BIRDS

For those birders who like to do their birding on foot, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve has a wonderful mix of birds to discover. So far over 195 birds (see list) have been recorded with new surprises popping up all the time.

The reserve has a good diversity of habitats. The Bloubosspruit running north-south is straddled on either side by well wooded hills which changes to more montane grassland as one goes higher. The highest point is 1785m. (Almost the same height as Suikerbosrand). The southern side of the hills slope down to become more level and are covered in typical highveld grassland. At the southern most part of the reserve there is a small wetland along a tributory entering the Bloubosspruit from the west. The woodlands are a mix of both broadleafed trees and acacia thornbush, the acacia being in the flatter areas.

In the valley on either side of the spruit look out for Jameson's Firefinch, Red-collared Widowbird, Brown-headed Tchagra, Red-thoated Wryneck, Black-throated Canary, Bronze Mannikin, Black-chested and Tawny-flanked Prinia and Bar-throated Apalis. Brown-backed Honeybird, Bokmakierie, and Cape Robin-Chat are also regularly seen. The acacia supports a number of bushveld species, like Chestnut-vented Titbabbler, Cardinal Woodpecker, Pied Barbet and Ashy Tit, while Chinspot Batis is also being seen more regularly. Overhead, keep a look out for Verreaux's Eagle.

Some of the summer visitors include Paradise Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Red-chested and Diderik's Cuckoo, and in the denser thickets, more rarely, Icterine and Garden Warbler. In winter Fairy Flycacher moves through the wooded areas. Of course in summer the reserve is alive with seven cisticolas calling from their favourite patches. (High fives to the first to positively id Lazy Cisticola. It is lurking simewhere out there!!)

The lower grasslands support amongst others, Zitting and Cloud Cisticola, Cape Longclaw, African Pipit, Spotted Thick-knee and Orange River Francolin. Both Cape Rock-Thrush and Sentinal Rock-Thrush are sometimes seen at the top of the hill in winter and Mountain Wheatear is a regular visitor.

The wetland below the Recreation Centre is small, but on any given day it is surprising to see what turns up. From African Snipe to Green-backed Heron. Even Common Moorhen and Yellow-billed Duck seem to find enough water to stay around for a short while. In summer the reed beds are alive with Red Bishops and Levaillant's Cisticola. African Reed-Warbler can be heard warbling in the reeds.

Pied and Wattled Starlings are often seen in the acacia alongside of the wetland. African Black Duck are resident in the Bloubosspruit and Brown-throated Martins nest in the higher banks. Occasional visitors to the spruit are Hamerkop, Common Sandpiper and Three-banded Plover.