Birding in Gauteng - NORTHERN FARMS

[Amoli]

Mma and I set out for a birding morning on Saturday.

Armed with a garmin and without bino’s.... we set out.

This site was very rewarding – different – but good. There were a lot of cyclists around, yet it didn’t seem to bother us – we were the only car.

Their two hides are newly renovated/built and in pristine condition.
I would certainly go back.

Mma was a great navigator, with book in hand she would direct me left and then right and telling me, according to the book, what to look out for.

I photographed 19 specie although we saw many more

Entrance :




One of the dams. See the hide in the background



Some roads could have easily been somewhere in the park – breathtaking



The bark on this massive tree caught my attention.




A Lifer – Red-capped Lark



African Pipit



Yellow fronted canary



Black throated canary



White throated swallow... *edit* this is a Barn swallow... Thanks Lis.



Yellow billed duck



Greater crested Grebe



Is this a spur-winged gosling?



Black shouldered kite



And our last sighting was very far, long crested eagle

[Flutterby]

Nice sightings! Looks very pretty.

[Lisbeth]

Very nice
Your white-throated swallow looks like a barn swallow to me

[Amoli]

Your white-throated swallow looks like a barn swallow to me

Lis, it could easily be.. I will check tonight and correct. Thanks for helping me.

[leachy]

great destination..

great photos !!!!



i reckon they get a lot more visitors now that they are not called "diepsloot nature reserve"

[Flutterby]

Aha...is it in Diepsloot? Nice and close for me.

[RobertT]

Close to HeronBridge school Flutts, is very big with the mountain bike cyclists over weekends.

[Amoli]

for commenting wildies...

There are roadworks on the road passed Diepsloot/Northern Farms, and you buy the tickets on the premises now.
It is also best to buy (R5) a map of the area at the office.

This coming Saturday (8 November) there is a big biking event there and the Reserve will be closed to all public.
It would be best to phone before a visit is planned.

I went mainly for the red-capped lark and the half-collared kingfisher....the kf will have to wait till next time.
They suggest very early morning for the raptors.

[Duke]

Thanks Amoli, we were there about a year ago and the hide had burned down. Glad that it rebuilt. Time to visit again

[steamtrainfan]

Wow, thanks very much Amoli. We were not even aware that this place existed.

On my "TO DO" list.

Love your duck landing.