics which include the historicalbaseline (Day 1975); an intermediate
assessment based on BIRP (Harebottle
et al. 2004) and the results of thecurrent survey.
4. A distribution map showing green
polygons, black triangles and red dots
[where appropriate] where, as an
example, Figure 7 depicts theoccurrence of Violet-eared Waxbill
where, the green polygon indicates thefarm Schoongezicht [where Day (1975)
reported the species to occur], red dots
are observations made during 20182022 and black triangles indicate
sightings between these periods [forwhich relatively accurate locality data
was available].
Note. Other farm locations are as
depicted in Figure 5. Various relevant
location names mentioned are as in
Figure 6.

24most recent of which was for 27
December 2022. Two were ringed on 3
June 2000 in the vicinity of Evergreen
Ranch (SAFRING).

Species accounts
Apalis, Bar-throatedApalis thoracica

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
02
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread inwooded habitats. Readily detected on
call. Forages actively in dense
vegetation. Solitary or in pairs. Breeding
reported for July and October toDecember (BIRP 2012). Thirty-six wereringed of which six were subsequently
recaptured (1 day-13 months later) in
the same vicinity (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
86
41
58

Arrow-marked Babbler

Barbet, Acacia Pied
Tricholaema leucomelas
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread inwooded habitats. Solitary, occasionallyin pairs. Breeding reported during
October-February and in July (BIRP
2012). Seven of 55 individuals ringed in
the Kareekloof area were subsequently
re-trapped (3-17 months later) in thesame vicinity (SAFRING).

Bar-throated Apalis

Babbler, Arrow-marked
Turdoides jardineii

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
92
68
92*

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. Reported for July, October,and December during BIRP. There are
thirteen records for four pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2, the25Barbet, Crested
Trachyphonus vaillantii
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread inwooded habitats. Usually solitary, rarelyin pairs. Breeding reported in OctoberDecember, February and July (BIRP
2012). One of 40 birds ringed was
subsequently recaptured (9 months
later) where it was originally trapped(SAFRING).

Acacia Pied Barbet

Barbet, Black-collared
Lybius torquatus
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
95
78
62*

Resident; has bred. Widespread inwooded habitats. Solitary, in pairs or
small groups. Breeding recorded in
October-March and July (BIRP 2012).
Seven of over 50 ringed at various
localities were subsequently re-trapped(1-4 months later), all in the same
vicinity (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
83
98*

Crested Barbet

Batis, Chinspot
Batis molitor
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Mainly found in kloof bushand sweet thorn savannah in the south
and west. Day (1975) reported only
three sightings. Solitary and in pairs.
Two were ringed (SAFRING).

Black-collared Barbet

26

Bee-eater, Little
Merops pusillus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
62
10
2

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Seen on a fence in grassland
near the Diepkloof gate by H. Nel on 27
October 2019.
[No map]
Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed
Merops hirundineus

Chinspot Batis

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Bee-eater, European
Merops apiaster

Vagrant. Day (1975) noted five at
Heidelberg Kloof on 12 September
1970. Individuals were subsequently
recorded in kloof bush near Holhoek on
19 July 2018, in the kloof below
Sedaven Dam on 17 May 2021,
adjacent to the dam on 11 June 2021
and most recently at Wolwekloof on 1
June 2023.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Mostly seen andheard aerially but occasionally perchedon trees and wires in groups (≤40). First
recorded by CWJ on 14 December
2012.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
0
2*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
42
0
0

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

European Bee-eater27

Bee-eater, White-fronted
Merops bullockoides

February and breeding was also
reported for October and November
during BIRP. Movements suspected,
184 were ringed but none wererecaptured despite a multi-year trapping
effort (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. First recorded on 24 January
2008 by reserve staff. Subsequently on
6 July 2012, 18 January 2013, 23 April
2019 and most recently on 2 November
2023; an individual in rocky shrublandnear Sedaven Dam. Breaching of thedam wall in 2021 has created potentiallysuitable nesting habitat for this species.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
58
52*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
100Southern Red Bishop

Bishop, Yellow [Cape]
Euplectes capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N DWhite-fronted Bee-eater

Resident. Recorded erratically but lessconspicuous
duringnon-breeding
seasonandpossibly
merelyoverlooked. Appears largely restricted
to summit montane grassland but
occasionally found on fringes ofsouthern kloofs as noted by Day (1975).
Solitary or in pairs with one record of
three together.

Bishop, Southern Red
Euplectes orix
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Absent from kloof
bush but otherwise found throughout
the reserve. Potentially overlooked
during the non-breeding season whenmales lose their bright red plumage.
Solitary, in small flocks (≤50) andoccasionally 100 or more. Nest building
was observed during December-

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
28
56
18*

28

Yellow Bishop

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Bishop, Yellow-crowned
Euplectes afer

Bittern, Little

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A

Probable
resident.
Recordedthroughout the year but not in all
months; has bred. Probably overlooked
outside of breeding season when males
stop displaying and moult thereby
losing their distinctive 'bumble bee'appearance. Seen most often in lowlying plains grassland, old lands andwetlands on the northern extension but
also noted rarely in grassy areas within
the sweet thorn savannah andelsewhere within the reserve. Solitary,in pairs and small flocks (≤20).
Sometimes in mixed flocks with otherseedeaters. Breeding reported in
January and February during BIRP.

Vagrant. Restricted to dams withextensive reed beds. First recorded by
CWJ on 18 March 2011 withsubsequent sightings of individuals on
19 June 2015, 28 July 2015, 3 February
2016, and 19 May 2022.

Ixobrychus minutus
M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
0
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
26
24
18*
Little Bittern29

Blackcap, Bush
Sylvia nigricapillus VU, VU

Day (1975) recorded breeding in May
and October. An individual presumably
ringed outside the reserve wasrecaptured at Kareekloof. Seventeen
were ringed within the reserve of which
two were subsequently recaptured (1day-7 years later) within 2km of where
they were originally caught (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Likely under-recorded. First
observed by H. Nel on 1 August 2015 ina wooded drainage line in the Diepkloof.
Our records are for a woodland patch
just below the ridge crest east of
Steenbok hut on 19 and 30 November
2021. Most recently reported by M.
Johnson in woodland west of Steenbok
hut on 14 November 2022.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
93
94*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
300

Bokmakierie

Boubou, Southern
Laniarius ferrugineus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Bush Blackcap

Possible resident. Locally elusive andthe few records, mainly for kloof bush,are all based on calls. One was ringed
in the Kareekloof on 9 September 2007
(SAFRING).

Bokmakierie
Telophorus zeylonus
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
16
10
0

Breeding resident. Widespread, foundin all habitats but less frequently in the
low-lying plains grassland and old landson the northern extension. Usuallysolitary, sometimes in pairs, rarely
groups (≤5). Adults with young wererecorded on 15 November 2022 and30

Bulbul, African Red-eyed
Pycnonotus nigricans
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, foundin all habitats except plains grasslandand old lands. Usually more common
than Dark-capped Bulbuls, the rangesof these species overlap and there wasno area where we would have expected
to find one but not the other. As they are
difficult to separate except under
excellent light conditions both may havebeen under recorded. Individuals with a
red eye but lacking a red eye ring may
be hybrids. A leucistic individual wasrecorded in the Kareekloof on 8 July
2022. Solitary or in small groups, but up
to 16 recorded in a single tree. Often
seen in large numbers by Day (1975).
Breeding activity including carrying
nesting material and juveniles wererecorded in January and February. Day(1975) observed breeding in November.
Approximately 350 were ringed of whichnine were recaptured (1 day-6 years
later) in the same vicinity. One ringed on
26 October 1999 in the Elandsvlaktearea was recaptured about 12 months
later near Kareekloof, at distance ofabout 10km (SAFRING).

Southern Boubou

BrubruNilaus afer
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Found mainly in sweet thorn
savannah and kloof bush. Usuallysolitary, rarely in pairs. Three wereringedatscatteredlocalities(SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
53
31
34*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
96
93
92*
Brubru31

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Dark-capped Bulbul

Bulbul, Dark-capped
Pycnonotus tricolor

Bulbul, Hybrid Red-eyed / Darkcapped
Pycnonotus tricolor x nigricans

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread but rarein open grassland. As they are difficult
to separate from the much morecommon African Red-eyed Bulbuls
except under excellent light conditions
they may have been under recorded.
Day (1975) recorded Red-eyed Bulbul
as a breeding resident and discounted
Dark-capped records as possibly being
juvenile African Red-eyed Bulbuls thatwere incorrectly identified. Eightindividuals have since been captured
and ringed mainly in the Kareekloof
area but also near Evergreen Ranch(SAFRING). Usually solitary but also insmall groups (≤4). We noted a juvenile
on 10 December 2021.

Hybrids between Dark-capped andAfrican Red-eyed Bulbuls may exhibit
variations in eye colour and the colour
and width of the eye ring. A suspectedhybrid with a red eye but no obvious eye
ring was recorded on 17 March 2022.
Otherspecimenswithatypicalcolouration of the eye and/or eye-ringwere dismissed as juveniles, but thismay not be correct.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
10
0
Bunting, Cape
Emberiza capensis

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
66
110

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread, found in all
habitats but absent from plains
grassland and old lands on the northern
extension. This is the commonest of thethree bunting species that are found32

here. Solitary or in pairs, occasionally
three together. Twenty were ringed(SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
36
37
62*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
86
84
84*

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Bunting, Golden-breasted
Emberiza flaviventris

Cape Bunting

Bunting, Cinnamon-breasted
Emberiza tahapisi

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Visitor but recorded for most months.
We only saw individuals a few
occasions, mainly in kloof bush andsweet thorn savannah.

Visitor; has bred. Recorded in all
months but predominately during
November to April (77% of ourobservations) suggesting an exodus
during the dry season. Day (1975) also
noted an apparent absence during
winter. Widespread and found in all
habitats but rarely recorded on thenorthern extension. Usually solitary orin pairs but up to four together. Day(1975) reported breeding. Twenty-one
were ringed of which one, initiallytrapped in the Kareekloof area, wasrecaptured twice over consecutive days
(5 years later) where it was ringed(SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
830Golden-breasted Bunting

33

Bunting, Lark-like
Emberiza impetuanisame area during September toNovember 1973 (Day 1975). The recordof a specimen supposedly ringed atElandsvlakte on 15 August 1973
(SAFRING) may be erroneous given
the diversity of other rarities claimed tohave been captured on the same day.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. First recorded by C. Cottino on
4 October 2003, a single bird in the
Vaalkop area. Subsequently seen in
March, May, and November (BIRP
2012) and most recently on 17 May
2021 in thornveld at Wolwekloof and on
1 June 2023 in the vicinity of
Steenbokkloof, both single birds. The
last sighting was one of many reported
for the province during 2023.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
0
2

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
10Common Buttonquail

Buzzard, Common (Steppe)
Buteo buteo
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Records for AprilSeptember during BIRP may be
misidentified juvenile Jackal Buzzardtheserecords
were
excluded.
Widespread and found over all habitats
but rarely over the plains grassland andold lands of the northern extension.
Three were ringed (SAFRING).

Lark-like Bunting

Buttonquail, Common (Kurrichane)
Turnix sylvaticus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded by CWJ on 2
October 2019 and 28 July 2021 in thegrasslands and old lands on thenorthern extension. Found in the lowlying grasslands around Elandsvlakte in
December 1970 and many seen in the

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
32
19
18*

34

Buzzard, Jackal
Buteo rufofuscus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but no evidence of breeding.
Widespread, though rarely seen overwoodland. Day (1975) reported widely
scattered sightings of individuals but not
the number of records. Two were ringed(SAFRING).

Common Buzzard

Buzzard, European Honey
Pernis apivorus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
26
19?

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Our first records
were of individuals on consecutive daysin January 2019 at the same locale oversummit montane grassland. Individuals
were subsequently seen on 21
February 2021, 26 April 2021 and 17
March 2022.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
500Jackal Buzzard

Canary, Black-throated
Crithagra atrogularis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread but
most common in kloof bush and sweetthorn savannah. Solitary and in small
groups, rarely in larger flocks (20-30).
Parents were seen with young in March
2021.
Twenty-two
were
ringed(SAFRING).

European Honey Buzzard

35

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
76
49
86*

Cape Canary

Canary, Yellow
Crithagra flaviventris
Black-throated Canary

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Canary, Cape
Serinus canicollis

Breeding resident. Widespread, foundin all habitats except rocky shrubland,previously mainly in kloof bush (Day1975). Solitary, in pairs or small flocks(≤10). Several apparently discrete
flocks sometimes recorded close
together. Juvenile birds were observed
on 8 December 2022. Thirty-four wereringed (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Typically found insmall groups. One of 50 considered
exceptional now, but apparently not in
the past (Day 1975). Recorded
predominantly in the higher lying steepslope and summit montane grasslands,
only occasionally in kloof bush. A
change from Day (1975) who mainly
found the species in wooded areas,
especially kloof bush. Breeding wasreported during December-February(Day 1975, BIRP). Two were ringed(SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
93
47
36*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
43
34
64*

Yellow Canary

36Canary, Yellow-fronted
Crithagra mozambica

groups (3-5). Breeding was recorded by
Day (1975).

J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
76
95
52

Visitor. Recorded in all months, but
occurrence erratic; has bred. Seen only
a few times mainly along drainage lines
in steep-slope grassland. Solitary and inpairs. Day (1975) reported widely
scattered sightings of small groups.
Breeding was reported for March during
BIRP. One was ringed on 5 September
2004 in the vicinity of Holhoek(SAFRING), an area for which we haveno other records.

Ant-eating Chat

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
9
16
24*

Chat, Familiar
Cercomela familiaris
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Possibly morecommonly seen in winter (53% of oursightings were during May-August).
Widespread, found in diverse habitats
but rarely in plains grassland and oldlands and only on the periphery of kloof
bush. Solitary or in pairs, occasionally
three together. Breeding was reported
for January during BIRP. Twelve wereringed and one was recaptured (2months later) where it was first trapped(SAFRING).

Yellow-fronted CanaryChat, Ant-eating
Myrmecocichla formicivora
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
78
86
32*

Resident; has bred. Found mainly in the
low-lying grasslands throughout thereserve and the northern extension.
Solitary or in pairs, occasionally in small
37

Chat, Sickle-winged
Cercomela sinuata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Sightings were occasionallyreported on social media platforms. Our
observations were of individuals inplains grassland on 26 April 2021 andsummit montane grassland on 17 May
2021.

Familiar Chat

Chat, Mocking Cliff
Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread, foundmainly in steep-slope grassland, rocky
shrubland and kloof bush especiallywhere small cliff faces are evident. A
resident of all the overnight hiking trail
huts. Solitary, in pairs and small groups(≤4). S. Wolff recorded breeding during
October-November (Day 1975). Nine
were ringed (SAFRING).

Sickle-winged Chat

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
58
58
48*

Cisticola, Cloud
Cisticola textrix
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident;
probably
breeds.
Widespread, found mainly in steepslope grassland, and plains grasslandand old lands. In contrast, Day (1975)
reported a preference for montane
grasslands. No nests were located but
display calls were commonly heard.

Mocking Cliff Chat

38

Cisticola, LazyREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
53
26
20

Cisticola aberrans
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread but absent frommost of the northern extension. Mainly
found in steep-slope and summit
montanegrasslands
and
rocky
shrubland. Usually solitary, also in pairs
and rarely in groups (≤4). Parents andyoung seen together on 2 December
2022.

Cloud Cisticola

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
12
20*

Cisticola, Desert
Cisticola aridulus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable resident. Widespread at lower
altitudes, absent from kloof bush andsummit montane grassland. Usually
located on call. Often solitary but
occasionally two were heard in same
area.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
36
13
10

Lazy Cisticola

Cisticola, Levaillant’sCisticola tinniens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Reliably identifiable
in all months of the year. Widespread,found in all habitats except kloof bush.
In contrast to Day (1975) who noted anattachment to water we found little or noconnection to wetland habitats – tall
grassland would appear to be preferredDesert Cisticola

39as it is even seen in tall, Hyparrhenia
dregeana and Cymbopogon validus(turpentine grass) grasses along theridge summits. Often solitary or in small
groups (≤9). An adult was seen carrying
nesting material on 13 February 2019
and adults were seen with young on 26
May 2021 and 8 December 2022. S.
Wolff also recorded breeding during
December (Day 1975). Four wereringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
29
4
4

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
100
79
58*

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola, Wailing
Cisticola lais
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, heard
from most habitats. Call more truncatedthat typically described for this species.
Occurs mainly in rocky parts of steepslope and summit montane grassland
Absent from kloof bush and rare inplains grassland and old lands. Solitary
or in pairs, occasionally in small groups(≤4). An adult was seen carrying nestingmaterial on 19 November 2021 and 19
October 2022. One was ringed in the
Kareekloof area on the 15 July 2000
(SAFRING).

Levaillant’s Cisticola

Cisticola, Rattling
Cisticola chiniana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Occurs mainly in sweet thorn
savannah, rarely elsewhere. Invariably
detected on call. Usually solitary,occasionally two together. Recorded
twice by Day (1975) in the same generalarea and eight times during BIRP.
Three were ringed in the aloe forest in
the Kareekloof (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
89
51
60*

40

Cisticola, Zitting
Cisticola juncidis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable
resident;has
bred.
Widespread, found mainly in plains
grassland and old lands but also insweet thorn savannah. Almost certainlypresent throughout the year but
individual species identification of thesmall cisticolas is fraught withdifficulties when not displaying or
vocalising. Solitary or in pairs. S. Wolff
reported breeding in January 1974 (Day1975). Two were ringed in the
Kareekloof/Schoongezicht area on 19
February 2000 (SAFRING).

Wailing Cisticola

Cisticola, Wing-snapping
Cisticola ayresii
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; possibly breeds. While also
recorded in the low-lying extension
grasslands it was most frequently seen
and heard at higher altitudes especiallyin the summit montane grassland. In
contrast, Day (1975) noted a preferenceforlow-lyinggrassland.
Almostinvariably first detected on call. Solitary
but up to three together.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
47
36
34*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
51
31
14

Zitting Cisticola

Coot, Red-knobbed
Fulica cristata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread but
restricted to dams, most of which are on

Wing-snapping Cisticola

41the northern extension. Rarely seen at
Sedaven Dam even before the wall was
breached. Solitary, in pairs or in small
groups (≤40). Up to 164 counted during
CWAC. Breeding recorded in mostmonths. S. Wolff reported breeding at
Evergreen Ranch in April and Day(1975) considered the species to be asummer visitor and only present in low
numbers.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
54
43
60*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
95
83
40*
Reed CormorantCormorant, White-breasted
Phalacrocorax lucidus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Not recorded during CWAC.
Our sighting of an individual at Sedaven
Dam on 30 November 2021 is the only
recent record. Day (1975) reported
three sightings.

Red-knobbed Coot

Cormorant, Reed
Microcarbo africanus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
4
10*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread but
restricted to dams, most of which are on
the northern extension. Up to 16
recorded during CWAC. Day (1975)
reported breeding at Evergreen Ranchin January, March, November, andDecember. Juveniles have been
observed in all months, but we are notaware of any recent breeding attempt.

White-breasted Cormorant42

Coucal, Burchell’sCentropus burchelli

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
10
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Erratic visitor. Recorded throughout theyear but not in all months. Our sightings
were both in reed beds. Day (1975)
recorded the species just east of thereserve at Sedaven in June and
September. One was ringed in the
Kareekloof area on 14 August 2014
(SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
150African Crake

Crake, Black
Amaurornis flavirostra
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Recorded mainly
from the drainage lines and reed bedsin the low-lying grasslands of thenorthern extension with just a single
record for Elandsvlakte in the originalreserve. Readily detected on call andoften forages in open. Solitary, in pairs
and small groups (≤7). A pair bred at aroadside dam south of the Diepkloof
gate in April 2021 close to where thespecies was first recorded by S. Wolff inJanuary 1975 (Day 1975). The
incorporation of the extension has
greatly increased the extent of suitable
habitat under protection.

Burchell’s Coucal

Crake, African
Crex egregia
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. A single bird was flushed froma management track through tall
grasslandonthenorth-easternboundary of the northern extension on 9
March 2021.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
46
4
0

43

Crane, Blue
Grus paradisea
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor; may breed in future. A pair wasrecorded in the Cheetahkloof on 15
November 2022 by D. Koen and CWJ
and was still present in the same areaon 25 January 2023. If they attempted
to breed, they were not successful. D.
Koen observed a pair in the same valley
on 19 November 2023.

Black Crake

Crake, Corn
Crex crex

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
50
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant, but probably overlooked. An
individual was flushed from rank
vegetation at the edge of a wetland
during owl surveys in the Diepkloof areaon 15 January 2010. S. Wolff recorded
the species in the Elandsvlakte area in
December 1974 (Day 1975). The recordof a specimen supposedly ringed atElandsvlakte on 15 August 1973
(SAFRING) may be erroneous given
the diversity of other rarities claimed tohave been captured on the same day.

Blue Crane

Crombec, Long-billed
Sylvietta rufescens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable resident. Found mainly inwooded habitats in the south and west.
Solitary. Day (1975) recorded two on
Blesboklaagte in May 1971. Four wereringed in the aloe forest in the
Kareekloof during July to September(SAFRING).

Corn Crake

44

Long-billed Crombec

Pied Crow

Cuckoo, African

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
25
10
2

Cuculus gularis
Vagrant. Recorded during February andMarch 1974 by S. Wolff (Day 1975). No
subsequent records for the reserve
during BIRP or our survey or for
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2.

Crow, Pied
Corvus albus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable resident; breeds. Widespread,found over all habitats except summit
montane grassland. Solitary, in pairs
and small groups (≤4). Up to eight wererecorded during CAR. Adults were seen
feeding young in a nest on a pylon on 1
December 2022. Day (1975) observedthat individuals occasionally wandered
into the reserve and S. Wolff recorded
breedingatSchoongezicht
inNovember 1974. Despite becoming
increasingly common in recent years,
interactions with other bird species
remain minimal at present, though apair was seen chasing a Black
Sparrowhawk on 23 August 2021.

African Cuckoo

Cuckoo, Common
Cuculus canorus
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
39
4
16

Vagrant. Recorded only once by CWJ in
kloof bush at Holhoek picnic site on 4
February 2008. There are two records
for pentads that overlap the reserve45during SABAP2, most recently on 7
March 2016.

Diederik Cuckoo

Cuckoo, Great-spotted
Clamator glandarius

Common Cuckoo

Cuckoo, Diederik
Chrysococcyx caprius

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. Recorded only once on 28
October 2018 at the Diepkloof gate.

Intra-African
breeding
migrant.
Widespread, found in all habitats but
rarely in summit montane grassland.
Often solitary but up to three together.
Courtship feeding was observed on 16
November 2023. A female carrying an
egg was seen being chased by aSouthern Masked Weaver near
Kareekloof on 1 December 2022,
evidence of the host parasite
relationship in action. Breeding was
also reported for March (BIRP 2012).
Three were ringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
0
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
41
39
50*

Great-spotted Cuckoo46

Cuckoo, Jacobin
Clamator jacobinus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. An individual was recorded by
Day (1975) in December 1970.
Reported for January and December
during BIRP. Our records are for 15
February 2018 and 8 December 2022.

Klaas’s Cuckoo

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
1
2*

Cuckoo, Red-chested
Cuculus solitarius
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Day (1975)
recorded arrivals as early as
September. Most records were from thekloof bush, sweet thorn savannah andwooded drainage lines in steep-slope
grassland. Solitary and usually detectedon call.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
28
26
22*

Jacobin Cuckoo

Cuckoo, Klaas’s
Chrysococcyx klaas
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Recorded in adiversity of wooded habitats but mainlyin the west.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1120

Red-chested Cuckoo

47

Cuckooshrike, Black
Campephaga flava
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. An individual was seen by
CWJ in kloof bush at Holhoek picnic site
on 4 February 2008.
African Darter

Dove, Cape Turtle (Ring-necked)
Streptopelia capicola
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread, foundin all habitats. Solitary, in pairs andsmall groups. Day (1975) routinely
recorded flocks of up to 50 and though
he observed breeding, he did notindicate when. Eight were ringed(SAFRING).

Black Cuckooshrike

Darter, African
Anhinga rufa
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
99
49
92*

Visitor; has bred. Individuals wererecorded for various dams on thenorthern extension and at Sedaven. A
pair was seen at Evergreen Ranch on
16 February 2016 where Day (1975)
recorded breeding in March 1971 andJanuary 1972. During CWAC two wererecorded.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
8
14
23*

Cape Turtle Dove

48

Dove, Laughing
Spilopelia senegalensis

on the original reserve. Absent fromkloof bush which was reported as afavoured habitat by Day (1975). Usuallysolitary but occasionally in pairs. S.
Wolff reported breeding in September
1971 (Day 1975).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Recorded regularly
in all habitats except summit montane
grassland. Solitary, in pairs and small
flocks (≤13). Breeding was reported forMarch during BIRP, and for August andDecember by Day (1975). Of the 318
individuals
ringed,none
wererecaptured but one was recovered deadnear where it was first trapped
approximately
two
years
later
(SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
11
44*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
96
100*
Namaqua Dove

Dove, Red-eyed
Streptopelia semitorquata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding
resident.
Widespread,
regularly found in all habitats except
summit montane grassland. Solitary orin small groups, exceptionally 15
together. An active nest was found on
10 December 2021 and courtshipbehaviour was observed on 15 January
2023. Two were ringed (SAFRING).

Laughing Dove

Dove, Namaqua
Oena capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
93
48
16*

Probable resident. Recorded in all
months except December; has bred.
Widespread on the northern extension
but rare outside sweet thorn savannah49

Duck, African Black
Anas sparsa
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding visitor. Recorded in all months
but only on 31% of waterbird counts.
Widespread, usually found on small
dams and in wet years occasionallyalong non-perennial streams. Twoadults and eight ducklings were seen ona small dam next to the Cheetah Trailon 20 May 2022.

Red-eyed Dove

Dove, RockColumba livia

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
4
23*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Naturalised alien. Recorded inmost months and for all habitats except
kloof bush. Solitary and in groups (≤30).
Not readily distinguishable from racing
pigeons or other domestic breeds at a
distance. First recorded during BIRP
but likely subject to the same observer
constraints as we encountered. Ringed
racing pigeons have been observed
within the reserve on several occasions.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1490African Black Duck

Duck, Fulvous Whistling
Dendrocygna bicolor
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. The 50 reported in December
1971 (Day 1975) has not beenequalled. Our records are for 9
February 2012 and on 1 February 2022.
Up to eight.

Rock Dove

50

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
1
3*

Maccoa Duck

Duck, White-backed
Thalassornis leuconotus
Fulvous Whistling DuckJ F M A M J J A S O N D
Duck, Maccoa
Oxyura maccoa NT, EN

Visitor. Recorded in most months but
only on 57% of waterbird counts.
Restricted to dams on the northern
extension. Usually solitary, in pairs or
small groups. Twenty-one recorded
together on Valsfontein on 16
November 2023 was consideredunusual. The count of 25 for the day
exceeded the previous maximum of 11
during CWAC.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant; has bred. Not recorded by Day(1975) but noted to occur within 10kmof the reserve. First recorded by reserve
staff on 24 January 2005 and then withfour young on 28 February that year.
Subsequently counted by D. Koen
during CWAC including three on 9
February 2012 and nine on 13 February
2015. All CWAC observations were atlarge dams on the northern extension.
There are 12 records for four pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 25 August
2014.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
20
4
7*White-backed Duck51

Duck, White-faced Whistling
Dendrocygna viduata

30 September 2022. Breeding was also
reported for January-March and July
(Day 1975, BIRP 2012). One was
ringed on 5 August 1971 in the
Elandsvlakte area (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor; has bred. Recorded in mostmonths but only on 43% of waterbird
counts. Restricted to dams on thenorthern extension. Solitary, in pairs
and in flocks (≤20). Up to 23 recorded
during CWAC. Breeding reported for
February (BIRP 2012).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
82
56
57*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
32
4
0

Yellow-billed Duck

Eagle, African Fish
Haliaeetus vocifer
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded twice during BIRP
for January and March. Subsequentsightings were mainly of individuals, butpairs were seen at a large dam on thenorthern extension on 22 September
2021 and over Vaalkop on 2 November
2023.

White-faced Whistling Duck

Duck, Yellow-billed
Anas undulata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Recorded on dams
throughout the reserve but mostcommonly on the northern extension.
Solitary or in pairs but more often ingroups (≤36). Up to 139 recorded during
CWAC. Day (1975) recorded flocks of
up to 50. Parents with ducklings wererecorded on 6 and 15 April 2021 and on

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
9
1
0

52

Eagle, Black-chested Snake
Circaetus pectoralis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded for all months except
January. Widespread, found over all
habitats except summit montane
grassland and kloof bush. Solitary or inpairs. S. Wolff recorded this species
south of the ridge in September 1972
(Day 1975).

African Fish Eagle

Eagle, African Hawk
Aquila spilogaster

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
21
4
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded south of the ridge by
S. Wolff for a few weeks in October
1973 (Day 1975). CWJ flushed a single
bird from a partially plucked guineafowl
carcass in a woodland patch on thenorthern extension on 1 December
2022. There were no further records forpentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
100Black-chested Snake Eagle

Eagle, Booted
Hieraaetus pennatus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. First recorded by
CWJ near the Kareekloof gate on 29
October 2014. Subsequently seen oversummit montane grassland, around
Holhoek near cliff faces rising out of
kloof bush and over sweet thorn
savannah.

African Hawk Eagle

53

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
90
0Brown Snake Eagle

Eagle, Martial
Polemaetus bellicosus EN, EN
Booted Eagle

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Eagle, Brown Snake
Circaetus cinereus

Breeding visitor. First recorded in 1966
during a Wildlife Society survey. S.
Wolff subsequently found a nest in the
Langkloof in September 1972 (Day1975) but did not indicate whether it had
been used recently. We surveyed thisdrainage line in 2018/9 and found nosuitable nest sites. We subsequently
recorded individuals on 18 September
2020 and 19 May 2022 and M. Johnson
reported one perched on a pylon southof the ridge on 14 November 2022. An
active nest with a large chick was later
found on an electricity pylon in the
Langkloof during an Eskom line
inspection in August 2023. The chickand an adult were still present on 5
September, but the nest was empty on
28 September 2023. Most recently
recorded on 27 November 2023 on
Blesboklaagte by D. Koen, an individualinteracting with a Verreaux’s Eagle.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. First recorded on 23 January
2019. Subsequently seen on 14 and 20
February and 17 July 2020 (a pair), 12
February and 16 April 2021 and mostrecently in the Wolwekloof area on 28
September 2023. Most commonly seen
over steep-slope grassland.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
80
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
0
0
54

reserve is very high and the eagles may
have been displaced by baboon activity.
Day (1975) reported sightings forvarious locales and deemed thespecies to be a potential breeding
resident. A juvenile and two adults wereseen in the vicinity of Holhoek in
September 1972. Several pairs inGauteng nest on man-made platforms
and it is possible that such a nest site
has been overlooked in the Heidelberg
area. D. Koen has twice observed
interactions between Verreaux’s andMartial Eagles, most recently on
Blesboklaagte on 27 November 2023.

Martial Eagle

Eagle, Steppe
Aquila nipalensis LC, EN
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
13
8
14*

A moulting juvenile was photographedin flight over the reserve by G. Hazel on
11 April 2021.
[No map]
Eagle, Verreaux's
Aquila verreauxii VU, LC
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor; has bred. Recorded in all
months but not resident. Our sightings
were all close to the ridge and mainly
over steep-slope grassland. Usuallysolitary (including two immatures), butpairs were seen in the Steenbokkloof on
6 March 2017 and 1 December 2022
and at Blesboklaagte on 30 November
2021. There is a known nest site in the
Steenbokkloof where an individual wasrecorded on 19 July 2018 but breeding
last occurred there in the late 1990s or
early 2000s. The Chacma Baboon(Papio ursinus) population on the

Verreaux’s Eagle

Egret, Great
Ardea alba
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Day (1975) recorded an
individual at Evergreen Ranch in 1972.
There have been several subsequentsightings, most recently on 10 August
2017. Up to four were recorded during
55

CWAC. All CWAC records are fromdams on the northern extension.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
4
3*

Little Egret

Egret, Western Cattle
Bubulcus ibis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Great Egret

Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but not known to breed. Widespread but
mainly in plains grassland and oldlands. Often occurs in association withherds of game. Solitary or in small
groups as recorded by Day (1975),
occasionally in larger flocks of 50-80.
Up to 70 were recorded during CWAC.

Egret, Little
Egretta garzetta
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Erratic visitor. Restricted to dams on thenorthern extension. Day (1975)
recorded this species once in the samegeneral area. Up to two were recorded
during CWAC.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
75
44
32*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7
4
3*

Western Cattle Egret

56

Egret, Yellow-billed (Intermediate)
Ardea intermedia

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
2
4*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Erratic visitor. Mainly found at dams on
the northern extension. Up to tworecorded during CWAC.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
12
4
0

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Falcon, Amur
Falco amurensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Recorded during
November to April, but only from late
December to March in recent years.
Widespread over grassland areas.
There was a regular communal roost in
Heidelberg but in recent years a standof mature Eucalyptus trees at Mayfair
has been used on occasion. Largegatherings perch conspicuously on
fences and overhead wires in this areain the early morning: 200 (March 2017),
550 (March 2018), 675 (February2019), 400 (February 2022) and 680(March 2022).

Yellow-billed Egret

Eremomela, Yellow-bellied
Eremomela icteropygialis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor; probably overlooked. Individuals
were seen in sweet thorn savannah on
the western edge of the reserve on 24
August 2018 and again on 21 February
2021. Day (1975) recorded a few birds
on the eastern boundary of the reservein October 1970 and on Blesboklaagte
in June 1971. One was ringed in thealoe forest in the Kareekloof on 27
September 2005 (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
25
19
0

57

Lanner Falcon

Amur Falcon

Falcon, LannerFalco biarmicus VU, LC

Falcon, Peregrine
Falco peregrinus

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but not in all months. Widespread,absent only from summit montane
grassland. Solitary, occasionally inpairs, seldom more. At least six wereseen at widespread localities on 20
February 2020 including three involvedin an aerial display. Breeding wasrecorded in three areas during 19721974 (Day 1975). Four were ringed in
the Elandsvlakte area in the 1970s(SAFRING), an area for which there are
no recent records.

Visitor; may breed. First recorded
during the Wildlife Society survey in
1966, the occurrence of this species
could not be confirmed by Day (1975),
and it was therefore excluded from theoriginal bird checklist. Widespread in
the south. So far recorded over all
habitats except rocky shrubland.
Solitary and pairs. Most recently
recorded on 2 November 2023.
Suspected breeding on cliffs at
Feeskrans in late September 2018. The
site is difficult to access regularly andtoo far off the road to record any activity.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
8
2
22*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
12
2
0

58

Finch, Cuckoo
Anomalospiza imberbis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding visitor. Scattered records
mainly for steep-slope grassland.
Solitary (usually males) but a flock of 16(including 4 yellow males) was seen on
19 November 2021. Two juveniles wereseen being fed by a Neddicky inwoodland south of the ridge on 17
March 2022. On 2 November 2023 twomales were seen performing an uprightjumping ‘dance’ with quivering wings on
the edge of the road.

Peregrine Falcon

Falcon, Red-footed
Falco vespertinus NT, NT
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
13
4
0

Vagrant. Individuals were recorded on
13 February and 17 March 2015, on 18
March 2019 when seen to catch arodent in the plains grassland on thewestern boundary of the reserve andmost recently on 9 March 2021 along
the Eendracht Road. The breeding
record for December (BIRP 2012) is anerror, likely a sighting of a juvenile.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
0

Cuckoo Finch

Finch, Red-headed
Amadina erythrocephala
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor; has bred. Recorded for mostmonths but occurrence erratic withseveral years between successive
sightings. Found in sweet thorn

Red-footed Falcon

59savannah and plains grassland. Usuallysolitary or in small groups but E. Marais
and F. Peacock reported a remarkablesighting of a loose flock of thousands
during a visit to the Eendracht Road on
7 July 2004. Recorded most recently on
25 August 2022. Several pairs wereseen in August 1971 and S. Wolff
observed breeding at Elandsvlakte inJune 1974. Two were ringed in the
Elandsvlakte area on 28 February 1973
and four in the Kareekloof in 1998 and2001.

Scaly-feathered Finch

Firefinch, African
Lagonosticta rubricata

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
12
6*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Probably overlooked. Restricted
to wooded habitats in the south andwest. Small groups. Our most recent
record is for 11 June 2021. Three wereringed on 15 July 2006 and two on 30
July 2014, all in kloof bush just west ofthe
Schoongezicht
homestead(SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7
50Red-headed Finch

Finch (Weaver), Scaly-feathered
Sporopipes squamifrons
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded once during BIRP
for April and then by ID in a transitionarea between grassland and sweetthorn savannah on 19 July 2018.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

African Firefinch

60

Firefinch, Jameson’s
Lagonosticta rhodopareia

in May 1974 (Day 1975). There werefour subsequent records during BIRP
and three for two pentads that overlap
the reserve during SABAP2. Most
recently on 1 May 2019. Interestingly,
the only records of Village Indigobirds,
brood parasites of the Red-billed
Firefinch, reported by Day (1975) wereof a pair at Elandsvlakte in late 1974
and early 1975.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread inwooded habitat but most common insweet thorn savannah. Solitary, in pairs
or threes. Juvenile seen with adults on
8 July 2022. Thirty-five were ringed,
most in the Kareekloof area. Two were
subsequently recaptured (21 days & 2
months later) close to where they were
initially trapped. One was caught at
Evergreen Ranch on 26 October 1999
(SAFRING), an area for which we haveno recent records.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
2
2

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
32
1
0

Red-billed Firefinch

Fiscal, Southern (Common)
Lanius collaris
J F M A M J J A S O N DJameson’s Firefinch

Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats. Mostly solitary. An
adult was recorded with two juveniles
on 1 December 2022 and a lonejuvenile on 25 January 2023. Breeding
was also reported for October andNovember (Day 1975, BIRP 2012).
Twenty-nine were ringed of which two
were subsequently recaptured (one 3
times over 2 years and the other after 2

Firefinch, Red-billed
Lagonosticta senegala
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. An individual was mist-nettedon Boschhoek in March 1971 and S.
Wolff reported breeding at Elandsvlakte61months) where they were originallyringed (SAFRING).

Telegram group). Unusual year for thisspecies with other out-of-range reports
for the province.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
99
91
92*

[No map]
Flufftail, Red-chested
Sarothrura rufa
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible resident; easily overlooked
unless calling. First heard on 24 June
2009. Records are scattered throughout
the year and mainly based on call. An
adult male was flushed during owl
surveys along the Rietspruit on 6 June
2023 and a female or juvenile wasflushed along the Natalspruit on 7 June
2023. Most recently heard calling at
Evergreen Ranch on 16 November
2023.

Southern Fiscal

Flamingo, Greater
Phoenicopterus roseus NT, LC
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7
0
0

Vagrant. A flock of 30 flew close to thenorthern boundary of the reserve on 30
January 2020.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
100[No map]
Flufftail, Buff-spotted
Sarothrura elegans
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Red-chested Flufftail

Vagrant. Heard calling in rainy weather
at Holhoek Picnic Site by D. Newman
on 13 November 2022 (reported via
62Flufftail, White-winged
Sarothrura ayresi CR, CR
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. S. Wolff found a deadindividual
underpowerlineson
Elandsvlakte on 8 August 1975 (Wolff
and Milstein 1976).
African Paradise Flycatcher

Flycatcher, Fairy
Stenostira scita
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Dry season migrant. Found in kloof
bush, sweet thorn savannah andwooded patches in steep-slope
grassland. Usually solitary, occasionally
two together. Day (1975) often recorded
up to ten in a day. Five were ringed
between April and August (SAFRING).

White-winged Flufftail

Flycatcher, African Paradise
Tersiphone viridis
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
22
16
26*

Intra-African; has bred. Recorded inwooded habitat throughout the reserve,
mainly between October and March.
Records for April, August, andSeptember during BIRP suggest latedepartures and early arrivals in someyears. Solitary and in small groups (≤3).
Breeding recorded in December (Day1975).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
34
6
23*

Fairy Flycatcher

63

Flycatcher, Fiscal

Vagrant.
Day(1975)
recordedindividuals in February, March, andDecember. There was one subsequent
record each for November andDecember during BIRP and five records
for two pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABP2, most recently on 4 May
2020.

Sigelus silens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats but uncommon inopen grassland. Mainly solitary, also inpairs, rarely groups (3-4). Courtshipdisplay observed in September. Adults
were seen with young in November andDecember and juvenile birds inDecember and February. Breeding waspreviously reported during November toMarch (Day 1975, BIRP 2012). Eightyeight were ringed of which 14 were
subsequently recaptured (1 day to justover a year later) where they wereoriginally trapped (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
1
6*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
95
91
84*

Marico Flycatcher

Flycatcher, Spotted
Muscicapa striata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Mainly recorded
during November to March but witharrivals as early as August anddepartures as late as May reported by
Day (1975) and during BIRP.
Widespread in wooded habitats but
most often seen in sweet thorn
savannah and kloof bush. Usuallysolitary, rarely two together. Two wereringed (SAFRING).

Fiscal Flycatcher

Flycatcher, Marico
Bradornis mariquensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D

64

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
21
13
18*

Grey-winged Francolin

Francolin, Orange River
Scleroptila gutturalis
Spotted Flycatcher

J F M A M J J A S O N DFrancolin, Grey-winged
Scleroptila afra

Breeding resident. Only recorded fivetimes by Day (1975) but subsequently
found throughout the reserve during
more focussed surveys by S. Wolff.
Widespread in plains grassland and oldlands, rarely at higher altitudes. Occurs
individually, in pairs and small coveys(≤6). S. Wolff recorded breeding during
August-October and January-March(Day 1975). Two were ringed atElandsvlakte during 1972, an area forwhich there are no recent records, bothwere recovered (one after 3 months andthe other after a year) in the same
vicinity (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Mainly found insummitmontanegrasslandbutoccasionally in adjacent steep-slope
grassland. Solitary, in pairs and small
coveys (≤7). Breeding reported for
October and November (Day 1975,
BIRP 2012).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
16
24?

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
58
6
10*

65

Go-away-bird, Grey
Corythaixoides concolor
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Reported as early as 1986
(Anon 1986), subsequently seen by
CWJ on 28 November 2000 in thevicinity of Diepkloof. There were five
additional records during BIRP and 28
for five pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABAP2, most recently on 23
April 2022.

Orange River Francolin

Francolin, Red-winged
Scleroptila levaillantii

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
03
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread but
found mainly in steep-slope grassland.
Solitary, in pairs and small coveys (3-4).
S. Wolff reporting breeding inNovember 1974 (Day 1975).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
28
23
6*

Grey Go-away-bird

Goose, Domestic
Anser anser domesticus
Domestic Geese (≤12) were previously
kept as part of the Diepkloof Farm
Museum collection. Last recorded inJuly 2012.
Red-winged Francolin[No map]

66

Goose, Egyptian
Alopochen aegyptiaca

groups as recorded by Day (1975). Up
to 39 were recorded during CWAC.
Fifty-five were seen at Koppieskraal on
28 August 2019 and over 70 werecounted for the day. Breeding has beenreported for May and December (Day1975, BIRP 2012).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible resident. Recorded in all
months and during 74% of waterbird
counts but not known to have bred.
Widespread, found on waterbodies
throughout the reserve but mainly on
the northern extension. Solitary, in pairs
and small flocks (≤12). Up to 15
recorded during CWAC. Common in
irrigated
fieldswestoftheTamboekiesfontein Road.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
59
4
17*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
59
12
10*

Spur-winged Goose

Goshawk, Gabar
Melierax gabar
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Record for September during
BIRP. We saw a melanistic individual
attempting to raid Southern Masked
Weavernests
attheruinedKoppieskraal homestead on 29 January2022.

Egyptian Goose

Goose, Spur-winged
Plectropterus gambensis
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

Visitor; has bred. Recorded in all
months but only on 57% of waterbird
counts. Mainly found on dams on thenorthern extension or seen perched onelectricity pylons. Usually in small
67

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
89
38
42*

Gabar Goshawk

Goshawk, Pale Chanting
Melierax canorus
Cape Grassbird

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Grebe, Great Crested
Podiceps cristatus

Vagrant. One was seen by CWJ insweet thorn savannah between
Wolwekloof and Schoongezicht on 1
July 2014. There are no further records
for the reserve, but R. Deysel saw one
along the Blesbokspruit in Heidelberg
on 12 March 2023.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Restricted to dams on thenorthern extension. Recorded only fourtimes during BIRP and most recently
seen within the reserve on 25 October
2013. There were 17 records for threepentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 7 July 2023.
Up to two were counted during CWAC.

Grassbird, Cape
Sphenoeacus afer
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
2
0Resident; has bred. Widespread but
most common in steep-slope grassland.
Usually solitary, occasionally two or
three nearby. Breeding reported by Day(1975) for February. One was ringed on
14 October 2000 at Evergreen Ranchand a second in the aloe forest near
Kareekloof on 29 August 2006
(SAFRING), both areas where thisspecies, today, is uncommon. Day(1975) noted a preference for kloof
bush.
68

Greenshank, Common
Tringa nebularia
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant.
Day(1975)
recordedindividuals on several dams in
November 1970 and there were eight
subsequent sightings during BIRP.
Seen by reserve staff on 27 July 2005,18 January 2006, and 15 December
2006 and by CWJ on 16 February 2016.
There were 39 records for six pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 7 November
2021. Never recorded during CWAC.

Great-crested Grebe

Grebe, Little
Tachybaptus ruficollis
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
4
3*

Breeding resident. Widespread, foundon large and small dams. Solitary, inpairs and small groups (≤9). Up to 28
recorded during CWAC. A nest witheggs was observed 28 February 2022
and adults were seen with young in
February,
April,
October,andNovember of the same year. Breeding
was also recorded for January, July,and December (BIRP 2012).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
76
50
47*

Common Greenshank

Guineafowl, Helmeted
Numida meleagris
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread but
absent from rocky shrubland and rare insummit montane grassland. Solitary, inpairs or small groups, but larger flocks

Little Grebe69

(≤80) seen occasionally during JuneOctober.
Day (1975)
frequently
encountered large flocks (≤100). Up to
122 recorded during CAR. Adults withyoung were recorded in March to May
and there are reports of breeding in
February (BIRP 2012) and December(Day 1975). Individuals with orange feetseen in a flock near the Diepkloof gate
on 5 April 2022 may indicate
interbreedingwithdomesticatedguineafowl. Of the almost 800 ringed
during1971-1976
seven
were
recovered dead (2 days-5 months later)and one was recaptured after almost 2
years. All were in the same area where
they
were
originallytrapped(SAFRING).

commonly seen foraging across theR550 at the Platkop landfill site. A flockof ten recorded on 11 August 2022 waslarger than any recorded during CWAC.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
8
2
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
96
73
72*

Grey-headed Gull

Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant; has bred. Recorded for all
months, but rarely in recent years. As
observed by Day (1975) there are oldnests in various locations (e.g., near
Feeshuis) which suggests that breeding
has taken place. The most recent
sighting was of an individual flushedfrom the marshy edge of a dam
southeast of Mayfair on 9 June 2023.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Gull, Grey-headed
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
16
22*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Erratic visitor. Restricted to wetlands
and plains grassland on the northeastern corner of the extension. More70

African Marsh Harrier

Hamerkop

Harrier, African Marsh
Circus ranivorus EN, LC

Harrier, Black
Circus maurus EN, EN

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Erratic visitor. Forages over open
grassy wetlands and reed-fringed damson the northern extension. Mostly
solitary but a pair was recorded in May
2014. The only breeding record is for
the Elandsvlakte wetland in October
1973 (Day 1975). The extent of suitablebreeding and foraging habitat underprotection has increased considerablywith the incorporation of low-lying areas
to the north of the ridge. The absence ofrecent records for Elandsvlakte may be
due to the sustained high ungulategrazing pressure in this area.

Vagrant. Where noted, sightings wereof individuals over plains grassland andold lands. Recorded by S. Wolff in theeast of the reserve in August 1973 (Day1975). There were two further sightings
for June and December during BIRP.
Our observations were on 11 July 2013
and 21 June 2016.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
1
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3<1
4Black Harrier

71

Harrier, Montagu’s
Circus pygargus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Scant habitat information but
seen once over plains grassland andold lands. Solitary. Reported for
September during BIRP. Subsequently
recorded by D. Koen on 6 December
2005 and 18 January 2006, and by us
on 13 February 2016.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<10Pallid Harrier

Hawk, African Harrier
Polyboroides typus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Found over summit montane
grassland and kloof bush. Solitary.
Seen on 14 June 2007 by CWJ, on 20
August 2008 by C. Birss and by us on
28 July 2015, 27 September 2018, and
26 April 2021. The last individual
appeared to be foraging for lizards inrocky grassland along the crest of theridge.

Montagu’s Harrier

Harrier, Pallid
Circus macrourus NT, NT
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
300

Vagrant. Seen over a wetland andsteep-slope
grassland.
Solitary.
Reported for December during BIRP.
An adult was subsequently recorded on
15 January 2010 and a suspected
immature on 29 November 2021.

72

Heron, Black-crowned Night
Nyctocorax nycticorax
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Restricted to dams on thenorthern extension now, Day (1975)
includes a record for Elandsvlakte in1970. Three were recording on 14
February
2007
during
CWAC.
Subsequentsightings
wereof
individuals on 29 October 2021 and 10
November 2022.

African Harrier-Hawk

Helmet-shrike, White-crested
Prionops plumatus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
0
3*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded at Heidelberg Kloof
in 1970 during a widespread irruption ofthis species on the Highveld (Day 1975)
with one subsequent record during
BIRP. Not recorded for any pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<15*Black-crowned Night Heron

Heron, Black-headed
Ardea melanocephala
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but not known to breed. Widespread but
mainly seen in and around wetlands
within plains grassland and old lands.
Usually solitary, in pairs or small
groups. Ninety recorded in recently
burnt grassland adjacent to theWhite-crested Helmet-shrike73Eendracht Road on 11 August 2022
exceptional. One killed by truck on the
R550 on 9 November 2022 wasremovedbyapasser-by
forconsumption.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
61
16
20
Goliath Heron

Heron, Green-backed (Striated)
Butorides striata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. There was one record for
BIRP during December and three fortwo pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABAP2, most recently on 27
September 2022.

Black-headed Heron

Heron, Goliath
Ardea goliath

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Restricted to dams on thenorthern extension. Solitary. Sighting by
CWJ on 29 November 2000 possibly
the first. Rarely observed thereafter withsightings on 28 July 2016 west of theDiepkloof gate, 7 June 2023 at
Koppieskraal and 2 November 2023
west of Mayfair. All outside of our main
survey period.

Heron, Grey
Ardea cinerea
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded in most months but
only during 31% of waterbird counts
and not known to have bred. Restricted
to man-made dams. Solitary as notedby Day (1975). Up to three recorded
during CWAC.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
2
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
12
15
13*
74

Heron, Squacco
Ardeola ralloides
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but only on 29% of waterbird counts andno record of breeding. Largely restricted
to small dams and wetlands with reeds
and other emergent vegetation. Often
solitary but occasionally up to three
together. Up to three recorded during
CWAC.

Grey Heron

Heron, Purple
Ardea purpurea

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
16
3
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded in all months but only
on 46% of waterbird counts and noevidence of breeding. Widespread at
streams and wetlands with tall
emergent vegetation. Usually solitary
but Day (1975) recorded three together
at Evergreen Ranch in 1971. Up tothree recorded during CWAC.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
14
4
3*

Squacco Heron

Hobby, Eurasian
Falco subbuteo
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. We saw two on 20 February
2020, one perched on a powerline inplains grassland in the north-west and asecond over rocky shrubland near
Duiker hut. Solitary. One was ringed
along the short tourist route on 2
February 2010 (SAFRING).

Purple Heron

75

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
0
0Brown-backed Honeybird

Honeyguide, Greater
Indicator indicator
Eurasian Hobby

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Honeybird, Brown-backed
Prodotiscus regulus

Probable
resident.
Recordedthroughout the year but not in all
months. Day (1975) also included
records for March and April. Usuallydetected on distinctive, 'Victor', call.
Mainly heard from wooded drainages
but also found amongst mature alien
trees at Mayfair. A wide range ofpotential hosts occur on the reserve, but
breeding has yet to be confirmed.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor;may
breed.
Recordedthroughout the year but not in all
months. Probably overlooked as notedby Day (1975) who also included
records for May and August.
Widespread in wooded habitat on theoriginal reserve. Solitary or in pairs.
Display flight observed on 10 November
2022.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
9
4
12*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
18
<1
10*

Greater Honeyguide76Honeyguide, Lesser
Indicator minor

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
82
55
46*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; breeds. Widespread inwooded habitats. Usually solitary, a paironce. Mainly detected on distinctive andfar-carrying call. A juvenile was seen on
20 May 2022. Twelve were ringed ofwhich one, captured in the aloe forest in
the Kareekloof was recaptured in thesame area approximately a year later(SAFRING).

African Hoopoe

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
33
12
8*

Hornbill, African Grey
Lophoceros nasutus
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. Solitary. Recorded for August
during BIRP with subsequent records
for the Diepkloof area on 14 September
2005 and 3 November 2011 and for
Blesboklaagte on 25 and 26 October
2018.
Lesser Honeyguide

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

Hoopoe, African
Upupa africana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread inwooded habitat. Usually solitary, lessoften in pairs, three once. A juvenile
was seen with its parents on 29
November 2021.
77African Sacred Ibis

African Grey Hornbill

Ibis, African Sacred
Threskiornis aethiopicus

Ibis, Glossy
Plegadis falcinellus

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Visitor; has bred. Recorded in all
months but only on 17% of waterbird
counts. Largely restricted to thewetlands of the northern extension.
Sightings elsewhere were mainly of
birds in flight. More common andabundant in the surrounding landscape,especially at the Platkop landfill site andin the adjacent wetlands. Three
hundred were counted in recently burnt
grassland on the extension on 11
August 2022. Day (1975) recorded
three breeding pairs at Evergreen
Ranch in January 1972, but also noted
an apparent preference for farmland
and wetlands outside the reserve.

Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but only on 40% of waterbird counts.
Widespread, but mainly forages aroundthe edges of dams on the extension.
Solitary and in small groups (≤5) but
larger flocks seen in flight over the
reserve (≤50). Up to 88 recorded during
CWAC.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
34
10
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
46
12
20*

Glossy Ibis

78

Ibis, Hadeda (Hadada)
Bostrychia hagedash
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats. Solitary, in pairs or
small groups (≤10). Nineteen recorded
together on 11 August 2022 consideredunusual. Up to 55 recorded during
CWAC. Copulation observed on 11
August 2022. S. Wolff reported
breeding in November (Day 1975).

Southern Bald Ibis

Indigobird, Dusky
Vidua funerea

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
88
55
20*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Reported for December andJanuary during BIRP. We saw a single
male in sweet thorn savannah on 28
February 2022, the only other record
being for pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2. Its host, theAfrican Firefinch, is also rarely
recorded.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
1
0

Hadeda Ibis

Ibis, Southern Bald
Geronticus calvus VU, VU
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. An individual was recorded at
a dam near the entrance to the
Kareekloof resort by J. Hennop on 14
September 2005. Not recorded for any
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2.

Dusky Indigobird

79

Indigobird, Purple
Vidua purpurascens

host, the Red-billed Firefinch, wasrarely seen by (Day 1975) or since.

J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
1
0Vagrant. We recorded a male in sweetthorn savannah on 17 March 2022 anda pair in a wooded drainage line on 25
January 2023. Its host, the Jameson's
Firefinch, is now much more common
within the reserve than it was
historically, so sightings of this broodparasite could increase.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
300Village Indigobird

Kestrel, Greater
Falco rupicoloides
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Restricted to plains grasslandand old lands. Solitary. Recorded only
once by Day (1975) over Boschhoek in
May 1971 and once in January during
BIRP. Our most recent sighting was on
19 August 2021.

Purple Indigobird

Indigobird, Village
Vidua chalybeata

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4<1
2*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. S. Wolff recorded a pair at
Elandsvlakte in December 1974 andJanuary 1975 (Day 1975). There were
two subsequent records during BIRP
and two from two pentads that overlap
the reserve during SABAP2; mostrecently seen on 7 February 2015. Its
80

Greater Kestrel

Rock Kestrel

Falco naumanni

Kingfisher, Brown-hooded
Halcyon albiventris

Kestrel, Lesser
J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. There were ten sightings
during BIRP and ten for six pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.
Most recently seen on 4 February 2023.

Vagrant. Reported for August during
BIRP. Subsequently recorded by ID on
the edge of the sweet thorn savannahon 21 February 2021. There were afurther three records for three pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2. Most recently seen on 15 May
2021.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
05
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

Kestrel, Rock
Falco rupicolus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable resident. Widespread, foundmostly in open grassland and rarely
over sweet thorn savannah. Solitary,pair once. No breeding has beenrecorded but nests in potholes anddeep cracks are easily overlooked.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
17
14
0

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

81Kingfisher, Giant
Megaceryle maxima

known suitable breeding habitat. Up to
two recorded during CWAC.

J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
3
3*

Vagrant. One was seen at Elandsvlakte
by S. Wolff in the 1970s (Day 1975).
Subsequently
recordedfortheDiepkloof area on 30 November 2000
by CWJ and three further times during
BIRP. Our most recent sighting was ofan individual perched on a dead tree ina dam at the entrance to the derelict
Kareekloof resort on 1 December 2022.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
2
0

Malachite Kingfisher

Kingfisher, Pied
Ceryle rudis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Only recorded on 14% ofwaterbird counts. Restricted to dams inplains grassland and old lands. Usuallysolitary, three once. Day (1975)
reported a pair. Most recently seen
south of Diepkloof gate on 16
November 2023. Up to four recorded
during CWAC.

Giant Kingfisher

Kingfisher, Malachite
Alcedo cristata

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
5
7*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Solitary. Only recorded on 11%
of waterbird counts but easily
overlooked. Day (1975) includes arecord for April. Found at small dams
and ponds with open water and a fringeof trees or emergent vegetation. No
82

Resident, breeds. Found throughout thereserve and in all habitats. Most
common in plains grassland and oldlands and sweet thorn savannah.
Solitary, in pairs and up to four together
at nests. Chicks were recorded during
March-May and juveniles in SeptemberDecember. Up to 14 were recorded
during CAR.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
100
62
48*

Pied Kingfisher

Kite, Black
Milvus migrans
Vagrant. Four were seen over
Elandsvlakte in December 1970 (Day1975). Subsequently recorded on 24
December 2021, the only record for a
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972002*Black-winged Kite

Kite, Yellow-billed
Milvus aegyptius
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Found in plains
grassland and old lands on the northern
extension. Solitary. Our sightings wereon 13 February 2015, 19 March 2021
and 21 September 2021. Day (1975)
recorded an individual over Wetter inJanuary 1971.

Black Kite

Kite, Black-winged
Elanus caeruleus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
0
2*

J F M A M J J A S O N D

83

Korhaan, Northern Black
Afrotis afraoides
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; probably breeds. Mainly
found in plains grassland and old landson the northern extension. Solitary but
several males were often seen
displaying in the same area. S. Wolff
only recorded one at Elandsvlakte in1972, but the species was apparently
more common west of the reserve at thetime (Day 1975). Up to 19 wererecorded during CAR.

Yellow-billed Kite

Korhaan, Blue
Eupodotis caerulescens LC, NT
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
79
3
0

Vagrant. Restricted to plains grasslandand old lands on the northern
extension. Solitary or in pairs.
Individuals were recorded by L. du Toiton 21 November 2005 and A. Kemp on
24 June 2009. D. Koen and L. du Toit
saw a pair on 19 July 2018.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
0
0

Northern Black Korhaan

Korhaan, White-bellied
Eupodotis senegalensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. A pair was seen at
Schoongezicht in December 1970 (Day1975) and there was a single record
during BIRP. Subsequently recorded
along low hills to the southwest of theBlue Korhaan

84

Diepkloof gate on 22 February 2006, 7
December 2007, 11 November 2008,
13 June 2013, and 12 July 2017. D.
Koen reported a possible sighting forthe same area in October 2023. As
noted by Day (1975) this species may
be overlooked.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
41
5
12

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
2

African Wattled Lapwing

Lapwing, Blacksmith
Vanellus armatus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, mainly
found in plains grassland and old lands,
often close to water. Solitary, in pairs or
small groups (≤7). Parents were seen
with young in October-December. Up to
59 recorded during CWAC.

White-bellied Korhaan

Lapwing, African Wattled
Vanellus senegallus
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
93
76
16

Resident; has bred. Found more
frequently at wetlands and dams on thenorthern extension than within theoriginal reserve, but it is still present inareas where pairs were reported by Day(1975). Solitary, in pairs or threes. Up tosix were recorded during CWAC. One ofa pair seen in short grassland near the
Diepkloof gate in December 2022
appeared to be incubating. S. Wolff
recorded breeding at the Elandsvlakte
wetland in October 1973 (Day 1975).

Blacksmith Lapwing85Lapwing, Crowned
Vanellus coronatus

two pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABAP2. The most recent
record is for 23 June 2014.

J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
0

Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in diverse habitats, only absent
from kloof bush. Solitary, in pairs andsmall groups (≤10). A nest with chicks
was found on 10 November 2018 andparents were seen with young on 22
September and 19 November 2021.
Breeding was previously reported
during September-December (Day1975, BIRP 2012). Rarely seen within
the reserve by Day (1975) but morecommon in adjacent farmland to thenorth.

[No map]
Lark, Grey-backed SparrowEremopterix verticalis
Vagrant. There was a single record for
the Eendracht Road on 23 June 2023
during a regional irruption of thespecies.
[No map]

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
84
69
12*

Lark, Eastern Clapper
Mirafra fasciolata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Usually located oncall and as noted by Day (1975) likely
under-recorded outside of the breeding
season. Widespread but mainly ingrassland and rocky shrubland in theeast. Often several males displaying inthe same area. S. Wolff reported
breeding during November andDecember (Day 1975). We noted asingle juvenile on 17 March 2022.

Crowned Lapwing

Lark, Chestnut-backed SparrowEremopterix leucotis

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
37
29
4

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. There is a record for August
during BIRP and for April and June for86Lark, Melodious
Mirafra cheniana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but not in all months. Most easily
detected when mimicking other bird
species during aerial display. Utilises
plains grassland and old lands(including areas that have been cut by
grass harvesters) as well as steepslope grassland. Often solitary but up toseven have been recorded in close
proximity. Thirty-nine were recorded
during targeted surveys on 13
November 2003 (density of 3.3
birds/ha).

Eastern Clapper Lark

Lark, Eastern Long-billed
Certhilauda semitorquata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Usually detected on call, along whistle. Widespread but as notedby Day (1975), found mainly in summit
montane grassland. Usually solitary but
up to three have been recorded nearby.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
13
2
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
51
46
32

Melodious Lark

Lark, Pink-billed
Spizocorys conirostris
Eastern Long-billed Lark

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor; has bred. Recorded throughout
the year but not in all months. Utilises
87

plains grassland and old lands. Usually
Solitary but up to three have been seen
together. Day (1975) did not indicate
the number of sightings but noted thatthey were recorded ‘quite frequently’.
E. Marais observed nestlings being fed
along the Eendracht Road on 14 June
2004 and S. Wolff recorded breeding inJanuary.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
52?

Red-capped Lark

Lark, Rufous-naped
Mirafra africana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, only
absent from kloof bush and rare insummit montane grassland. Solitary,occasionally two. Juvenile recorded on
1 February 2022.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
91
59
48*

Pink-billed Lark

Lark, Red-capped
Calandrella cinerea
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded throughout the year
but with 60% of sightings during thecool, dry months (May-August).
Restricted to grassland with no obvious
preference for altitude. Solitary, in pairs
and small flocks (≤10). No reports ofbreeding despite ample suitable habitat.

Rufous-naped Lark

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
10
10
88

Lark, Sabota

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
54
26
44*

Calendulauda sabota
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable resident. Recorded in all
months but no evidence of breeding.
Restricted to sweet thorn savannah.
Solitary. One ringed in the Kareekloof
on 26 June 2006 was subsequently
recaptured in the same vicinity on 2
September 2011 (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
17
11
8*

Spike-heeled Lark

Longclaw, Cape
Macronyx capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread andfound in grassland at all altitudes.
Solitary or in pairs but up to sevensometimes foraging close together.
Breeding reported for January andOctober-November (Day 1975, BIRP
2012).
One was ringed near the
Kareekloof gate on 30 June 2005
(SAFRING), an area for which we have
few other records.

Sabota Lark

Lark, Spike-heeled
Chersomanes albofasciata
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
99
96
76*

Breeding resident. Largely restricted toplains grassland and old lands. Rarely
solitary, mainly in pairs or small groups(≤6). A juvenile was seen with two
adults on 1 February 2022. S. Wolff
reported breeding in November andDecember (Day 1975).

89recent record for the reserve. There
were thirteen records for four pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2. Most recently on seen on 21
October 2023.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
30Cape Longclaw

MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Removed. Up to four domestic ducks
were kept as part of the Diepkloof farmmuseum collection until 2009.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
0Bronze Mannikin

Martin, Banded
Riparia cincta
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant; has bred.
Widespread over open habitats
including wetlands. Usually solitary or insmall groups (≤10), but flocks of 18 and
30 seen perched together. Day (1975)
suspected breeding to be taking place;burrows suitable for nesting remainplentiful.

MallardMannikin, Bronze
Lonchura cucullata

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
39
25
22*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. A flock of 20 was seen in the
Diepkloof on 23 May 2019, the only90

Palearctic migrant. Widespread but
absent from kloof bush and rocky
shrubland. Solitary, in small groups(≤11) and larger flocks 50-60. Often withother aerial feeders. Day (1975)
reported one instance of over-wintering.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-197222
6
6

Banded Martin

Martin, Brown-throated
Riparia paludicola
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread but largely
restricted to streams and wetlands.
Solitary or in small groups (≤15), often
in mixed flocks.
Common House Martin

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
53
11
0Martin, Rock
Hirundo fuligula
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible migrant. Recorded in August
by Day (1975), March-September
during BIRP and in May-December byourselves. The absence of records for
January and February suggests
movements away from the area outside
the breeding season. Widespread in
the north but the absence of sightings
along main south-facing cliffs ispuzzling. Solitary or in small flocks (≤6),
typically in mixed flocks with other aerial
feeders.

Brown-throated Martin

Martin, Common House
Delichon urbicum
J F M A M J J A S O N D
91

Moorhen, Common
Gallinula chloropus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
24
4
4

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Restricted to oldfarm dams with emergent vegetation.
Solitary or in small groups (≤10). Up to
26 recorded during CWAC. An adult
was seen with a chick on 18 May 2022.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
57
30
3*

Rock Martin

Sand Martin
Riparia riparia
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Solitary. Restricted
to streams and wetlands. Single record
for November during BIRP.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
11<10Common Moorhen

Moorhen, Lesser
Paragallinula angulata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant but possibly overlooked. A pairbred in an area of flooded grasslandand emergent vegetation at the inflow toa small dam during March and April
2021 producing two chicks.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
500Sand Martin

92

Mousebird, Speckled
Colius striatus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread in wooded
habitats. S. Wolff recorded only a single
sighting at Elandsvlakte in January
1975. Small flocks (≤8). Forty-four wereringed (SAFRING).

Lesser Moorhen

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
79
44
0

Mousebird, Red-faced
Urocolius indicus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread inwooded habitats. Often in small flocks(≤10) but up to 17. An adult was seen
carrying nest material on 28 September
2018. Seventy were ringed, mainly in
the Kareekloof, but none wererecaptured (SAFRING) despite a multiyear ringing effort.

Speckled Mousebird

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
92
50
72*

Mousebird, White-backed
Colius colius
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Mainly found in sweet thorn
savannah and steep-slope grassland.
Singly, in pairs and small flocks (≤12).
Two were ringed near Evergreen Ranchon 3 June 2000, the edge of the species
range in the north, and 14 in the
Kareekloof area (SAFRING).

Red-faced Mousebird

93

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
54
2
18*

Common Myna

NeddickyCisticola fulvicapilla
White-backed Mousebird

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Myna, Common
Acridotheres tristis

Resident; has bred. Naturalised alien.
Found mainly around infrastructure
including ruined homesteads, and on
mowed lawns and verges. Solitary, inpairs and rarely groups (≤5). Breeding
reported for October (BIRP 2012). One
was ringed on 24 June 2006 in the
Kareekloof area (SAFRING).

Breeding resident. Widespread but
absent from open grassland. Solitary,
sometimes in pairs, rarely in groups(≤4). A courtship display was observed
on 27 October 2021 and S. Wolff
reported breeding in November 1970
(Day 1975). An adult was observed
feeding two Cuckoo-finch chicks on 17
March 2022. Thirty-one were ringed of
which
three
were
subsequently
recaptured (2 days to 1 year later) in thesame vicinity (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
78
23
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
92
72
80*

J F M A M J J A S O N D

94

Neddicky

Freckled Nightjar

Nightjar, Fiery-necked
Caprimulgus pectoralis

Oriole, Black-headed
Oriolus larvatus

Vagrant. One was heard calling in the
Wolwekloof area by N. De Beer during
a nocturnal survey on 16 November
2023. Not recorded previously for the
reserve, but there were two records fortwo pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABAP2, most recently on 18
September 2022.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded for Heidelberg Kloof
in September 1970 (Day 1975) and by
CWJ for Steenbokkloof on 13
November 2001. There were four
additional records during BIRP andeight records for four pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.
There is potential for confusion between
the call of this species and variations ofthat of the Southern Boubou.

[No map]
Nightjar, Freckled
Caprimulgus tristigma
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
3
2*

Probable resident. Under-reported due
to limited nocturnal survey data. Our
records are mainly for rocky shrublandand kloof bush but expected to be morewidespread. First seen in summit
montane grassland on 16 November
2023 during nocturnal mammal counts.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
80
10Black-headed Oriole95

Osprey

pairs or small family groups (≤5) at nest
sites. Numbers declined from 25 in2009 to just three in 2022 but havesince recovered to 20 in 2023 following
successive years of good rain. Nests
with eggs or young were recorded in
March-July. Killed on roads adjacent to
the reserve and one was ensnared on abarbed wire fence.

Pandion haliaetus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant.
Day(1975)
recordedindividuals over Blesboklaagte andSchoongezicht in May and December
1971. One record for April during BIRP
and an unusual winter sighting by J.
Avni on 20 August 2004 for Sedaven
Dam appear to be the only subsequent
records. There were no records forpentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7
2
10

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
4

African Grass Owl

Owl, Cape Eagle
Bubo capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
OspreyPossibly resident despite the paucity ofrecords. Heard calling at the derelict
Kareekloof resort during an owl survey
on 17 February 2015. Extensive
whitewash still evident on a cliff in thisarea could indicate breeding. One wasseen perched at the top of the Diepkloof
by CWJ during a nocturnal mammal
count on 9 December 2022.

Owl, African Grass
Tyto capensis VU, LC
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Largely restricted towetland areas in plains grassland andold lands on the northern extension.
Seldom observed during the day unlessflushed from thick grass. Solitary, in
96

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
10
0Marsh Owl

Owl, Spotted EagleBubo africanus
Cape Eagle Owl

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Owl, Marsh
Asio capensis
Probably resident. Under-reported due
to limited nocturnal survey data. Day(1975) includes a record for September.
Mainly found in wooded areas. Solitary
or in pairs. Eight were recorded along
the main tourist route and approachroad to Kareekloof resort during anocturnal survey in rainy conditions on
8 December 2022. Two were ringed,
and one initially trapped close to themain tourist route west of Duiker hut on
12 May 1971 was recovered in the
Elandsvlakte area on 9 June 1977,
approximately 5km away (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread insuitable wetland habitat but mainly inthe north. May be seen foraging overwetlands and adjacent grassland on
winter mornings. Solitary, in pairs orgroups (≤14). Sixty-one counted in
2023 is the highest yet recorded during
annual surveys. Eggs were found in
March-July and chicks in March-June.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
20
3
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
9
2
10*

97

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Western Barn-Owl

Tyto alba

Owlet, Pearl-spotted
Glaucidium perlatum

Owl, Western Barn
J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding resident. Under-reported due
to limited nocturnal survey data. Day(1975) recorded a single bird near
Holhoek in November. Often found inassociation
withman-made
infrastructure (abandoned or in use).
There are a multitude of such sites on
the reserve but in the absence of acomprehensive survey there is no good
population estimate. At least two pairs
are present. Large accumulations ofpellets in some abandoned buildings
indicate long occupation. Two juveniles
were seen perched between a steel
girder under the thatched roof of
Diepkloof gate on 25 August 2022. Thisis a regular roost site. Two were ringed
in the Elandsvlakte area on 29
December 1971 (SAFRING).

Our initial record was based on a brief
and unsatisfactory call heard on 24
August 2018. This observation was only
visually confirmed on 19 October 2022
when the characteristic call led us to asingle owlet perched on a tree next tothe abandoned shop at the now derelict
Kareekloof resort.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
50
1
2*
Pearl-spotted Owlet

98

Oxpecker, Red-billed
Buphagus erythrorynchus

November and December and there
was one record for August during BIRP.
Two specimens were ringed in the
Kareekloof/Schoongezicht area on 19
February 2000 and another on 20
January 2001 (SAFRING). There were
11 records for four pentads that overlap
the reserve during SABAP2, mostrecently on 8 February 2020.

J F M A M J J A S O N DFirst reported by C. Symes for the aloe
forest in the Kareekloof during 20052007. Individuals and small groups (≤4)
were subsequently seen on 1 July
2014, 16 April 2021, 7 May 2021, 15
June 2021, 27 September 2021, 30
November 2021 and 14 December
2021. Found with large ungulate herds
in the Elandsvlakte area but also seen
flying over sweet thorn savannah andperched on a wooden pylon at theabandoned Schoongezicht house.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
8*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
800Yellow-throated Petronia

Pigeon, African Olive
Columba arquatrix
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. First recorded by R. Deysel on
5 March 2008 and subsequently in the
Diepkloof area by CWJ on 14 May
2014. There were six records for four
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 18 June2022.

Red-billed Oxpecker

Petronia (Bush Sparrow), YellowthroatedGymnoris superciliaris
J F M A M J J A S O N D[No map]
Vagrant. Day (1975) recorded fourindividuals at various localities during
99

Pigeon, Speckled

Resident; has bred. Mainly recorded inheavily grazed, mowed or burnt areasof plains grassland and most readily
observed in roadside firebreaks.
Solitary or in pairs but up to five seen in
the same area. Breeding reported for
October (BIRP 2012).

Columba guinea
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, foundover all habitats. Often seen in flight.
Solitary, in pairs and groups. A loose
formation of about 3000 pigeons(individual flocks of up 600) passed
over Wolwekloof in 45 minutes on 29
September 2021. Breeding wasrecorded in June 2020 and 2021. Day(1975) recorded breeding throughout
the year and flocks of up to 30. This
species appears to have become much
more abundant but is likely highly
dependent on agricultural activities inthe surrounding landscape. Three wereringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
53
46
16

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
96
51
74*

African Pipit

Pipit, African Rock
Anthus crenatus NT, LC
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible resident. Probably underrecorded. Found in patches of elevatedrocky grassland at widely scatteredlocalities. There were six reports during
BIRP, but the discovery of two
individuals at the top of the Diepkloof by
E. Marais on 14 December 2002
appears to be the first record for the
reserve. Marais and Peacock (2008)
subsequently noted that the species,
once regularly observed on steeper
rocky slopes along the tourist route eastof Diepkloof, had become lesscommon. More recently, H. Nel

Speckled Pigeon

Pipit, African
Anthus cinnamomeus
J F M A M J J A S O N D

100

reported that the species was reliably
recorded for the area of rocky hills
around Sedaven Dam, but this is also
no longer the case. Potential
displacement by over-playing of calls is
a concern. Recent records are fromisolated localities away from publicroads.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
830

Buffy Pipit

Pipit, Nicholson’s
Anthus nicholsoni
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, foundmainly in steep-slope grassland. Often
solitary, occasionally in pairs, rarely
three together. A nest with eggs wasfound on the ground under a low rocky
overhang above Holhoek on 14
December 2021.

African Rock Pipit

Pipit, Buffy

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
51
37
20*

Anthus vaalensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible resident. Difficult to distinguishfrom Plain-backed Pipit and likely to
have
been
under-recorded.
Widespread but mainly found in plains
grassland and old lands. Often solitary,
but up to three have been seen
together.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
17
50

Nicholson’s Pipit

101

Pipit, Plain-backed
Anthus leucophrys

during SABAP2. The most recent wason 15 November 2022.

J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
20181995-2003
19702023
1972
0
<1
0

Probable resident. Widespread, foundmainly in plains grassland and oldlands. Difficult to distinguish in the fieldfrom similar Buffy Pipit and both species
are likely to have been under-recorded.
Usually solitary, sometimes in pairs but
up to four have been recorded together.
Breeding reported for November (BIRP
2012).

[No map]
Pipit, Yellow-breasted
Anthus chloris VU, VU
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
17
13
14

Visitor. Restricted to plains grasslandand old lands. One was recorded on theedge of a firebreak along the Eendracht
Road by E. Marias on 14 June 2004.
This first record was followed by asighting of two birds on 30 June 2004 by
M. Bernadie and then three birds by E.
Marais and F. Peacock on 7 July 2004.
An individual photographed along the
tourist route southwest of Duiker hut by
N. Perrin on 23 April 2021 was the firstrecord for the original reserve. Our
subsequent sightings in June, July andAugust of 2021 were for the reserve andthe extension. This species is easily
overlooked in its comparatively drab
non-breeding plumage and may well bea more common winter visitor thancurrent records suggest.

Plain-backed Pipit

Pipit, Striped
Anthus lineiventris
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7
0
0

Vagrant, but probably overlooked.
There was only one record for
September during BIRP despite anabundance of seemingly suitable
habitat. There were eight records forfour pentads that overlap the reserve102

Pochard, Red-crested
Netta rufina
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Escaped alien. An individual wasrecorded during CWAC on 14 July
2006.
[No map]

Yellow-breasted Pipit

Pochard, Southern
Netta erythrophthalma

Plover, Three-banded
Charadrius tricollaris

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. Recorded twice by Day (1975)
including one flock of 30 on Valsfontein
in February 1972 and four times during
BIRP. Up to 23 recorded during CWAC.
Commonly recorded in pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.

Probable resident. Recorded in all
months and during 69% of waterbird
counts but not known to have bred.
Attracted to open shorelines of dams
and muddy patches within large grassy
wetlands. Solitary, in pairs andoccasionally small groups. Up to 31
wererecordedduring
CWAC.
Considered an occasional summer
visitor by Day (1975).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
2
7*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
36
23
20*

Southern Pochard

Three-banded Plover103

Pratincole, Black-winged
Glareola nordmanni NT, NT
J F M A M J J A S O N D

individual, presumably ringed outside
the reserve, was recaptured at Holhoek.
Nine others ringed in the Kareekloof
were subsequently recaptured (1 day12 months later) where they were firsttrapped (SAFRING).

Vagrant. Flocks of over 100 were seen
flying over plains grassland and oldlands in the vicinity of the Diepkloof gate
at dusk on 15 January 2010 and on 16
February 2016. An individual was seenin the same area on 14 March 2019.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
92
78
86*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<10Black-chested Prinia

Prinia, Tawny-flanked
Prinia subflava
J F M A M J J A S O N DBlack-winged Pratincole

Resident. Found along drainage lines insteep-slope grassland, rocky shrublandand sweet thorn savannah throughout
the original extent of the reserve.
Solitary and in pairs. Eight were ringed(SAFRING).

Prinia, Black-chested
Prinia flavicans
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, mostcommon in sweet thorn savannah, butalso frequents kloof bush. In more open
habitats, found mainly along wooded
and bushy drainage lines. Solitary, inpairs, occasionally threes. Adult seen
carrying nesting material on 22 January
2019. S. Wolff also recorded breedingin January 1975 (Day 1975). An

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
28
17
12*

104

Pytilia, Green-winged
Pytilia melba
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Most records were
for sweet thorn savannah. Solitary, inpairs and small groups (≤7). An
unusually large group seen on 10 May
2021 contained 19 adults and juveniles.
Other mixed age groups were seen in
April and July. Almost 180 were ringed
and 30 subsequently recaptured (mostwithin 4 months but two after 12 and 13
months respectively) where they werefirst trapped (SAFRING). Two further
recaptures were of individuals believed
to have been ringed outside thereserve.

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Puffback, Black-backed
Dryoscopus cubla
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible resident. Surprisingly elusive
and probably overlooked when not
calling. First reported by B. Fargher at
Kareekloof in November 1970 (Day1975). One record during BIRP andnine subsequently. Found in a diversityof wooded habitats. Solitary or in pairs.
One was ringed in the Kareekloof(SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
68
19
12*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
12<1
2

Green-winged Pytilia

Quail, Common
Coturnix coturnix
J F M A M J J A S O N DBlack-backed Puffback

105

Intra-African
breeding
migrant.
Recorded throughout the year but not inallmonths.
Movements
poorlyunderstood but probably linked torainfall. Found in grassland at all
altitudes. Solitary, in pairs and threes.
Juvenile birds were recorded on 17
March 2022. Breeding was also
reported for April (BIRP 2012). The
record of a specimen supposedly ringed
at Elandsvlakte on 15 August 1973
(SAFRING) may be erroneous given
the diversity of rarities claimed to havebeen captured on the same day.

S. Wolff reported breeding in April andMay (Day 1975).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
79
12
50*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
17
2
2

African Quail-finchQuelea, Red-billed
Quelea quelea
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Present in all months but
numbers highly variable. Widespread,found in all habitats except rocky
shrubland. Solitary, in small groups andflocks of several hundred to several
thousand. Active nest building observed
on 13 December 2021 but unknown if
this progressed to egg laying. Day(1975) reported sporadic sightings offlocks of up to 50. Twenty were ringed,
mostly in the vicinity of Elandsvlakte(SAFRING).

Common Quail

Quail-finch, African
Ortygospiza atricollis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Found throughout
the reserve and in all habitats except
kloof bush, though most common in
grassland near water. Heard more often
than seen. Usually in small groups, but
flocks of 30-40 recorded on occasion.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
66
17
20

106

Red-billed Quelea

African Rail

Rallus caerulescens

Robin, Kalahari Scrub
Cercotrichas paena

Rail, African
J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant, but probably overlooked.
Heard calling from a reed bed at
Evergreen Ranch in February 1972
(Day 1975) and subsequently fromemergent vegetation next to a large
dam at Koppieskraal on 11 August2022. The most recent sighting was of abird flushed from tall vegetation duringaroutinewaterbird
countatElandsvlakte on 25 January 2023. The
record of a specimen supposedly ringed
in this area on 15 August 1973
(SAFRING) may be erroneous given
the diversity of other rarities claimed tohave been captured on the same day.

Resident;
has
bred.
Previously
restricted to the west of the reserve(Day 1975). Still found predominantly insweet thorn savannah but now also
common in woodland north of
Elandsvlakte
andabsentfrom
Evergreen Ranch. Often solitary but
occasionally in pairs. Breeding reported
for November (BIRP 2012). Seven wereringed (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
66
59
16

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
0
3*

107

September, and November (Day 1975,
BIRP 2012). Of the approximately 120
ringed, 15 were recaptured (1 day-2
years later) where they had beenoriginally trapped (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
92
96*
Kalahari Scrub Robin

Robin, White-browed Scrub
Cercotrichas leucophrys
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Status uncertain. There were six reports
during BIRP and 34 for five pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.
One was ringed north of Elandsvlakte
on
8
April
1973
(SAFRING).
Interestingly this record was not
mentioned by Day (1975).

Cape Robin-chatRoller, European
Coracias garrulus NT, LC
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
03
0Vagrant. First recorded during BIRP.
We subsequently saw an individual in
the vicinity of Eland hut on 28 February
2022.

Robin-chat, Cape
Cossypha caffra
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
1
0

Breeding resident. Widespread, only
absent from areas of open grassland.
Solitary, sometimes in pairs and rarely
three together. Day (1975) reported adensity of up to 20 in a square mile (2.6
km2). Juvenile birds were recorded in
December 2021. Breeding has also
been reported for January, February,
108

Ruff
Calidris pugnax
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Only recorded during 12% ofsummer waterbird counts. Seen twice
by Day, once during BIRP and once by
us on 14 March 2019. Not recorded forany pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABAP2.

European Roller

Roller, Lilac-breasted
Coracias caudatus

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
7*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Seen in 1985 (Anon 1986) andonce for January during BIRP. An
individual was subsequently seen
perched on an overhead wire at theentrance to the Kareekloof resort by
CWJ and N. Horn on 11 February 2011.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
<1
0

Ruff

Sandpiper, Common
Actitis hypoleucos
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant.
Day(1975)
recordedindividuals on three occasions during
November and December. There wereeight subsequent sightings for the
reserve during BIRP, but none
confirmed since. There were fifteen
records for six pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2, most recently
on 13 September 2023.

Lilac-breasted Roller

109

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
2
10*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<10Common Sandpiper

Marsh Sandpiper

Sandpiper, Curlew
Calidris ferruginea LC, NT

Sandpiper, Wood
Tringa glareola

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. Reported by reserve staff on
28 February 2005 but no confirmedsightings since. Recorded for one
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, on 31 August 2023.

Vagrant. Only recorded during 6% ofsummer waterbird counts. Day (1975)
twice recorded individuals and there
were six sightings during BIRP. The
most recent record was of an individual
at a dam south of the Diepkloof gate on
22 January 2019. Up to eight werecounted during CWAC.

[No map]
Sandpiper, Marsh
Tringa stagnatilis

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
3
7*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Only recorded during 6% ofsummer waterbird counts. Seen once
during BIRP and subsequently on 23
September 2004, 29 October 2014, and
16 February 2016.

110

Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentarius VU, VU
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread ingrassland, avoids densely wooded
areas and rocky shrubland. Usuallysolitary, in pairs or small family groups(3-4) with up to seven seen on a single
day. In several years active nests on thenorthern extension were about 5km
apart. Eggs were recorded on 29 July
2016 and chicks on nests during JuneNovember. Breeding was also reported
for March (BIRP 2012) and May (Day1975). Now rarely recorded where
nesting was observed by Day (1975)
i.e., Elandsvlakte and Schoongezicht.
Two chicks were ringed and tagged at anest in the Cheetahkloof in September
2009.

Wood Sandpiper

Scimitarbill, Common
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Mainly found inwooded habitat in the south and west.
Surprisingly not recorded by Day (1975)or Anon (1986) but reported for all
months during BIRP. Usually solitary,
sometimesinpairs.
Copulation
observed 26 March 2021. Six wereringed in the Kareekloof (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
39
11
12

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
66
17
0

Secretarybird

Common Scimitarbill

111

Seedeater, Streaky-headed
Crithagra gularis

Shelduck, South African
Tadorna canaJ F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding resident. Mainly found in
steep-slope grassland, avoids plains
grassland and old lands. Solitary, in
pairs
or
small
groups(≤4).
Exceptionally 16 seen feeding together
on aloes on 22 September 2019. A
courtship display was observed on 15
September 2022 and an adult was seen
carrying nesting material on 26 October2010. S. Wolff also recorded breedingin October 1973 (Day 1975).

Probable breeding resident. Mainly
found in grassland and old lands, notrestricted to waterbodies. Occasionallysolitary, usually a pair, rarely in a group(≤9). Suitable burrows for nesting
plentiful but possibly only one pair on
the reserve. Two adults and seven
juveniles were seen on 19 October and
10 November 2022. A female was seen
with a male Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna
ferruginea) on the dam at the entrance
to the derelict Kareekloof resort on 13
July 2023.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
58
44
58*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
28
00Streaky-headed Seedeater

Shelduck, Ruddy

South African Shelduck

Tadorna ferruginea
ShikraEscaped alien. A male was seen with afemale South African Shelduck on thedam at the entrance to the derelict
Kareekloof resort on 13 July 2023.

Accipiter badius
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant, but
Recorded by[No map]112

possibly overlooked.
ID in sweet thornsavannah north of Schoongezicht on 20
February 2020. A second individual was
subsequently seen in woodland at thederelict Kareekloof resort on 14
December 2021.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
300Cape Shoveler

Shrike, Crimson-breasted
Laniarius atrococcineus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Found in sweet thorn
savannah and thornveld bordering kloof
bush. Day (1975) recorded at least twopairs in the Kareekloof area in 1971. We
detected the species on call for thesame area on 22 October 2019. A
single bird was reported by D. Koen
along the tourist route in the vicinity of
Steenbokkloof in late May 2023 and thebird was seen in the same area on 1
June. There were records for Augustand September during BIRP.

ShikraShoveler, Cape
Anas smithii
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Observations restricted todams on the northern extension. First
recorded during BIRP with six
subsequent sightings, most recently on
8 August 2017. Up to four recorded
during CWAC.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
2
6*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0
<1
0

113

Palearctic migrant. Record for May
during BIRP presumed to be an error.
Mainly found in steep-slope grasslandand sweet thorn savannah. Solitary. Up
to three recorded during a day. One was
ringed (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
25
170
Crimson-breasted Shrike

Shrike, Lesser Grey
Lanius minor
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic Migrant. Restricted to plains
grassland and old lands. Solitary.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
5
1
0

Red-backed Shrike

Snipe, African
Gallinago nigripennis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; probably breeds. Recorded in
all months and during 89% of waterbird
counts. Likely overlooked when not
calling. Found around dams and inpatches of mud and short grazed
vegetation in wetlands. Only recorded
once by Day (1975) for Elandsvlakte
where the species is common. The
addition of the northern extension has
greatly increased the extent of habitat
suitable for this species underprotection. Up to 44 recorded during
CWAC. Drumming displays heard but
no further evidence of breeding.

Lesser Grey Shrike

Shrike, Red-backed
Lanius collurio
J F M A M J J A S O N D

114

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
49
8
3*

Cape Sparrow

Sparrow, House
Passer domesticus
African Snipe

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Sparrow, Cape
Passer melanurus

Breeding resident. Naturalised alien.
Solitary, in pairs or small flocks (≤9).
Largely restricted to areas with manmade infrastructure. The status of nests
found in December 2018 and 2022
could not be determined. Breeding wasreported in March and November (BIRP
2012). Eleven were ringed, most at
Kareekloof (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread but
rarely in kloof bush and rocky
shrubland. Usually solitary or in pairs,
but occasionally found in groups (≤7).
Seen carrying nesting material in May,
June, and September. Active aroundcompleted nests in April, September,and November. Breeding reported in
November and December (Day 1975,
BIRP 2012). None of the 27 individuals
ringedonthereserve
were
subsequently recaptured despite a
multi-year trapping effort (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
67
45
38

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
92
46
74*

House Sparrow

115

Sparrow, Southern Grey-headed
Passer diffusus

Sparrowhawk, Black
Accipiter melanoleucus

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probably resident in the broader
agricultural landscape around thereserve where there are ample large
alien trees for nesting and abundant
prey. Widespread, absent only fromrocky shrubland. Mainly solitary adults,
but at least one juvenile. First observedin the south of the reserve by S. Wolff inJuly and August 1973 (Day 1975). Most
recently seen at Mayfair on 16
November 2023.

Breeding resident. Widespread but
absent from open grassland and rocky
shrubland. Solitary, in pairs or small
groups (≤10). A flock of 50 on 23 March
2021 was considered exceptional.
Collection of nest material wasobserved on 20 February 2019 and 17
March 2022. Parents were seen withyoung on 19 November 2021. Day(1975), who recorded breeding in
February, noted an absence of thisspecies during winter which was not ourexperience though movements are
suspected. Forty-one were ringed, mostof these in the Kareekloof, and none
were recaptured despite several yearsof netting in that area (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
17
0
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
74
43
38*

Black Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk, Little
Accipiter minullus
J F M A M J J A S O N DSouthern Grey-headed Sparrow

Vagrant. Our only sighting was in kloof
bush at Holhoek on 15 February 2018.

116

Sparrow-weaver, White-browed
Plocepasser mahali

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident but an erratic visitor
in the 1980s (Anon 1986). Often
associated with patches of thorn trees.
Most common in the south and west.
Solitary and in small groups (≤7) but
nest density suggests this is anundercount. Day (1975) recorded flocks
of up to 20. Nests are used year-roundand are not indicative of breeding. Seen
carrying nest material during October toMay. Breeding reported in January,
February, and November (BIRP 2012).
Two were ringed (SAFRING).

Little Sparrowhawk

Sparrowhawk, Ovambo
Accipiter ovampensis
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
93
44
30*

Vagrant. CWJ recorded a juvenile overkloof bush near Steenbok hut on 25
August 2022.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
10
0White-browed Sparrow-weaver

Spoonbill, African
Platalea alba
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Visitor. Only recorded during 14% ofwaterbird counts. First seen by CWJ on
117

11 November 2003. Suitable shallow
water habitat is largely restricted to thevarious dams on the northern
extension. Usually solitary, three
together once. Up to three werecounted during CWAC.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
99
71
74*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
12
1
0

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Starling, Cape Glossy
Lamprotornis nitens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
African Spoonbill

Spurfowl, Swainson’s
Pternistis swainsonii

Breeding resident. Occurs mainly insteep-slope grassland and sweet thorn
savannah. Usually solitary or in pairs
but rarely groups (≤16). Seen carrying
nesting material in October 2018. One
was ringed (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread, only
absent from kloof bush and rare in rocky
shrubland. Solitary, in pairs and small
groups (≤6). Up to twelve were counted
on a single day, likely to be aconsiderable
underestimate.
Day(1975) recorded mainly pairs but flocks
of ten in winter. Parents were seen withyoung in April and May. S. Wolff
reported breeding during February to
April (Day 1975). Eighty-one wereringed, most in the Elandsvlakte area
during the 1970s (56 in 1974 alone).
One was recovered a day after it was
ringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
84
17
0

118

Starling, Red-winged
Onychognathus morio
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable
resident;has
bred.
Occurrence localised with mostsightings around buildings at Diepkloof
visitor (administrative) centre, Kiepersol
camp and Kareekloof resort. Solitary, inpairs and up to three together. Day(1975) recorded flocks of as many as 20
and breeding was observed by S. Wolff
at Diepkloof in November andDecember. Three were ringed in the
Kareekloof (SAFRING).

Cape Glossy Starling

Starling, Pied
Lamprotornis bicolor
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
20
10
38*

Resident; has bred. Most records arefor plains grassland and old lands in thenorth. Solitary, in pairs and groups (450). A flock of 160 birds recorded on 26
April 2021 was very unusual. Breeding
was recorded in December by Day(1975).
Four have been ringed(SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
72
48
58*

Red-winged Starling

Starling, Violet-backed
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Restricted to wooded habitats inthe south and west. Solitary or in pairs.
S. Wolff observed two males near
Sedaven in June 1973 (Day 1975). Our

Pied Starling119

records include a sighting at Holhoek
picnic site on 6 December 2018, a pairin the same area on 14 November 2019and four sightings in 2021, the mostrecent being on 29 October 2021.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
28
19
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
800Wattled Starling

Stilt, Black-winged
Himantopus himantopus
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Violet-backed Starling

Starling, Wattled
Creatophora cinerea

Vagrant. Only recorded during 14% ofwaterbird counts. First seen on 12 June2013 and then at least once a year until
2017. Restricted to dams on thenorthern extension. Solitary, in pairs
and on one occasion three were seen
together. Up to three were recorded
during CWAC. Last seen on 14
February 2020 by D. Koen.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Considered a vagrant in the
1980s (Anon 1986). Found in low-lying
grassland and sweet thorn savannah.
Small groups and large, loose flocks.
Either seen in low flight or perched over
several trees in the same area. Over a
thousand were counted on 7 July and
15 September 2022 and several
thousand on 9 June 2023. Recent
sightings of large flocks moving
northwest through the vicinity of
Diepkloof gate at dawn suggest there
may be a communal roost nearby.
Fifteen were ringed (SAFRING).

120

Stonechat, African
Saxicola torquatus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Found in grassy
habitat throughout the reserve. Usuallysolitary or in pairs but occasionally insmall groups (≤4). Recorded widely andregularly during the first year of theoriginal survey, but only four times
during the second (Day 1975). Parents
with young and unaccompanied
juveniles were seen in November to
February. S. Wolff also reported
breeding in September (Day 1975).

Black-winged Stilt

Stint, Little
Calidris minuta
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
99
98
54*

Vagrant. Only recorded during 18% ofsummer waterbird counts. An individual
was recorded on Valsfontein in
November 1970 by Day (1975). None
were recorded during BIRP but there
were seven subsequent sightings by D.
Koen and us. Most recently on 14
March 2019. Up to two were counted
during CWAC.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
0
3*

African Stonechat

Stork, Abdim’s
Ciconia abdimii NT, LC
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. First recorded during BIRP.
Subsequently seen on 18 March 2019
and then most recently by D. Koen on
14 August 2022 who reported three inLittle Stint

121

burnt grassland
extension.

on

the

northern

the reserve on 17 March 2022. There
were three other records for two
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
0

Stork, White
Ciconia ciconia
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Mainly recorded
during the rainy season but withsightings in June to August in someyears. Day (1975) recorded an
individual in the Elandsvlakte area on
18 October 1970. Up to 20 wererecorded during CWAC and 122 during
CAR. The storks are attracted to the
Platkop landfill site and most records forthe reserve are for the north-eastern
corner of the extension. Rarely seenelsewhere and then only in flight. One
was ringed on 15 March 1988 in the
Elandsvlaktearea
andthree,
presumably rehabilitated birds, werereleasedduringJanuary
2007(SAFRING).

Abdim’s Stork

Stork, Black
Ciconia nigra
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Only recorded twice, firstduring BIRP. With D. Koen we
subsequently saw an adult wading in
the dam at the entrance to the derelict
Kareekloof resort on 2 November 2023.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
16<1
2

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-19720<1
0[No map]
Stork, Marabou
Leptoptilos crumenifer
Vagrant. An individual was seen on thereserve in the early 2000s by D. Koen.
We subsequently saw another roostingnear the Platkop landfill site just north ofWhite Stork

122

Stork, Yellow-billed
Mycteria ibis

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
5
4*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Individuals were recorded atdams on the northern extension on 16
November 2003 and 20 January 2010.
There were three records for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 3 February
2019.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
0

Amethyst Sunbird

Sunbird, Greater Double-collared
Cinnyris afer
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded at Elandsvlakte by
S. Wolff in August and September 1974
(Day 1975) and next by D. Koen on 12
July 2007. Our sightings are for kloof
bush on 13 February 2019 and 21
February 2020.

Yellow-billed Stork

Sunbird, Amethyst
Chalcomitra amethystina

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant.
Foundinsteep-slope
grassland and rocky shrubland.
Solitary. Recorded twice south of theridge in 1971 by Day (1975). There
were ten records during BIRP and justthree widely scattered sightings during
our surveys, most recently on 10
December 2021.
123

Greater Double-collared Sunbird

Malachite Sunbird

Sunbird, Malachite
Nectarinia famosa

Sunbird, White-bellied
Cinnyris talatala

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding resident. Widespread andseemingly only absent from sweet thorn
savannah. Unexpectedly rare in rocky
shrubland
despitethehighconcentration of proteas and treefuchsia (Haleria sp.). Usually solitary,
but 14 were seen foraging with Whitebellied Sunbirds in a large patch offlowering wild dagga (Leonotus sp.) in
an abandoned horse paddock on 6 April
2021. A courtship display was observed
on 10 November 2022. Day (1975)
recorded breeding activity in December
and January. Three were ringed in the
Kareekloof area in September 2007 and2014 (SAFRING) where despite theabundance of aloes we have notrecorded this species.

Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats except open
grassland and old lands. Solitary, inpairs, and rarely in groups at abundantfood sources. Ten were recorded
together with Malachite Sunbirds on 18
May 2022 in a large stand of wild dagga.
Seen carrying nest material on 8 July
2022. Breeding was also reported for
November (BIRP 2012). Two havebeen ringed (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
64
8
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
41
36
60*

124

White-bellied Sunbird

Barn Swallow

Hirundo rustica

Swallow, Greater Striped
Cecropis cucullata

Swallow, Barn
J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Palearctic migrant. Mainly present
during October to April but with one
report for August during BIRP and two
for September. Forages throughout thereserve and northern extension andover all habitats. Roosts in reed beds.
Perches conspicuously on fences andwires where flocks of up to 600 werecounted. ‘Thousands’ were seen millingover Diepkloof on 8 December 2022
before a storm.

Intra-African breeding migrant. Forages
throughout the reserve and northern
extension and over all habitats. Usuallysolitary, in pairs or small groups (≤20),
often in mixed flocks with other aerial
feeders. Single species aggregations of
30 seen on the tar road south of theDiepkloof gate and 124 in the Diepkloof
parking area shortly thereafter on 25
January 2023 were very unusual.
Breeding activity including mud
collection and nest building wasobserved during October to February.
Day (1975) also recorded breeding inMarch. Five were ringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
51
48
48*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
63
57
38*

125

Visitor; may breed. Our records are for
Mayfair on 18 September 2020 and 8
July 2021 and for Elandsvlakte on 29
September and 19 November 2021.
Solitary but up to three have been
together. A pair perched in a tree next
to an old Aardvark or Porcupine burrow
in late September 2021 could havebeen contemplating breeding.
Greater striped Swallow

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
5<1
0

Swallow, Lesser Striped
Cecropis abyssinica
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Recorded overplains grassland and old lands. Solitaryor two together. Last seen on 19
November 2021.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
470

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Swallow, South African Cliff
Petrochelidon spilodera
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African breeding migrant. Mainly
seen during July to April but with arecord for May during BIRP. Sightings
were often over wetlands andwatercourses in low-lying plains
grassland and old lands. Day (1975)
recorded the species once in December
1970. A juvenile was seen on 18 March
2019 and a newly completed nest was
found on 2 December 2022. Breeding
was also reported for January (BIRP

Lesser striped Swallow

Swallow, Pearl-breasted
Hirundo dimidiata
J F M A M J J A S O N D
126

2012). Difficult to count in mixed flocks
but over 50 were recorded at a nest site
along the Eendracht Road in December
2022.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
45
8
2*White-throated Swallow

Swamphen, African (Purple)
Porphyrio madagascariensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible breeding resident. First
observed by CWJ on 11 November
2003. Recorded during 31% ofwaterbird counts. Appears to be
restricted to reed fringed dams on thenorthern extension and probably
overlooked. Up to six counted during
CWAC. D. Koen recorded breeding in
February 2015.

South African Cliff Swallow

Swallow, White-throated
Hirundo albigularis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant; has bred.
Widespread, often near open water.
Found individually, in pairs and rarely insmall groups (≤5). Day (1975) recorded
breeding during November. One was
ringed on 11 September 2014 in the
Kareekloof area (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7<1
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
62
21
28

African Swamphen127

Swift, African Black

within the reserve but probably notuncommon in the broader landscape.

Apus barbatus
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
68
2
0Visitor. Not easily distinguished fromthe Common Swift and both species arelikely under-recorded during NovemberMarch. Day (1975) grouped the two
black swifts and reported 50 in
December 1970 and three in December
1971. May breed at Feeskrans but
efforts to get close enough to confirm
this were unsuccessful. Up to 10 wererecorded in a mixed flock with otheraerial species.

African Palm SwiftREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
14
5
4*

Swift, Alpine
Tachymarptis melba
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Reported for March andAugust during BIRP. Our sightings on
28 September 2019 and 12 February
2021 were of individuals over steepslope grassland.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3
2
0

African Black Swift

Swift, African Palm
Cypsiurus parvus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread, but rarely seen
over kloof bush. Seldom counted withflocks of up to 11 on occasion. Palm
trees suitable for breeding are rare128

Alpine Swift

Common Swift

Swift, Common

Swift, Horus
Apus apus

Apus horus

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Palearctic migrant. Mainly seen during
November-March. Reports for Augustand September during BIRP were likely
misidentified sightings of African Black
Swift. Several large, grey-brown swifts
with short, forked tails were seen
foraging in a mixed species flock oversteep-slope grassland on the easternboundary of the extension on 29
November 2021. Initially thought to be
Bradfield's Swifts, these were more
likely a rare Asian morph of theCommon Swift.

Intra-African migrant; has bred. An
individual seen on 10 December 2021
was the only record for our survey.
Breeding was reported for January(BIRP 2012).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
2
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
1
4*

Horus Swift129

Swift, Little
Apus affinis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread over all habitats.
Flocks of up to 50 were recorded during
our surveys and by Day (1975).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
61
38
10*

White-rumped Swift

Tchagra, Brown-crowned
Tchagra australis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread in wooded
habitat but most common in sweet thorn
savannah. Solitary or in pairs. Readily
detected on distinctive call but lessoften seen. An individual ringed in the
Kareekloof area was subsequently
recaptured (within 2 months) in thesame vicinity (SAFRING).

Little Swift

Swift, White-rumped
Apus caffer

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
68
22
26*

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Widespread over
all habitats. Recorded between Octoberand April by Day (1975). Sightings forJune and August during BIRP appear tobe errors and were excluded. Solitary,
in small groups and large flocks (≤100),often together with other aerial feeders.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
68
52
30*

Brown-crowned Tchagra

130Teal, Blue-billed (Hottentot)
Anas hottentota
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded twice during BIRP
(2012) and once by D. Koen, an
individual at a dam on the northern
extension on 17 July 2020. There were
ten records for three pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2,
most recently on 29 September 2022.

Cape Teal

Teal, Red-billed
Anas erythrorhyncha

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Recorded in all months but only
on 60% of waterbird counts. Mainly
found on dams on the northern
extension. Often in pairs, occasionallysolitary or in small flocks (≤7). Day(1975) likewise recorded mainly pairs
but also one flock of 20 in December
1971. Up to 14 were recorded during
CWAC.

Blue-billed Teal

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
22
2
8*

Teal, Cape
Anas capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. First recorded by D. Koen on
17 August 2004. Subsequently by CWJ
on 23 June 2014 and 20 July 2017. The
last was an individual flushed from asmall pond on the northern extension
during owl surveys. There were 40
records for three pentads that overlap
the reserve during SABAP2.

Red-billed Teal

131

Tern, Whiskered

was subsequently recorded on 16
February 2016 during CWAC. A
breeding record for January (BIRP
2012) is an error but may indicate thepresence of an adult in breedingplumage or a juvenile.

Chlidonias hybrida
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Recorded on 41%
of summer waterbird counts. Day(1975) saw a pair of terns (either
WhiskeredorWhite-winged)atEvergreen Ranch in February andMarch 1972. Most subsequent records
were for dams on the northern
extension. Often solitary but also two or
three together. Up to five were counted
during CWAC.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
00?

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
70?
White-winged TernThick-knee, Spotted
Burhinus capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread,mainly in open grassy habitats. Solitary,in pairs or small groups (≤5). Twelve
were recorded along the main tourist
route and the approach road toKareekloof resort during a nocturnal
survey in rainy conditions on 8
December 2022. S. Wolff recorded
breeding in December 1973 (Day1975).

Whiskered Tern

Tern, White-winged
Chlidonias leucopterus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Recorded on only 6% ofsummer waterbird counts. Day (1975)
saw a pair of terns (either Whiskered orWhite-winged) at Evergreen Ranch in
February and March 1972. An individual

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
33
13
6*
132

Spotted Thick-knee

Cape Rock Thrush

Thrush, Cape RockMonticola rupestris

Thrush, Groundscraper
Turdus litsitsirupa

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding resident. Widespread, mainly
in steep-slope and summit montane
grassland and kloof bush. Solitary, inpairs and up to three together. Juvenile
birds were recorded in February 2022
and parents were seen with a juvenile
at Kiepersol camp on 8 December
2022. Breeding was also reported forJanuary, September, and November(Day 1975, BIRP 2012). Thirteen wereringed at various localities. A young
male ringed at Kareekloof on 22 May
1999 was recaptured as an adult in thesame vicinity on 15 July 2005
(SAFRING).

Vagrant. Recorded for August during
BIRP. D. Koen subsequently found an
individual in steep-slope grassland near
Diepkloof on 16 March 2021 and wesaw one in the same habitat near
Elandsvlakte on 23 August 2021.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
1
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
33
52
36*

Groundscraper Thrush

133

Thrush, Karoo
Turdus smithi

REPORTING RATES
20181995-2003
19702023
1972
0
1
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Widespread in wooded
habitats across the original reserve.
The only record for the northern
extension is from the garden of theruinedKoppieskraal
homestead.
Usually solitary, occasionally in pairs,
one group of three. Suspectedmovements as none of the 51 ringed
individuals
wererecaptured(SAFRING).

[No map]
Thrush, Sentinel RockMonticola explorator LC, NT
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Altitudinal migrant. Mainly found insummit montane grassland with
scattered records for lower altitudes. A
BIRP record for December may be amisidentification of a Cape RockThrush. Recorded during May to
October 1971 by Day (1975) but for lowlying grassland and kloof bush. Quite
different to our experience. Usuallysolitary, occasionally two together.
Seventeen were recorded along the
tourist route on 23 June 2022.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
47
29
78*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
21
30
12*
Karoo Thrush

Thrush, Kurrichane
Turdus libonyana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. There was one record each for
January and August during BIRP and
15 for four pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2, most recently
on 21 April 2023.

Sentinel Rock Thrush

134

Tinkerbird, Yellow-fronted
Pogoniulus chrysoconus

solitary or in pairs. Breeding wasreported for December (BIRP 2012). An
individual,
presumably
ringedelsewhere,wasre-trappedatKareekloof. None of the 20 birds ringed
on the reserve were recaptured(SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. S. van Nierop recorded an
individual near Holhoek in November
1970 (Day 1975). ID logged a record ina patch of kloof bush in the samegeneral area on 31 May 2018, the only
recent report despite an abundance ofsuitable habitat. There were four
records during BIRP and none forpentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
49
28
54*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
2
2*

Ashy Tit

Turaco, Purple-crested
Tauraco porphyreolophus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. We recorded an individual in
kloof bush near Steenbok Hut on 13
February 2019, the suggestion that it
might be an escaped aviary bird is
discounted. The bird was not ringed andhas since been recorded in the same
area by us (8 February 2021, 18 March
2021, 19 November 2021, 13
December 2021, and 15 November2022) and others (J. Kinghorn 13
November 2022). Not something
expected of an aviary bird unsuited tolife in the wild.

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Tit, Ashy
Parus cinerascens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Found in wooded
habitat throughout the reserve but
mainly in kloof bush and sweet thorn
savannah in the south and west; absent
from the northern extension. Usually
135

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
800Cape Vulture

Wagtail, Cape
Motacilla capensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Purple-crested Turaco

Vulture, Cape
Gyps coprotheres EN, EN

Resident; has bred. Widespread and in
all habitats except summit montane
grassland. Almost invariably found nearwater. Solitary or in pairs, occasionally
three together. Up to 26 were recorded
during CWAC. Day (1975) reporting
breeding in August. Two were ringed(SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Day (1975) reported irregularsightings of two or three on the cliffs
above Elandsvlakte in September toDecember. Our ten subsequent records
show no obvious seasonal pattern. One
to six were seen.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
84
75
58*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
4
2
6

Cape Wagtail

136

Warbler, Chestnut-vented
Curruca subcaeruleum

wetlands with reed beds. Ten wereringed (SAFRING).

J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
11<1
0

Resident; has bred. Widespread inwooded habitats but most common in
kloof bush and sweet thorn savannah.
Usually solitary but up to four seen
foraging in the same area. S. Wolff
reported breeding in January 1972 (Day1975). Approximately 60 individuals
were ringed of which six wererecaptured (1 month-6 years later)where they were originally trapped(SAFRING).

Common Reed Warbler

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
88
58
46*

Warbler,
Yellow

Dark-capped(African)Iduna natalensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. We recorded an individual
along a small bracken bordered stream
through low rocky hills above Duiker hut
on 20 February 2020.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1
0
0

Chestnut-vented Warbler

Warbler, Common Reed
Acrocephalus scirpaceus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Intra-African migrant. Heard mainly
during October to March but with one
record for September during BIRP.
Widespread but largely restricted to137Warbler, Great Reed
Acrocephalus arundinaceus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Day (1975) recorded one at
Evergreen Ranch in March 1972; at thattime the only area in the reserve with areed bed. There is a further record for
December during BIRP. CWJ recorded
one calling from a stand of poplars justeast of the reserve on 28 February
2008. There were four records for four
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 7 November
2021.

Dark-capped Yellow Warbler

Warbler, Garden
Sylvia borin
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Widespread and in
all habitats except summit montane
grassland, typically close to drainage
lines. Also recorded throughout thereserve by Day (1975). Secretive andlikely to have been under-recorded.
Three were ringed near Holhoek inJanuary 1971 and another in March of
the
same
year
northeastof
Elandsvlakte (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
3*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
8<1
10*Great Reed Warbler

Warbler, Icterine
Hippolais icterina
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. One was mist-netted by S.
Wolff at Schoongezicht in January 1972
(Day 1975). Three sightings werereported during BIRP, but given the

Garden Warbler

138

timing of migration, records for May and
September are likely errors and havebeen excluded. The only recent record
is for woodland in the vicinity of theDiepkloof visitor (administrative) centre
on 8 March 2018. There were two
additional records for a pentad thatoverlaps the reserve during SABAP2.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
80
29
3*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
1<1
4*

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Warbler, Little Rush
Bradypterus baboecala
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Possible resident. Restricted to streams
and wetlands, mainly on the northern
extension.

Icterine Warbler

Warbler, Lesser Swamp
Acrocephalus gracilirostris

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
13
2
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Restricted to reed
beds, most of which are on the northern
extension. Usually detected on call.
Occasionally seen foraging around thebase of emergent vegetation. Day(1975) only includes a single record for
Valsfontein in November 1970. An adult
was recorded with young at a nest on
30 September 2022. One was ringed in
the Elandsvlakte area (SAFRING).

Little Rush Warbler

139

Warbler, MarshAcrocephalus palustris

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0<1
0

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Warbler, Willow
Phylloscopus trochilus

Palearctic migrant. Probably overlooked. Two were caught in mist nests
on Boschhoek in December 1971, andanother was seen at Evergreen Ranchin March 1972 (Day 1975). Our records
were for woodland around Kiepersol
camp and sweet thorn savannah in thewest. Most identifications were basedon call.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Palearctic migrant. Widespread inwooded habitats but mainly in kloof
bush and sweet thorn savannah.
Usually solitary but sometimes several
together. Two were ringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
7<1
5*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
23
26*

Marsh Warbler

Willow Warbler

Warbler, Sedge
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Waxbill, Black-faced
Brunhilda erythronotos

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant. There was just one record
during BIRP and only four for two
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 17 March2022.

Breeding resident. Mainly found insweet thorn savannah. Solitary, in pairs
and small groups (≤11). A pair wasrecorded on Schoongezicht in October
1971 and at the time there was
speculation that these were escaped
140cage birds (Day 1975). ID saw parents
feeding young in a nest on 11 March
2021. Fourteen were ringed in the
Kareekloof area and two, inexplicably,along the ridge between Blesbok andSteenbok huts (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
29
14
2
Blue Waxbill

Waxbill, Common
Estrilda astrild
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats but usually in longgrass and often, but not invariably, nearwater. No obvious preference for kloof
bush reported by Day (1975). Solitary,in pairs, small groups and larger flocks(20-60). Juveniles were observed in
March and April 2019 and adults wereseen with young on 6 April 2022. Day(1975) also recorded breeding but
provided no further details. One was
ringed (SAFRING).

Black-faced Waxbill

Waxbill, Blue
Uraeginthus angolensis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Almost exclusively recordedin sweet thorn savannah with one
record for kloof bush. Solitary, in pairs
or small groups (≤10).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
88
30
58*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
29
2
0

141

Common Waxbill

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Waxbill, Orange-breasted
Amandava subflava

Waxbill, Violet-eared
Granatina granatinus

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding resident. Widespread. Foundin all habitats except kloof bush andonly once in summit montane
grassland. Usually near water. Flocksize is highly variable. The largest,
estimated at 120, was seen on 21 May
2019 with a total of 181 for the day.
Daily tallies exceeding 100 are notconsidered unusual. Adults were seen
with young in April to July. Day (1975)
also recorded quite large flocks andbreeding in April.

Resident; has bred. Restricted to sweetthorn savannah. Solitary, in pairs andsmall groups (≤5). Day (1975)
speculated that the pair recorded twice
on Schoongezicht in 1971 were
escaped cage birds. Given the broader
bushveld bird community on thereserve, including species such as the
Sabota Lark not typically kept byaviculturists, this explanation is unlikely
to be correct. Breeding was reported in
May during BIRP. Twenty-five wereringed in the Kareekloof during 20052006.
Four
were
subsequently
recaptured (3-5 months later) in thesame vicinity (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
63
20
28*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
22
6
7*

142

Violet-eared Waxbill

Cape Weaver

Ploceus capensis

Weaver, Southern Masked
Ploceus velatus

Weaver, CapeJ F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding visitor. Recorded in all months
but occurrence outside the breeding
season is unpredictable. Widespreadand found in all habitats but with few
sightings in kloof bush which Day(1975) reported was favoured. Usuallysolitary, but also in small groups (≤6).
Nest building was recorded during
October to December. Day (1975)
noted breeding during November toMarch. Thirty-five nests were counted inpalm trees at the entrance to the derelict
Kareekloof resort on 10 November
2022. Over 80 were ringed but none
were recaptured despite multi-yeartrapping effort (SAFRING).

Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats. Solitary and insmall groups. Active nest building wasobserved between August and January,
newly completed nest in February andjuveniles in March. Day (1975) recorded
breeding between November andMarch. Over 350 were ringed of which
seven were subsequently recaptured(1-12 months later) in the same vicinity.
Three that were ringed on 29 March
1998 in the Elandsvlakte area wererecaptured at Schoongezicht, 10km
away, on 22 May 1999 (SAFRING)
suggesting some flock cohesion.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
88
78*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
36
46
54*

143

Southern Masked Weaver

Thick-billed Weaver

Weaver, Thick-billed
Amblyospiza albifrons

Wheatear, Capped
Oenanthe pileata

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Visitor. Recorded in most months but
their distinctive finely woven nests have
yet to be discovered. Most records arefor the Diepkloof area but widespreadand found in all habitats with small
streams. Noticeably absent from large
wetlands on the northern extension.
Usually solitary or in small flocks (≤7)
but 90 were counted in four flocks near
Evergreen Ranch on 19 March 2021.

Breeding visitor. More than 80% ofsightings were during July-November.
Widespread in grassland. Solitary, inpairs or loose aggregations (≤10) in
burnt grassland. Up to 30 recorded on asingle visit but likely many morepresent. Previously uncommon, Day(1975) includes just one sighting ofseveral in burnt grassland in the southof the reserve in August 1971. Breeding
activity including courtship displays andcarrying of nesting material wererecorded in August to October, adults
with young were seen in September toNovember and juveniles in November
and December. Two were ringed at the
Kareekloof gate on 30 June 2005
(SAFRING), an area which otherwise
has few records for this species.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
39
2
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
59
46
3*

144

Capped Wheatear

Mountain Wheatear

Wheatear, Mountain
Oenanthe monticola

White-eye, Cape
Zosterops virens

J F M A M J J A S O N D

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Breeding resident. Widespread but
absent from kloof bush, a favoured
habitat according to Day (1975), andonly found on the periphery of sweetthorn savannah. Solitary, in pairs andsmall groups (≤4). Day (1975) reported
more than 20 in a square mile (2.6km2).
Nineteen were counted along 30km of
the tourist route on 17 May 2021. An
adult repeatedly entering the eaves of
Diepkloof visitor centre/administrativebuilding with insect prey on 11 August2022 was presumed to be feeding
nestlings. Breeding was also reported
for October during BIRP. Pied, grey anddark male morphs are all present. One
was ringed (SAFRING).

Breeding resident. Widespread inwooded habitats. Solitary or in groups(≤40). Flocks of up to 50 were reported
by Day (1975). Seen carrying nestingmaterial on 10 November 2022. Three
individuals ringed at various localities
were subsequently recaptured (1 day-1
year later) in the same vicinity but one
moved approximately 1.5km over 13
months. Over 200 were not recaptured
despite a multi-year trapping effort(SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
97
77
90*

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
92
95
62*

145

Whydah, Long-tailed ParadiseVidua paradisaea
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Probable resident. Widespread andfound in diverse habitats, but mainly insweet thorn savannah. Males with their
distinctive humped tails were usuallyfound individually but one group
comprising two males and a female wasrecorded on 14 December 2021. Day(1975) only recorded individuals at
Schoongezicht between March andMay. Its host, the Green-winged Pytila,
is common in sweet thorn savannah.
One was ringed (SAFRING).

Cape White-eye

Whitethroat, Common
Corruca communis
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. CWJ recorded a fleeting
glimpse of one in low scrubby bush nearturnoff to Ouhout camp on 30
November 2021. Not otherwise
recorded for pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
24
21
6

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
10
0Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Whydah, Pin-tailed
Vidua macroura
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Common Whitethroat

Resident; probably breeds. Widespreadand found in all habitats often nearwater. Solitary, in pairs and small
146

groups. A flock of 45 recorded on 24
May 2021 was exceptional. Common
and Orange-breasted Waxbills, primaryand secondary hosts of this species,
are abundant and widespread. Aerial
displays by males were observed.
Three were ringed (SAFRING).

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
3<1
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
58
50
62*

Shaft-tailed Whydah

Widowbird, Fan-tailed
Euplectes axillaris
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Pin-tailed Whydah

Probable resident. Restricted to
streams and wetlands in plains
grassland and old lands. Individual
displaying males were most obvious but
one flock comprising a male and six
presumed females was recorded in
November 2022.

Whydah, Shaft-tailed
Vidua regia
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Vagrant. Restricted to sweet thorn
savannah. Reported for September
during BIRP and seen on 17 August
2004 by reserve staff. Two males (onewith a long tail) were subsequently
recorded along a dry drainage line
together with various other seedeaters
at Schoongezicht on 17 March 2022. A
lone male was seen in the same areaon 6 April 2022. Violet-eared Waxbill isa localised and uncommon hostspecies.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
2
0

147

Widowbird, Red-collared
Euplectes ardens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats but restricted towatercourses in rocky shrubland.
Solitary, in small groups and at times inlarge flocks (>100). An adult was seen
feeding young on 17 March 2022.
Breeding was also reported during
October and January-March (Day 1975,
BIRP). Twenty were ringed (SAFRING).

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Widowbird, Long-tailed
Euplectes progne
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
93
75
42*

Breeding resident. Widespread andfound in all habitats except kloof bush.
Solitary and in small groups but also inlarger flocks of 30-50. A courtshipdisplay was observed on 10 November
2022. Breeding was also recorded in
October and January-March (Day 1975,
BIRP 2012). Twenty were ringed(SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
100
92
76*

Red-collared Widowbird

Widowbird, White-winged
Euplectes albonotatus
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident; has bred. Widespread ingrassland and sweet thorn savannah.
Solitary and in small groups (≤5).
Displaying males conspicuous inbreeding plumage but females and nonbreeding males likely overlooked

Long-tailed Widowbird

148especially when in mixed species
flocks. Breeding reported for January(BIRP).
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
30
18
0Green Wood-hoopoe

Woodpecker, Cardinal
Dendropicos fuscescens
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Resident. Found in wooded habitats
throughout the reserve. Usually solitary
but up to three together. Movement
apparently limited. Of the 12 ringed,
three were recaptured (2 months to 3
years later) either at the original capturesite or within 2km (SAFRING).

White-winged Widowbird

Wood-hoopoe, Green
Phoeniculus purpureus
J F M A M J J A S O N DREPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
57
16
23*

Resident. Widespread in wooded
habitats. Solitary and in groups (3-5).
Recaptures of ringed birds suggest
sedentary and possibly territorial. Threeof 11 ringed in the Kareekloof area were
subsequently recaptured (2 months tomore than 7 years later) in the same
vicinity, one four times in just over a
year (SAFRING).
REPORTING RATES
20181995-2003
19702023
1972
58
8
0

Cardinal Woodpecker

149

Woodpecker, Golden-tailed
Campethera abingoni

Fieldwick and P. Tattersall who
observed a pair about 1km east of the
Holhoek Picnic Site on 20 July 2003
(Pretoria BirdNet). Three further
sightings
werereported
duringSABAP2; the first by C. Summersgill on
27 June 2010 in the southeast of thereserve and the other two by D.
Oosthuizen on 25 May 2018 and 14
December 2018 for which no further
details could be obtained.

J F M A M J J A S O N D
Visitor. Mainly found in kloof bush in thesouth and around Diepkloof. Usuallydetected on call.
REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
14
1
0

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
0220*Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Woodpecker, Ground
Geocolaptes olivaceus LC, NT

Ground Woodpecker

Woodpecker, Olive
Dendropicos griseocephalus

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Vagrant.
An
individualwasphotographed by N. Horn in the
woodland at Kareekloof resort between
2008 and 2012.

Possibly locally extinct. Day (1975)
recordedscatteredsightings
ofindividuals, breeding in August and asighting of juveniles in December. It
was still considered to be a fairly
common breeding resident in the 1980s(Anon 1986). D. Koen subsequently
found the species at Blesboklaagte
several times, but not in recent years.
Four sightings (March, July, andAugust) were reported during BIRP.
One of these may have been by R.
150

Species
confirmation

requiringBush-shrike, Grey-headed
Malaconotus blanchoti
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were two records for two pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 15 August
2018.

Olive Woodpecker

Wryneck, Red-throatedJynx ruficollis

Camaroptera, Grey-backed
Camaroptera brevicaudata

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were four records for two pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 1 October
2016.

Resident; has bred. Widespread butwith few records for summit montane
grassland and rocky shrubland.
Solitary, occasionally in pairs, once
three together. Breeding recorded in
February by Day (1975). Seven wereringed at various locations, one wassubsequently recaptured (7 months
later) in the same vicinity (SAFRING).

Canary, Brimstone
Crithagra sulphurata
Day (1975) reported scattered sightings
throughout the reserve, and it wasconsidered a scarce but possibly
resident species in the 1980s (Anon
1986). These records might have been
more easily dismissed as erroneoussightings of Yellow Canaries were it notfor two specimens that were apparently
ringed in the Schoongezicht area on 19
February 2000 and 17 March 2001
(SAFRING). We did not record thisspecies and there were only threerecords for two pentads on the
periphery of the province during
SABAP2.

REPORTING RATES
2018-2023 1995-2003 1970-1972
95
61
64*

Red-throated Wryneck

151

Cisticola, Pale-crowned
Cisticola cinnamomeus

There were three records for two
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 10
December 2019.

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were nine records for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 10 February
2019.

Grebe, Black-necked
Podiceps nigricollis
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were four records for two pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 5 October
2018.

Courser, Temminck’s
Cursorius temminckii
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were three records for threepentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 27 May
2018.

Greenbul, Sombre
Andropadus importunus
A specimen was reportedly ringed
north-east of Elandsvlakte on 5 July
1998 (SAFRING). This species was notrecorded by Day (1975), during BIRP,
by us nor during SABAP2 and may be adata capture error.

Drongo, Fork-tailed
Dicrurus adsimilis
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were seven records for two
pentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 9 July 2023.

Heron, Black
Egretta ardesiaca
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were four records for two pentads
that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 20
November 2022.

Eagle, Long-crested
Lophaetus occipitalis
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were three records for threepentads that overlap the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 8 November
2019.

Jacana, African
Actophilornis africanus
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were three records for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 14 March
2023.

Flamingo, Lesser
Phoeniconaias minor
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
152Lark, Flappet
Mirafra rufocinnamomea

SABAP2, most recently on 18 August
2019.

This species was not recorded by Day(1975). The single record for December
duringBIRP
wassubsequently
removed from the project database(BIRP 2012). A lark observed by CWJ
in high circular flight with fluttering wings
over sweet thornveld in the Kareekloof
area on 20 February 2020 may havebeen this species but was not seen wellenough to confirm. There were norecords for any pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2.

Quail, Harlequin
Coturnix delegorguei

Pelican, Great White
Pelecanus onocrotalus VU, LC

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were two records for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 15 August2015.

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There was a single record for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 10 February
2019.
Roller, Purple
Coracias naevius

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There was a single record for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 29 January
2017.

Tchagra, Black-crowned
Tchagra senegalus

Pigeon, African Green

Not recorded by Day (1975). There
were six records during BIRP
(Harebottle et al. 2004) but these were
subsequently removed from the project
database (BIRP 2012). Hearing a CapeRock Thrush mimic the distinctive call of
this species in the Kareekloof on 10
May 2021 raised doubts about our two
records (November 2018 and 2019),
both based on call. There were 33
records for five pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2, most recently
on 1 December 2022. Future surveys
should focus on obtaining visualconfirmation of this species occurrence
within the reserve.

Treron calvus
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There was a single record for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 24 May
2021.
Plover, Kittlitz’s
Charadrius pecuarius
Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were two records for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
153

Vulture, White-backed
Gyps africanus CR, CR

Erroneous records

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There was one record for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 14 April
2022.

Ostrich, Common
Struthio camelus
This species does not occur within thereserve. The single record for BIRP
(Harebottle et al. 2004) is presumed to
be for an individual or flock on aneighbouring property.

Wagtail, African Pied
Motacilla aguimp CR, CR

Spurfowl, Natal
Pternistes natalensis

Not recorded by Day (1975), during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) nor by us.
There were two records for a single
pentad that overlaps the reserve during
SABAP2, most recently on 16 October
2015.

Not recorded by Day (1975). There wasonly one record during BIRP
(Harebottle et al. 2004) and this was
subsequently removed from the project
database (BIRP 2012). We did notrecord this species and there were norecords for any pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2.

Weaver, Village
Ploceus cucullatus
There is potential for confusion with
Southern Masked Weavers. This
species was not recorded by us or Day(1975). Two of the three records for
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) were likelyof birds in eclipse plumage and all threerecords were subsequently removed
from the project database (BIRP 2012).
It is more difficult to account for the 21
individuals that were ringed at
Evergreen Ranch, Kareekloof and near
Elandsvlakte between 1998 and 2003.
However, all the reported males were
captured in June by which time they are
expected to have moulted out of their
distinctive breeding plumage. There areseven records for two pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2, themost recent on 10 June 2023.

Bush-shrike, Orange-breasted
Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
Not recorded by Day (1975). The tworecords for August and October during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) were
subsequently removed from the project
database (BIRP 2012). We heard one
unconvincing call on 22 October 2019 in
the vicinity of Kareekloof. There wereno records for any of the pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.
Chat, Buff-streaked
Campicoloides bifasciatus
Not recorded by Day (1975). The four
records for July-September during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004) were
subsequently removed from the project
database (BIRP 2012). We did not154record this species and there were norecords for any pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2.

Francolin, Coqui
Campocolinus coquiDay (1975) recorded an individual
adjacent to the reserve at Heidelberg
Kloof in 1970. The single record for
February during BIRP (Harebottle et al.
2004) was subsequently removed fromthe project database (BIRP 2012). We
did not record this species and there
were no records for any pentads thatoverlap the reserve during SABAP2.

Courser, Bronze-winged
Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Not recorded by Day (1975). The single
record for February during BIRP
(Harebottle
et
al.
2004)
was
subsequently removed from the project
database (BIRP 2012). We did notrecord this species and there were norecords for any pentads that overlap thereserve during SABAP2.

Harrier, Western Marsh
Circus aeruginosus

Crow, CapeNot recorded by Day (1975) or during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004). An
individual was seen foraging over thedrainage line east of the Diepkloof gate
on 3 February 2006 by CWJ. The record
was not accepted by SABAP2. There
were no other records of this species forany pentads that overlap the reserve
during SABAP2.

Corvus capensis
Not recorded by Day (1975). The four
records for September and Marchduring BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004)
was subsequently removed from the
project database (BIRP 2012). We did
not record this species but there is one
record for a pentad that overlaps thereserve on 10 June 2008 during
SABAP2.

Hawk, African Cuckoo
Aviceda cuculoides

Finch, Cut-throat

Not recorded by Day (1975) or during
BIRP (Harebottle et al. 2004). There
was a single sighting by reserve staff on
12 July 2007. No further details areavailable. We did not record thisspecies and there were no records forany pentad that overlaps the reserve
during SABAP2.

Amadina fasciatus
Not recorded by Day (1975). There wasa single sighting by reserve staff on 18
January 2006. No further details areavailable. We did not record thisspecies and there were no records forany pentad that overlaps the reserve
during SABAP2.

155

Marais, E., and Peacock, F. 2008. The
Chamberlain Guide to Birding inGauteng. Centurion: Mirafra Publishing.

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Guide toReserve.
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156

Summit montane grasslands in spring after fires

Leucistic Kalahari Scrub Robin

Juvenile Cuckoo Finches

157