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By Faansie Peacock

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve

Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve is one of the very few reserves situated in the grassland biome on the central South African highveld. What is lacks in species diversity, it makes up for by hosting many of the South African endemics and provides a very relaxing spot for a few hours' birding.

Background: The reserve consists mainly of grassland habitats. The Rietvlei and Marais Dams on the Sesmyl Spruit provide a wealth of open water and wetland habitats, and some of the smaller inlet streams create spongy marshes. Along the Sesmyl Spruit is some dense woodland, supporting quite a different bird community. The latter habitat is especially well developed below the dam wall but this is an area of restricted access. Isolated thornveld thickets consisting mostly of Acacia karoo are found throughout the reserve. Exotic trees such as poplars, gums and wattles cover a lot of ground, but the reserve management is actively controlling these problem species.

Specials: Great Crested Grebe, Little Bittern, Cape Shoveller, Secretarybird, African Fish Eagle, Greater Kestrel, Purple Gallinule, African Rail, Northern Black Korhaan, Greyheaded Gull, African Grass Owl, Giant Kingfisher, Halfcollared Kingfisher, Greater Honeyguide, Spikeheeled Lark, Capped Wheatear, Anteating Chat, Fairy Flycatcher(winter), Desert Cisticola, Buffy Pipit, Orangethroated Longclaw, Thickbilled Weaver, Longtailed Widow and Orangebreasted Waxbill. In summer this list includes: Hobby Falcon, European Roller, Banded Martin, African Yellow Warbler, White Stork and Common Quail

Birding: The kraals and settlements near the entrance gate provide habitat for Spotted Dikkops, while the patch of Acacia trees on the left has had Crimsonbreasted Shrike. The Sesmyl Spruit can be seen far below in the valley. The best viewpoint is the bridge where you crossed over the Spruit on the way to the reserve, but this is a hazardous place to stop - you do so at your own peril! Once inside the reserve the tar road leads to a very good marshy inlet where Great Crested Grebes, Moorhens, Redknobbed Coots, African Darters, Cape Reed Warbler and Masked Weaver can invariably be found. In summer African Marsh Warbler is common at this point. The open areas on the right after this inlet are good for Pipits and roosting Dikkops. The "Ghwarrie Route" is very good for Buffy Pipit, especially if you can take one of the dirt roads. Orangethroated Longclaws are also common here.

The grasslands are full of "LBJ's" - with a little trouble these guys can be sorted out, and you will be amazed at the variety of species. Desert and Fantailed Cisticolas are the most common ones, but look for Cloud Cisticola in short, rocky grassland on ridges and Ayre's in ankle-high grass. Spikeheeled Larks are much less common than the ubiqitous Rufousnaped Larks. When there are bare, overgrazed or burnt areas Capped Wheatears move in. Don't confuse the juveniles with the European Wheatear, a rare vagrant to our region. Northern Black Korhaans and Secretarybirds are the most common large terrestrial birds, and if one observes the latter for a while, they may flush Grass Owls or Common Quails! Otherwise it is almost impossible to see these species as you are not allowed to leave your vehicle except at designated spots.

The smaller dam in the south of the reserve (Marais Dam) is very good for waterbirds. From the spacious hide one can expect to tick the usual waterbirds such as Whitebreasted and Reed Cormorants, Dabchick, Yellowbilled and African Black Ducks, Dabchicks, Egyptain and possibly Spurwinged Geese, Redknobbed Coot and Moorhen, while Black Crake, African Rail, Purple Gallinule, European Sedge and Cape Reed Warblers, Whitethroated Swallows and Little Bitterns can usually be seen. Walking along the edge of the dam, through the picnic sites and on to the dam wall, Tawnyflanked Prinias, Olive Thrush, Cape Robin, Indian Myna and Levaillant's Cisticolas are common. Right in the corner of the dam, there is a stand of Wattle trees which hosts Halfcollared Kingfisher.

The wooded vegetation along the spruit supports a totally different but distinctive bird community. Thickbilled Weavers frequent the reedbeds, and Garden and European Marsh Warblers, African Paradise Flycatcher, Cape White-eye, Streakyheaded Canary and Southern Boubou the riverine forest. Greenbacked Heron and Common Sandpiper frequent the waterside habitats. Lesser Striped Swallows hawk insects overhead. Giant Kingfisher can often be seen on the bridges.

Rietvlei dam itself is a major roosting and breeding locality and feeding area for Pretoria's waterbirds. Whitebreasted and Reed Cormorants, Dabchick, Great Crested Grebe, Cattle Egret, Redknobbed Coot and Common Moorhen abound, while Greyheaded Gull and most duck species are present in smaller numbers. Squacco Herons are sometimes present.

The felled trees and exotic stands have Greater, Lesser and Sharpbilled Honeyguide, Hoopoe, Blackcollared Barbet, Willow Warbler and Stonechat (at the edges).

Constantly check the skies for Kestrels and Falcons. They are around but often only seen by the lucky (and aware) birder. Scan the powerlines in the south for them. Greater and Rock Kestrels are the most common but Hobby Falcon is sometimes seen, especially in the late afternoon. Steppe Buzzard (summer) and Blackshouldered Kites are more common. Swallows and Swifts are very numerous, with the most interesting species being Palm Swifts (open grasslands or near Eucalypts or Palms), Brownthroated Martin (over the water and reedbeds) and Rock Martins.

A number of specials have been seen right outside the reserve and can be expected to occur within the area that is protected. Redchested Flufftail, Lesser Gallinule, Melodious Lark, Redthroated Wryneck and Wailing Cisticolas are examples of these species. They are perhaps more readily seen in the Bapsfontein area. African Crake has also been recorded at Rietvlei.

Directions: From the R21 (goes past Johannesburg International) take the Rietvlei Dam turnoff. If you are coming from the south, turn right at the crossroads and then right again to Olifantsfontein and Rietvlei Dam. After crossing the Sesmyl Spruit under the dam wall the reserve is signposted on the left. Please pay at the entrance gate.

Access: The entrance fee is currently R15 per person.

Facilities: Rietvlei Dam has a number of well-run facilities. There is a conference centre known as the "Boma" which should be booked in advance. Horse-trails and hiking trails also operate in the reserve under the watchful eye of one of the local rangers. There is a picnic site where a good bird hide is also situated on the banks of the Marais Dam. Angling is possible on the western shore of the dam but a permit should be obtained (find out at the gate). Nightdrives can also be arranged.