WITWATERSRAND BIRD CLUB Affiliated to PROGRAMME 01/2021 Birdlife South Africa FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN BRIEF

Date Activity Leader Venue January 2021 9 Saturday Outing André Marx Northern Farm Nature Reserve 16-17 CWAC Weekend Barbi Forsyth Nylsvley Nature Reserve 21 Thursday Evening Samantha Ralston-Paton Zoom Online Talk Meeting 22-24 Nylsvley Woodland Bird Friends of Nylsvley Nylsvley Nature Reserve Census 23 East Rand CWAC Werner van Goethem Rolfs Pan, Bullfrog Pan, Parkhaven 23 West Rand CWAC Johan de Jager De Pan, Carletonville 24 East Rand CWAC Awie Coetzee Elandsvlei & Varkfontein Pans 30 East Rand CAR Werner van Goethem Rayton 31 East Rand CWAC Awie Coetzee Marievale, Blesbokspruit February 2021 6 Saturday Outing Matthew Axelrod Faerie Glen Nature Reserve 9&11 Evening Course Lance Robinson Zoom Online Course 15 Monday Outing David Munslow Bryanston Country Club 13 Saturday Afternoon Linda van den Heever Zoom Online Talk Meeting 18-23 Long Weekend Away EcoTraining Guides Makuleke Concession, Kruger Park 21 Sunday Outing Werner van Goethem Devon Grasslands March 2021 6 Saturday Course Alfie Curling Zoom Online Course 10 Wednesday Outing Dave Bentley Marievale 13 Saturday Outing Grant Egen Moeka Wetland 18 Thursday Evening WBC AGM and Rick Nuttall Zoom Online AGM and Talk Meeting 20-23 Long Weekend Away Andy Featherstone Ezemvelo Nature Reserve April 2021 7 Wednesday Outing Karin Wiesler Random Harvest Nursery 11 Sunday Outing Grant Egen Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve 17 Saturday Afternoon Diana Cowen Zoom Online Talk Meeting 24-27 Long Weekend Away Lance Robinson Sediba Game Lodge May 2021 2 Sunday Outing Allan Weideman Doornspruit Farm 5 Wednesday Outing Grant Egen Pretoria Botanical Gardens 15 Saturday Outing Andy Featherstone Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve 20 Thursday Evening Professor Andrew McKechnie Zoom Online Talk Meeting

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WITWATERSRAND BIRD CLUB Affiliated to PROGRAMME 01/2021 Birdlife South Africa FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN BRIEF

EVENING / AFTERNOON MEETINGS

Club Meetings and Courses will be held online using Zoom until further notice Myths and Misconceptions – Wind Thursday 21 January 2021 Samantha Ralston-Paton Energy and Birds The amount of power generated from wind turbines in South Africa is set to increase almost six-fold over the next ten years. What does that mean for our birdlife? Popular media dealing wind energy and its impacts on birds is fraught with conflicting messages. Are more birds killed by cats, cars and windows, or are wind turbines really a threat to our wildlife? BirdLife South Africa’s Birds and Renewable Energy Project Manager, Sam Ralston-Paton, helps unravel fact from fiction and discusses what can be done to make clean energy, greener.

Saturday 13 February 2021 Linda van den Heever The Vulture Project – an overview

After 15 years in the corporate world, Linda van den Heever resigned to pursue her passion for conservation and the natural world. She joined BirdLife South Africa in 2013 and has been in her current role as Vulture Project Manager since 2018. She represents BirdLife South Africa on the National Vulture Task Force, the National Wildlife Poisoning Prevention Working Group (NWPPWG), the National Lead Task Team (a working sub-group of the NWPPWG) and the Bearded Vulture Task Force. Her main responsibilities focus on the mitigation of lead poisoning in vultures, and the implementation of Vulture Safe Zones. Linda will give an overview of the current plight of our Southern African vultures.

61st Annual General Meeting followed Thursday 18 March 2021 WBC AGM and Rick Nuttall by Birds & Birding in the Memel Area

At this meeting, the President and the Committee to hold office for the year 2021 will be elected. Please join us online for the AGM and celebrate with our winners of the annual Diamond Award and Bearded Vulture Award (in honour of the late Steven Piper). This will be followed by a talk on the Birds and Birding in the Memel area by Rick Nuttall. The Memel area combines grasslands with the Drakensberg Escarpment and contains populations of many of our endemic species of birds. Rick was based at the Bloemfontein Museum for a number of years and has extensive knowledge of this area which he will share with us.

Birds – Myths and Legends from Saturday 17 April 2021 Diana Cowen around the world.

Diana Cowen: Teacher, musician, storyteller and bird lover. Diana has spent most of her professional life in education. She is passionate about enhancing all aspects of life and learning through story. Join Diana for an afternoon of storytelling – sit back, relax and let your imagination do the travelling. Facing the furnace: what does global Professor Andrew Thursday 20 May 2021 heating mean for Southern African McKechnie birds? Andrew McKechnie co-leads the Hot Birds Research Project (HBRP), a team of ornithologists spanning three South African universities, the South African National Biodiversity Institute and a network of overseas collaborators. The focus of the HBRP’s research programme is understanding the ways in which climate change is affecting birds and predicting the future impacts. This talk will provide an overview of the ways in which increasing temperatures are affecting southern Africa’s desert birds, and the changes we expect to see over coming decades. Climate change poses a substantial threat to our birdlife, with arid regions like the southern Kalahari likely to see substantial losses of avian biodiversity unless the current rapid pace of global heating is slowed.

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DAY / WEEKEND OUTINGS AND COURSES

Target Bird Challenge

Target birds are not necessarily the most elusive, prettiest or rarest birds to be found. We encourage you to read up beforehand and get to grips with our nominated target birds; share your newly acquired knowledge with your fellow members and in this way, we all learn something new. Please note that the overall objective is to learn more and to have fun, therefore no prizes will be awarded for spotting the target bird on the day.

9 JANUARY 2021 / SATURDAY OUTING NORTHERN FARM NATURE RESERVE Northern Farm has a wide range of habitats with a number of dams and large expanses of grassland. The reserve is particularly good for raptors with Black Sparrowhawk, African Fish-Eagle and Long-crested Eagle regularly seen. Northern Farm is also an excellent area for Orange-breasted Waxbill as well as the many waterfowl that frequent the dams. Route: From Randburg take the R512 Malibongwe Drive past Cosmo City and Cosmo City shopping centre. At the traffic lights at the top of the hill, turn right onto the R114 towards Diepsloot. After 9km, the entrance is a white gateway on the left with a “City of Johannesburg Northern Farm” sign. Once through the gate meet at the parking area. Book: [email protected] GPS: S25°56'15.41", E27°59’19.74" Meet: 07h00 at the parking area Cost: There is an entrance fee payable, details to be confirmed Leader: André Marx SABAP2: Pentad 2555_2755 Target Bird: Black Sparrowhawk 16-17 JANUARY 2021 / CWAC WEEKEND NYLSVLEY NATURE RESERVE Nylsvley floodplain is spectacular when it is in flood. This 16 000 hectare floodplain, which floods every 3 to 4 years, has been registered as a RAMSAR site due to the importance it has for waterfowl in South Africa. Of the 365 bird species recorded in the Nylsvley area, 104 are water birds and, of those, 87 breed here in the wet years. Specials to look out for include Little; Dwarf and Eurasian Bittern, 15 species of duck and goose, Allen’s Gallinule, Lesser Moorhen as well as seven species of Crake and Rail, to mention a few. Besides the water birds, the bushveld surrounding Nylsvley also offers great birding, with 8 species of Owl being recorded and a chance of seeing the spectacular Orange-breasted Bushshrike and Crimson-breasted Shrike amongst the 200 other bushveld species found here. Route: Travel on the N1 and take the Mookopong / Naboomspruit turnoff. Turn left and follow the road until meeting up with the old road. Turn left towards Nylstroom and proceed about 10km southwards until Boekenhout station turnoff. THEN Continue on the dirt road over the N1 and then the railway line. Continue straight for about 2km. Nylsvley is well sign posted and the gate is on your left. OR Travel on the N1 North. At the Kranskop Toll Plaza, take the R33 Nylstroom exit. Travel into Nylstroom. At the crossing with R101, turn right in the direction of N1 - Pietersburg and Naboomspruit. Near Middelfontein, turn left towards Naboomspruit. Take the R101 and turn right to the Boekenhout station. Book: [email protected] GPS: main gate S24°38’50.8”, E28°39’49.0” Meet: 07h00 on Saturday Leader: Barbi Forsyth SABAP2: Pentad 2435_2840

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22-24 JANUARY 2021 / WEEKEND AWAY WOODLAND BIRD CENSUS AT NYLSVLEY NATURE RESERVE Venue: Nylsvley Nature Reserve Friday 22 – Sunday 24 January 2021 Programme: Friday: 15h00 Team route allocation; 18h00 supper & training Friday 18h00 – Saturday 18h00: 24-hour biodiversity bash Saturday 06h00- 08h00 22nd Woodland Bird Census Saturday night: Bird-themed Pub Quiz with prizes. Route: Travel on the N1 and take the Mookopong / Naboomspruit turnoff. Turn left and follow the road until meeting up with the old road. Turn left towards Nylstroom and proceed about 10km southwards until Boekenhout station turnoff. THEN Continue on the dirt road over the N1 and then the railway line. Continue straight for about 2km. Nylsvley is well sign posted and the gate is on your left. OR Travel on the N1 North. At the Kranskop Toll Plaza, take the R33 Nylstroom exit. Travel into Nylstroom. At the crossing with R101, turn right in the direction of N1 - Pietersburg and Naboomspruit. Near Middelfontein, turn left towards Naboomspruit. Take the R101 and turn right to the Boekenhout station. Book: Marion: Tel: 012 667 2183 / 083 455 1736 [email protected] GPS: main gate S24°38’50.8”, E28°39’49.0” Cost: R750 per person payable by Friday 8 January 2021. Bank details and items to bring will be sent when you book. Meet: 15h00 on Friday 22 January 2021 for team route allocation Co-ordinator: Lance Robinson SABAP2: Pentad 2435_2840 23 JANUARY 2021 / SATURDAY EAST RAND CWAC EAST RAND PANS Rolfe’s Pan, Bullfrog Pans & Clearwater Pans Book: Werner (082 462 7108) as attendance is limited to a few participants. GPS: 26°10'16.3"S 28°13'13.1"E Meet: 07h00 – Thembelihle, 1 Michael Place, Yaldwin Road, Jet Park Leader: Werner van Goethem (082 462 7108) 23 JANUARY 2021 / SATURDAY WEST RAND CWAC DE PAN, CARLETONVILLE Route: From Johannesburg travel west on the N14 towards Ventersdorp. At the junction with the R41/R500 turn left, continue on the R500 past the R41 intersection and the entrance to the pan is 2.5 km on the left-hand side. Book: Johan de Jager (082 376 9675) as numbers taking part are limited GPS: 26°13’49.0”S, 27°25’14.3”E Meet: 07h00 Leader: Johan de Jager 24 JANUARY 2021 / SUNDAY EAST RAND CWAC EAST RAND PANS Elandsvlei & Varkfontein Pans. Book: Werner (082 462 7108) as attendance is limited to a few participants. GPS: 26°00'32.2"S 28°25'27.1"E Meet: 07h00 at the Caltex Garage, R25 / R50 intersect, Bapsfontein Leader: Awie Coetzee 30 JANUARY 2021 / SATURDAY EAST RAND CAR COUNT RAYTON Route: route GB03 (Bapsfontein to Rayton). Book: Werner (082 462 7108) as attendance is limited to a few participants. Meet: 07h00 – Caltex Garage, R25 / R50 intersect, Bapsfontein Leader: Werner van Goethem (082 462 7108)

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31 JANUARY 2021 / SUNDAY EAST RAND CWAC MARIEVALE, BLESBOKSPRUIT Marievale has recently been added to the East Rand’s CWAC portfolio and always produces a good array of water birds. As this is a large area to cover for a CWAC count volunteers are welcomed. Route: Take the south. At the Klipriver/Nigel off-ramp turn left towards Nigel on the R550. About 20 km further, turn right at a T-junction to Nigel (M63). Continue through Nigel to Marievale on the (Delmas Road). To enter through the main entrance (about 5km from Nigel), pass the turn-off at Union Carriage and over the Blesbokspruit bridge, turn left into a marked gate (just after Holgatfontein/Nigel sign) heading towards the Conference centre, turn right onto a dirt track and continue past the Hadeda hide, continue straight to the gate. Turn left and then right towards the picnic area. Book: Werner (082 462 7108) GPS: S 26°21’27.40″ E 28°30’56.17″ (Picnic area) Meet: 07h00 Leader: Awie Coetzee 6 FEBRUARY 2021 / SATURDAY OUTING FAERIE GLENN NATURE RESERVE Faerie Glen Nature Reserve is probably the best suburban birding reserve in Pretoria encompassing the western edge of the Bronberg Mountains, areas of bushveld and the Moreleta Spruit floodplain. The reserve is accessed by various paths and walking trails and contains both bushveld and grassland birds such as Chestnut-vented Tit- Babbler, White-throated Robin-Chat, Crimson-breasted Shrike and Cape Grassbird. Route: From the N1, take the Atterbury turn-off to the east left back across the N1. At January Masilela (General Louis Botha) Avenue turn left and follows the directions to the reserve. The reserve will be on your right-hand side just after Glenwood Road. Book: [email protected] GPS: S25° 46’ 31.53” E28° 17’ 27.76’ Meet: 07h00 at the parking area Cost: An entrance fee is payable Leader: Matthew Axelrod SABAP2: Pentad 2545_2815 Target Bird: White-throated Robin-Chat 9,11 AND 13 FEBRUARY 2021 BIRDING BASICS COURSE WITH LANCE ROBINSON If you are keen on learning more about birds and birding and have always wanted to develop one of the correct habits of looking at a bird, or need a refresher, then this Birding Basics Course is just what you have been looking for. Lance Robinson will present the course. The theory will be covered on Tuesday 9th and Thursday 11th followed by a practical session will be held at a local birding spot on Saturday 13th February (COVID-19 regulations permitting) to apply the theory from the course. This will be discussed at the time of the course. Book: [email protected] Time: Online 19h00 9 & 11 February via Zoom Cost: R250 members, R300 non-members 15 FEBRUARY 2021 / MONDAY OUTING BRYANSTON COUNTRY CLUB Bryanston Country club is situated in the heart of Johannesburg. Despite the urban setting, it is a hive for bird activity with a confirmed bird list of 140 species. The area around the 8th and 9th holes seem to be particularly popular for birds, so keep an eye out for Owls, Raptors and African Green Pigeons. Route: Take the William Nicol off- ramp on the (N1) highway (western bypass), travel in an southerly direction towards Sandton on William Nicol (R511). At the third set of traffic lights turn right into Bryanston Drive, cross over Grosvenor Road and you will find the country club on your right-hand side. Book: [email protected] GPS: 26° 3'48.91"S, 28° 0'41.25"E Meet: 07h00 – location to be confirmed Leader: David Munslow

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SABAP2: Pentad 2600_2800 Target Bird: African Green Pigeon 18-21 FEBRUARY 2021 / LONG WEEKEND AWAY MAKULEKE, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK This northern-most section of the Kruger National Park holds seventy-five percent of the biodiversity found in the region and is on the bucket-lists of keen birders and naturalists alike. Visitors come in search of a trove of sought-after species like Pel's Fishing Owl, Racket-Tailed Roller and Arnot's Chat, but always leave with so much more than just a pencilled-in checklist. And almost always leave a sliver of their soul behind. Route: Travel to Punda Maria Gate. Further route details to follow Book: [email protected] GPS: 22.7373° S, 31.0105° E (Punda Maria Gate) Costs: Rates: R5,400.00 per person sharing for 3 nights/4 days Rates Include: Accommodation, three meals daily, Specialist Guides, Walks and Game Drives Rates Exclude: Beverages (beers, ciders, soft drinks), entry to Kruger Park. Meals: Early morning wake-up (tea, coffee, biscuits, fresh fruit and cereal). Brunch after activity (cooked breakfast and fruit salad). Afternoon tea (light lunch I sandwiches). Dinner (balanced, warm plated meal with meat, vegetables and salad) Accommodation: The sleeping arrangements at all our camps consist of two people sharing per safari tent (en suite, linen provided). Single requests are required to pay double rates. Women and men do not usually share tents. Meet: To be confirmed when booking is finalised Co-ordinator: Andy Featherstone SABAP2: Various Target Bird: Pel's Fishing Owl 21 FEBRUARY 2021 / SUNDAY OUTING DEVON GRASSLANDS The Devon Grasslands are an outstanding area of Highveld grassland containing many sought-after local specials. The area is crisscrossed with a number of dirt roads giving views across large areas of the rolling grasslands. Birds to be looked for at this time of year include flocks of Amur Falcons and Black-winged Pratincoles. Secretary bird, Blue Korhaan. Montagu’s and Pallid Harriers are also possible and many larks, pipits and cisticolas are always present. Route: Take the N3 South out of Jo’burg and turn eastwards onto the (tolls applicable) towards Leandra. Continue on the N17 for 68km until you reach the and turn left to Devon. Meeting point will be just beyond the intersection of the R548 and the N17 next to the small pan on the left-hand side of the road. Book: [email protected] GPS: S26°22'10.9", E28°46'54.3" Meet: 07h00 at intersection Leader: Werner van Goethem (082 462 7108) SABAP2: Pentads 2630_2845; 2630_2840; 2625_2845 and 2625_2840 Target Bird: Orange River Francolin 6 MARCH 2021 / SATURDAY COURSE BROWN EAGLES OF SOUTHERN AFRICA WITH ALFIE CURLING Alfie Curling has been a birding specialist and wildlife guide for over 15 years. He has had a lifelong passion for birds, learning bird names from when he could talk. His passion for birds has taken him all over the country. He is the founder of the weekly South African Bird ID E-mail group that helps improve birders bird knowledge and ID skills. Identifying the Brown Eagles and other confusing raptors. The objective of the course is to learn the important identification features of the Brown Eagles and other confusing raptors that will teach you to easily tell them apart. We will be comparing the similar species and pointing out the key identification factors. Book: [email protected] Time: Online 14h00 via Zoom Cost: R150 Members, R195 Non-Members

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10 MARCH 2021 / WEDNESDAY OUTING MARIEVALE BIRD SANCTUARY Part of the Blesbokspruit RAMSAR site, Marievale’s large tracts of open water and reedbeds always have interesting birds on offer whatever the season. Early April is an excellent time for migrating waders and if water levels are right there should be plenty on show. Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint are all regular visitors. In addition, other potential birds for the area include African Marsh Harrier, Marsh Owl and African Rail. Marievale is also regularly visited by the occasional vagrant Western Marsh Harrier. Route: Take the N3 south. At the Klipriver/Nigel off-ramp turn left towards Nigel on the R550. About 20 km further, turn right at a T-junction to Nigel (M63). Continue through Nigel to Marievale on the R42 (Delmas Road). To enter through the main entrance (about 5km from Nigel), pass the turn-off at Union Carriage and over the Blesbokspruit bridge, turn left into a marked gate (just after Holgatfontein/Nigel sign) heading towards the Conference centre, turn right onto a dirt track and continue past the Hadeda hide, continue straight to the gate. Turn left and then right towards the picnic area. Book: [email protected] GPS: S 26°21’27.40″ E 28°30’56.17″ (Picnic area) Meet: 07h00 at the picnic area Leader: Dave Bentley (0832534995) SABAP2: Pentad: 2620_2830 Target Bird: African Rail 13 MARCH 2021 / SATURDAY OUTING MOEKA WETLAND The Moeka wetland is on the Soutpanspruit in North West province, situated between the Carousel and Borakalalo Nature Reserve. The Moeka area can be as productive as the Zaagkuildrift Road and there are many roads in the area on which to bird. Tswaing crater is south of Moeka and is also a good birding spot which could be visited on the same day. As there is a safety concern with Tswaing, enquire beforehand. Route: Take the N1 North past Pretoria. From the Total Petroport, travel 24km and turn left onto the R734 (Off-ramp 183 Hammanskraal). Continue 1,5km to the R101 and turn right at a set of traffic lights. After 400m, turn left onto Harry Gwala Ave and continue on this road for 5.1km up to a T-junction. Turn left on the M21 (Soshanguve) and continue for 22.4km. Turn right onto Bushveld Rd (M39?). Travel for approx. 18,4km and meet on the left-hand side of the road. Book: [email protected] GPS: S25° 19’ 21.9” E28° 00’ 44.8” Meet: 06h00 Leader: Grant Egan SABAP2: 2515_2800 and 2520_2800 Target Bird: Marsh Warbler 20-23 MARCH 2021 / LONG WEEKEND AWAY EZEMVELO NATURE RESERVE The reserve is situated on the Bankenveld, a transition zone between the grassland biome to the south, and the savannah to the north. The bird list (286) therefore comprises species from both biomes. For the enterprising LBJ sorters, as many as seven lark species and four different pipits can be located here. Shelley’s Francolin may tantalize you with their “I’ll drink YOUR beer” call. Aardvark and Aardwolf may also be encountered. Route: (± 75km from Pretoria) Take N4 eastwards to just beyond Bronkhorstspruit. Turn left onto the R25 off-ramp to Bronkhorstspruit and Groblersdal. Travel towards Groblersdal for 4,5km and turn right towards Vlakfontein. Follow the Ezemvelo signs (a dirt road), until the reserve is reached some 20km further. Book: [email protected] GPS: 25°42'30.2"S 28°55'49.3"E Meet: 18h00 on 20 March 2021 in the camping area Cost: Tbc – camping and chalet options will be available Leader: Andy Featherstone SABAP2: Pentad 2540_2855 Target Bird: Striped Pipit

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7 APRIL 2021 / WEDNESDAY OUTING RANDOM HARVEST NURSERY Linda de Luca’s love of nature and dedication to all things natural has led to the farm becoming a haven for a multitude of birds and other wildlife. The nursery is laid out on meandering paths. After the walk, why not treat yourself to a range of freshly prepared cakes and tea, or coffee, at the tea garden? Optional Buffet breakfast with early morning drink included is also available. Please book for the breakfast separately as there is limited kitchen staff on duty. Route: From the N1 take Beyers Naude off-ramp and travel north along Beyers Naude Drive for 9.4km. Signpost for Random Harvest: turn right into Valley Road for 950m and then left into Lake View Drive for 2km. Random Harvest will be on your right. Book: [email protected] GPS: S26° 01’ 48” E27° 53’ 40” Meet: Meet in the parking area 08:00 Leader: Karin Wiesler SABAP2: Pentad 2600_2755 Target Bird: Southern Boubou 11 APRIL 2021 / SUNDAY OUTING VAALKOP DAM NATURE RESERVE Located 50km north-west from Brits, Vaalkop is renowned in local birding circles for the diversity and sheer number of birds. The reserve encompasses the 1045 ha Vaalkop dam which, because of its dynamic water levels, support a rich and diverse water bird community. Woodland birding in the surrounding bushveld is equally rewarding, offering many elusive specials and endemics. The added attraction of the Elands and Hex rivers, the wooded slopes of Bulkop Hill, agricultural landscapes and reed-lined settling ponds makes Vaalkop one of the prime birding spots in the region. Route: Travel north on the N1 and take the N4 towards Rustenburg. Pass through 2 toll gates, take the Brits / Sandton (R511 off ramp) and turn right (north). Travel straight through brits towards Thabazimbi. Turn left at the Sun City signs (44km from the N4. At the T-junction, turn right and proceed for 11km. the entrance is sign posted on the left. From Johannesburg the more direct route via the R511 from Fourways is possible. Book: [email protected] GPS: 25°18'33.5"S, 27°28'57.5"E Meet: 08h00 at the gate Cost: There is an entrance fee payable Leader: Grant Egen SABAP2: 2515_2725 Target Bird: Great Sparrow 24-27 APRIL 2021 / LONG WEEKEND AWAY SEDIBA GAME RESERVE Sediba Lodge is a privately owned game farm and nature reserve, situated just outside the town of Brits, in the North West province of South Africa. Spanning an area of just over 500 hectares the reserve has a wide variety of fauna. The reserve has over 280 identified bird species. and flora in a serene and picturesque setting. Route: From Randburg take the R512 past Lanseria. At the Broederstroom T-junction turn left. Turn right at the Sun City/ Brits turn-off and cross over the bridge over Hartbeespoort Dam. At the T-junction turn right towards Brits/ Sun City. At the 4-way stop turn left towards Brits R512. At the next stop turn right onto the R512. Proceed to and through Brits and turn left onto the R511 to Thabazimbi. Travel 17 km from the outskirts of Brits to the stop street at the railway line. Cross over the railway and travel 4km. Turn right (signposted Sediba and Dikhololo) onto the Veekraal road (sand road). Sediba is 13km from the intersection. The gate is locked at all times. A code for the main gate will be issued the week before arrival and will only be advised to those going. Book: [email protected] GPS: 25⁰22’00.13”S 27⁰43’37.55”E Meet: 18h00 on 24 April 2020 for the weekend planning Cost: R1350pp sharing, R290pp single supplement (limited no), R490pp camping Leader: Lance Robinson

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SABAP2: Various 2 MAY 2021 / SUNDAY OUTING DOORNSPRUIT FARM Doornspruit farm is situated in the Doornspuit conservancy. It is a 450 ha property bordering Askari with some game species. The farm consists of mostly mountainous habitat and if we are very lucky we could get the Yellow- bellied Greenbuls. Reaching the Greenbuls will however entail a great amount of walking which will be arduous. Normal birds include both buntings, both Tchagras, etc. The Farm is situated between Magaliesburg & Hekpoort on the R560 Route: Tbc Book: [email protected] GPS: Tbc Meet: 8h00 at entrance Leader: Alan Weideman 5 MAY 2021 / WEDNESDAY OUTING PRETORIA BOTANICAL GARDENS The Garden, which is surrounded by urban development, offers a much-needed green area and corridor for wildlife in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. The ridge that runs through the Garden, the natural grassland and lawned areas containing beds of indigenous plants, offer a habitat for many animal species. Over 220 bird species have been listed for the Pretoria NBG, including various hawks, falcons and kestrels. The garden is home to many colourful birds including Malachite Kingfisher, Green Wood-hoopoe, Crested Barbet, Black-headed Oriole, African Paradise Flycatcher, Bokmakierie and Violet-backed Starling. The artificial wetland directly north of the Mokha Restaurant caters for species such as Thick-billed and Southern Masked Weavers, Common Moorhen, and Reed Cormorant. On the grasslands and lawn areas Crowned and Blacksmith Lapwings, Spotted Thick-knee and Helmeted Guineafowl are to be seen. Medium difficulty walk, some steep gradients There are toilet facilities. Lawns for picnics, Coffee shop & restaurant on site. Route: Heading north on N1 to Pretoria, take the M6 Lynnwood exit and turn right over the highway. Directly after the highway turn left onto M16 Meiring Naude Road (keep right to avoid turning back onto N1 south). Follow M16 to T-junction and turn left onto Cussonia, the entrance to the gardens is 300m along on the right. From the N4 East towards Pretoria, take the M14 Watermeyer St exit, turn left onto Watermeyer St and left again onto M16 Cussonia Ave, travel 2.2 km and the entrance will be on the right. Book: [email protected] GPS: 25°44'22.4"S 28°16'24.3"E Meet: In the car park at 08h00 Cost: There is an entrance fee payable. Leader: Grant Egen SABAP2: 2540_2815 Target Bird: Brown-backed Honeybird 15 MAY 2021 / SATURDAY OUTING SUIKERBOSRAND NATURE RESERVE The Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is a well-known site where both the grey and black colour forms of the Mountain Wheatear occur. The reserve is a great place at this time of the year for winter migrants and Sentinel Rock Thrush can be common. Other early winter migrants to look out for include the Fairy Flycatcher and the occasional Yellow-breasted Pipits. Route: To Suikerbosrand. Take the N3 south towards Heidelberg and Durban and then the R550 (signposted Suikerbosrand) Nigel/Lenasia off-ramp. Turn right onto the R550 towards Lenasia. Follow for 6.6km. Turn left at the Suikerbosrand signboard and travel to the main entrance. Approx. 1 hour from Randburg. Book: [email protected] GPS: S 26°27'17" E 28°13'22" (Suikerbosrand NR) Meet: 08h00 at the Diepkloof picnic & parking area, past the entrance gate. Cost: There is an entrance fee payable.

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Leader: Andy Featherstone SABAP2: Pentad 2625_2810 + Programme Planning: Karin Mitton – Conservation Activities: Lance Robinson Courses: Fiona van Zyl - Meetings: Diana Cowen Atlassing: Andy Featherstone

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SABAP2/ BIRDMapping

Calling all BIRDMAPPERS!

Andy Featherstone, Wits Bird Club SABAP2 coordinator, has organised the following exclusive atlas days that all members can participate in:

Saturday 18 January 2021 Sunday 18 April 2021 Sunday 7 February 2021 Saturday 8 May 2021 Saturday 27 March 2021

Please e-mail [email protected] with your contact details and Observer number (if you are a registered Observer). If you are interested in becoming an Observer, send your details to Andy and he will assist with the process of getting you started. You do not have to be a registered observer to take part, anyone keen to participate can join in and act as a “spotter”.

Atlassing/ BIRDMapping adds a whole new dimension to your birding and is a contribution, through citizen science, to a better understanding of our bird life!

GLOSSARY:

BBD – BIRDING BIG DAY: The annual BirdLife South Africa Birding Big Day is a fun, yet competitive day for South Africa’s birdwatchers, both beginners and competitive twitchers, while at the same time raising much- needed funds for the organisation’s important bird conservation and bird species monitoring work. Anyone can take part, anywhere in South Africa. Get a group of fellow birders together and visit your favourite birding spot; get the family together for a day out or just enjoy the birds in your garden. Let’s put the BIG back into Birding Big Day.

CAR - COORDINATED AVIFAUNAL ROADCOUNT: Large, conspicuous birds offer the opportunity to monitor their populations by using the road count technique where observations are made from vehicles covering fixed routes. The counts take place twice a year, once in midsummer and once in midwinter. Comparisons can then be made.

CWAC - COORDINATED WATERBIRD COUNT: a programme of regular mid-summer and mid-winter censuses at a large number of South African wetlands. All the counts are conducted by volunteers; people and organisations with a passion for water bird conservation. It is one of the largest and most successful citizen science programmes in Africa, providing much-needed data for water bird conservation around the world.

IBA - IMPORTANT BIRD AREA: The designation of a locality as an IBA means that it satisfies at least one of a set of strict criteria that define it as a site of importance for birds, thus providing scientific backing for the conservation argument and facilitating legal protection.

SABAP2 –SECOND SOUTHERN AFRICAN BIRD ATLAS PROJECT: the follow-up on the Southern African Bird Atlas Project (for which the acronym was SABAP, and which is now referred to as SABAP1). The first atlas project took place from 1987-1991. The current project is a joint venture between the Animal Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town, BirdLife South Africa and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). The project aims to map the distribution and relative abundance of birds in southern Africa and the atlas area includes South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. SABAP2 was launched in Namibia in May 2012. The second atlas project started on 1 July 2007 and plans to run indefinitely. The fieldwork for this project is done by more than a thousand volunteers, known as citizen scientists - they collect the data from the field at their own cost and in their own time and as such, they make a huge contribution to the conservation of birds and their habitat. The unit of data collection is the pentad, five minutes of latitude by five minutes of longitude, squares with sides of roughly 9 km. There are 17000 pentads in the original atlas area of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, and a further 10000 in Namibia.

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NOTES

1. Always consult a map before leaving home or the AA for routes, tollgate costs and road works. GPS coordinates (where applicable) have been sourced from the internet or from the venue and it should be noted that accuracy, completeness, reliability, usability or suitability cannot be guaranteed. WBC assumes no responsibility for incorrect results or damages resulting from the use of the data. 2. Entrance fees may apply at some venues and these may have been revised by the time of publication. 3. Before the walk, please advise your leader of any medical problems. 4. If you have booked for a weekend away/ outing/ event requiring payment, but you are unable to attend and if you haven’t cancelled before the due date, you are still liable to pay the Club. We have to pay the venues very shortly after the due date mentioned in the programme. Too many losses are incurred because members are neither cancelling nor paying for their bookings. If your payment is not received by the due date, we will have to cancel your booking/ reservation. 5. PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR WEEKENDS AWAY AND OUTINGS You may make your payments for weekends away and other outings in any of the following ways: a. Preferably pay directly into the Wits Bird Club Bank account and email deposit slip to [email protected] Banking details as follows: BANK – NEDBANK CRESTA BRANCH CODE: 191-305 ACCOUNT NO: 1913 257 789 NAME OF ACCOUNT: WITS BIRD CLUB b. Bring your cheque or cash to the WBC office between 09h00 and 15h00 on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. c. Please note NO CREDIT CARD FACILITY. d. Please assist the Club to minimise exorbitant banking fees by paying by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) wherever possible.

RULES REGARDING BOOKINGS AND PAYMENTS OF OUTINGS:  A booking for an outing or weekend away will only be confirmed once a deposit has been received;  If the cost is below R1000, payment in full must be paid on booking;  If the cost of the outing/weekend is over R1000 a 50% deposit must be paid on booking;  In all cases 25% will be non-refundable to cover costs;  The final 50% must be paid one week prior to the closing date;  Non-members accompanied by members are welcome. For weekend outings and courses, an additional administration fee of 20% may be payable.

NB: Grading of outings - distance to be walked or steepness of terrain Most outings are grade we will therefore only show grades  and  on the programme Please note the following:

 An easy stroll suitable for people of all ages and abilities  A comfortable but slightly challenging walk (e.g. uneven terrain with some gradient)  A strenuous / challenging walk (fairly long distances covered, or steep gradients, or difficult terrain)

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: Lauraine Leigh, Wits Bird Club Office PHONE: 011 782 7267 • FAX: 086 512 7696 • EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.witsbirdclub.org.za

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