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The area is a bird watcher's paradise. The birds the visitor will see will be determined by the veld type, habitat and season. Nearly 300 species have been recorded. Streams, rivers and open water offer splendid opportunities to view a number of water fowl and species such as fish eagles, herons, a number of kingfishers and even the African finfoot. The forest patches are home to the Knysna Loerie, Rameron pigeons, Klaas's and Red-chested cuckoo, Knysna and Olive woodpecker. Large congregations of different species can be seen at times when the white stinkwood and Cape figs are in fruit |
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. Most species may also be seen in the bushveld on the lower mountain slopes, and along river and stream banks, |
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a habitat which also offers the opportunity of seeing a range of other species, including the Paradise flycatcher, Red-billed woodhoopoo, Brown-hooded kingfisher, Black-collared barbet, Black headed oriole, Glossy starling and 6 different species of weaver. A walk up onto the Fynbos and grassy plateaus could yield another birding bonanza with sightings of Cape sugarbirds, Stone chats, Orange-throated longclaw, Greyling francolin, Black harrier, and even Cape rockjumper. A move into the drier Karoid parts of the reserve could produce sightings of Pale chanting goshawk, Karoo korhaan, Namaqua dove, Mountain chat, Pririt batis and perhaps a Black-breasted snake eagle. The area boasts an impressive 25 number of raptor species. Ranging from the Little Sparrowhawk to Martial eagle. Others include the Crowned eagle and Black sparrowhead. |
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Eight sunbirds occur in the area. The Orange-breasted sunbird is the characteristic species in the fynbos, while the Greater double-collard and Black sunbirds will usually be found in the low-lying bushy parts. Some threatened and near-threatened species inhabit, or make use of the area at certain times of the year. These include Blue crane, African marsh harrier, Striped fluff tail, Stanley's bustard, Black harrier, Protea canary, Black stork and Pergrine falcon. |
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Common Birds in the area |
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Grey Heron Blackheaded Heron Cattle Egret Hadedah Ibis Egyptian Goose South African Shelduck Yellowbilled Duck Redbilled Teal Yellowbilled Kite Blackshouldered Kite Black Eagle Steppe Buzzard Jackal Buzzard Pale Chanting Goshawk Gymnogene Rock Kestrel Lesser Kestrel Greywing Francolin Rednecked Francolin Common Quail Helmeted Guineafowl Karoo Korhaan Black Korhaan Rock Pigeon Rameron Pigeon Redeyed Dove Cape Turtle Dove Laughing Dove Namaqua Dove Cinnamon Dove Redchested Cuckoo Black Cuckoo Jacobin Cuckoo Klaas's Cuckoo Diederik Cuckoo European Swift Whiterumped Swift Little Swift Speckled Mousebird Whitebacked Mousebird Redlaced Mousebird Pied Kingfisher Giant Kingfisher Brownhooded Kingfisher |
Hoopoo Redbilled Woodhoopoe Crowned Hornbill Blackcollared Barbet Pied Barbet Redfronted Tinker Barbet Knysna Woodpecker Cardinal Woodpecker Olive Woodpecker Rufousnaped Lark Clapper Lark Longbilled Lark Thickbilled Lark European Swallow Whitethroated Swallow Pearlbreasted Swallow Greater Striped Swallow Lesser Striped Swallow Rock Martin House Martin Brownthroated Martin Black Sawwing Swallow Forktailed Drongo Blackheaded Oriole Black Crow Pied Crow Whitenecked Raven Southern Grey Tit Southern Black Tit Capc Penduline Tit Cape Bulbul Redeyed Bulbul Terrestrial Bulbul Sombre Bulbul Olive Thrush Cape Rock Thrush Sentinel Rock Thrush Mountain Chat Familiar Chat Sicklewinged Chat Mocking Chat Anteating Chat Stone Chat |
Chorister Robin Cape Robin Starred Robin Cape Rockjumper Whitebrowed Robin Karoo Robin Brown Robin Titbabbler Layard's Titbabbler African Marsh Warbler Cape Reed Warbler Victorin's Warbler Yellowthroated Warbler Barthroated Apalis Yellowbreasted Apalis Longbilled Crombec Yellowbellied Eremomela Bleating Warbler Grassbird Greybacked Cisticola Wailing Cisticola Levaillant's Cisticola Lazy Cisticola Neddicky Spotted Prinia Namaqua Prinia Rufousearred Prinia Spotted Flycatcher' Dusky Flycatcher Black Flycatcher Fiscal Flycatcher Cape Batis Chinspot Batis Pririt Batis Fairy Flycatcher Paradise Flycatcher Cape Wagtail Richard's Pipit Longbilled Pipit Plainbacked Pipit Orangethroated Longclaw Fiscal Shrike |
Southern Boubou Puffback Bokmakierie Olive Bush Shrike Pied Starling Glossy Starling Redwinged Starling Palewinged Starling Cape Sugarbird Malachite Sunbird Orangebreasted Sunbird Lesr Doublecollared Sunbird Grtr Doublecollared Sunbird Dusky Sunbird Black Sunbird Collarcd Sunbird Cape White-eye Cape Sparrow Greyheaded Sparrow Yellowthroated Sparrow Forest Weaver Spectacled Weaver Spottedbacked Weaver Cape Weaver Masked Weaver Bluebilled Firefinch Common Waxbill Swee Waxbill Yelloweyed Canary Blackthroated Canary Cape Canary Forest Canary Cape Siskin Bully Canary Yellow Canary Whitethroated Canary Streakyheaded Canary Goldenbreasted Bunting Cape Bunting Rock Bunting |
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