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Birds of the Magaliesberg A Brits Hartbeespoort Rotary Club Preserve The Planet Project 2 Birds of the Magaliesberg 03/2014 Birds of the Magaliesberg Directions from OR Tambo International Airport The Magaliesberg is about an hour and a half drive from OR Thambo Airport, the gateway being the Hartbeespoort dam area. Take the R21-North to Pretoria. Shortly before Pretoria, turn onto the N1-North towards Polokwane and then later the N4-West towards Rustenburg. Pass through two toll gates and take the R511 off ramp, turning left into the R511. Proceed south easterly to Hartbeespoort going over the historical Silkaats Neck. After going over Silkaats Nek turn right into Hartbeespoort by remaining in the R511. From Hartbeespoort follow the signs to Brits going over the Hartbeespoort Dam wall and turn left at the Damdoryn Fourway stop and proceed up the Skeerpoort Valley to the town of Magaliesberg. © 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author. Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within. 03/2014 Birds of the Magaliesberg 3 Magalies Meander Acknowledgements Magalies Meander To discover the Magic of this unique region contact [email protected] or www. magaliesmeander.co.za for a free visitors guide,which will assist you in exploring this ancient mountain and its surrounding areas. This guide will assist you to select short walks, horse trails, hot air balloon experiences etc, and thus enabling one to experience these breathtaking natural areas, where one can discover it all for oneself and walk in the footsteps of early man. The Magaliesberg bird Checklist is available from a number of points apart from the lodges and areas of interest indicated in the text. Birdlife SA office Randburg Tel: +27 (0) 11 789 1122 Wildlife Society of South Africa Northern Areas Blackwood Road, Bryanston Tel: +27 (0) 11 462 5663 John Wesson 083 444 7649 [email protected] Renier Balt 082 460 7069 [email protected] 4 Birds of the Magaliesberg 03/2014 Acknowledgements The team would like to thank the following Compiled by John & Jenny Wesson and Renier & Millene Balt on behalf of the Brits Hartbeespoort Rotary Club, Wildlife and Environment Society of SA and Birdlife Harties. Pictures by John Wesson and Renier Balt. Maps by Renier Balt, and graphics and putting together of the booklet by Marlene McKay. Research and corrections by Lerato Tau and Sylvia Modiba (WESSA Groen Sebenza program interns), Jenny Wesson and Geoff Finney. Info based on the SABAP2 information for the region, as well as lists supplied by Prof Gerhard Verdoorn, Birdlife Harties, members of Brits Hartbeespoort Rotary Club, Peglerae Conservancy, various lodges, as well of those of many individuals including John and Jenny Wesson, Renier & Millene Balt, Alan Newton-Perry, Shaun Mcgillewie and Hennie Peters . The Project partners would like to thank all the sponsors and advertisers for their contributions, especially Richard Hughes of Sasol, the Rotary Club of Brits-Hartbeespoort and Jack Seale from Hartbeespoort Snake and Animal Park without whom the project would not have been possible. We would also like to thank Garth Hay and Rodney Reilly from Glencore Mining for their ongoing support of the conservation of the Magaliesberg. Please link to the Brits-Hartbeespoort Rotary Club website for e-lists, additions to bird list as well as photos and information on the region. www.rotarybrits.org. You can also catch up on what’s happening in the region by joining the Birdlife Harties Facebook page. 03/2014 Birds of the Magaliesberg 5 discover the magaliesberg SOUTH AFRICA 6 Birds of the Magaliesberg 03/2014 1748-Birds of the Magaliesberg.indd 1 2014/02/11 12:36 PM Birding Opportunities on the Doorstep of Pretoria And Johannesburg Birding opportunities on the and Yellow- throated Sandgrouse doorstep of two of our largest have been found in close proximity cities in South Africa - Pretoria to the mountain. This range will and Johannesburg and in one of soon become a registered UNESCO the oldest mountain ranges in the Biosphere recognising it as an area world, where it all began millions of international importance for of years ago. man and biodiversity. The Magaliesberg (historically The Magaliesberg is also a river also known as Cashan Mountains) catchment of national and is an approximately 140km long international importance. mountain range extending from Kloofs add scenic and geological Pretoria, in the north of the interest to the range, and include Gauteng Province, to a point waterfalls which run into deep rock south of Pilanesberg, in the North pools. Unfortunately most of these West Province, South Africa. The rivers are now highly polluted and range is approx 60km North of classed as endangered or critically Johannesburg. The highest point endangered. of the mountain is reached at The mountain towers over the Nooitgedacht (1852 metres) East Hartbeespoort Dam that although edge: 25°51’30”S 27°31’48”E being surrounded by intensive Western Edge: 25.8583°S 27.530°E. development, is still a haven for The Magaliesberg forms our first waterfowl and waders. It is quite major component of the Birdlife common to see large numbers SA\WESSA North West Birding of Squacco Herons sharing their route and is ideally placed for feeding grounds with African birding enthusiasts from the highly Jacanas and hundreds of Red- populated Cities to the South knobbed Coots who feed on and East of it. This registered the alien invasive plant, water Important Bird Area (IBA 025 see Hyacinth. Large flocks of White- notes) is steeped in rich cultural faced Whistling Ducks decorate and biological history. Naturalists the shallow water of the dam while have explored this region since White Pelicans may sometimes visit the earliest times and must have the deeper waters. The African stood in awe of such a beautiful Fish- Eagle is a common breeding area. It is here that the first Sable resident on the dam and during was discovered and documented summer also expect to see the in 1836 by Cornwallis Harris. The Honey Buzzard. The dense stands mountain is made up of some very of Bluegums are home to Black old quarzites of the Witwatersrand and Ovambo Sparrowhawks while complex in the Transvaal Super the Spotted Eagle- Owls also group of sediments and forms a frequent these trees. Higher up natural rift between the Highveld on the mountain slopes the Cape and the Bushveld with its warmer Eagle-Owl is a special treat and the climate. This mountain and its African Scops-owl calls all over the surroundings is endowed with montane bush. White-faced Scops some of the best bird habitats in Owl and Pearl Spotted owlets are the country (over 450 species) and regularly seen and heard in the is also home to a number of special adjacent bushveld areas and often Red Data listed species like the venturing into town and farm Cape Vulture, Black Stork, as well gardens. as the White- backed Night Heron, The Magaliesberg hosts three Cape African Finfoot, Half-collared Vulture colonies (under habitats). Kingfisher and African Black Duck These scavengers enjoy the respect that hideaway in the narrows of and support of all the inhabitants of the Magalies and Crocodile Rivers. the Magalieseberg and share their Recently White-bellied Korhaan cliffs with swallows, swifts, kestrels, 03/2014 Birds of the Magaliesberg 7 Birding Opportunities on the Doorstep of Pretoria And Johannesburg Black Storks, Cape Rock Thrushes Tips to enhance to your and many other interesting birds. Magaliesberg birding experience: Many years ago there were large Best times to bird watch are two to flocks of Blue Cranes in the region, three hours after sunrise and the especially in the open grasslands same before sunset (depending on of the Moot Valley Bushveld in the season). Care must be taken the Western side of the valley, but when climbing the mountains today they are rarely seen with only during summer months especially one or two pairs being known to in the afternoons due to rapid build occur in secluded localities. up of electrical thunderstorms. Except in the Koster area to the Summer months are more west of the mountain range where rewarding due to the presence of regular sightings occur Secretary all the migrants and the abundance birds still occur in the grasslands of food. Look out for flowering where larks and cisticolas are trees, shrubs and seeding grasses abundant. Insects in the grasslands as birds will congregate around attract large numbers of European, them. The dams and rivers provide White-fronted and Little Bee-eaters one with many opportunities to in summer and some records spot a large number of water birds even exist of Carmine Bee-eaters and canoeing down the quiet rivers around the Hartbeespoort Dam. can be very rewarding with regular During the winter months flocks sightings of White-backed Night of Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters move Heron. In the woodland areas in from the Kalahari Thornveld and listen and watch out for bird parties sporadically occur along the length as they often consist of a number of the mountain. In the more of species. Keep groups small wooded areas the Grey-headed and do not make a noise.
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