SAfrican Birding Spots
Magoebaskloof
The Magoebaskloof area on the drakensberg escarpment in the Northern Province provides accessible forest birding, particularly in the De Hoek forest reserve. While the fine indigenous evergreen forests in the De Hoek and Woodbush Forest is undoubtedly the main attraction, the area has a variety of habitats including exotic eucalyptus and pine plantations, marshes and reedbeds, upland grassland and a variety of marginal habitats on forest and plantation edges.

Birds

The large protected forests contain a wide range of forest species, including specials such as Blackfronted Bush Shrike, Orange Thrush, Cinnamon Dove, Longtailed Wagtail, Starred and Chorister Robin, Scalythroated Honeyguide, Emerald Cuckoo, Knysna Lourie, Narina Trogon, Cape Parrot, Crowned Eagle, Forest Buzzard, Green Twinspot, Yellowstreaked Bulbul, Barratt's Warbler, Bluemantled Flycatcher and Grey Cuckooshrike. Sunbirds are well represented and include Collared and both Lesser and Greater Doublecollared Sunbirds. The elusive Bat Hawk is known to breed in the area.

Birding

1. Woodbush/De Hoek Forest Reserve

The best birding area is undoubtedly the forest drive. This drive allows access to a seldom used road which winds down steeply through forest and patches of exotic plantations. Travelling from Pietersburg on the R71, pass the little town of Haenertsburg. About 2 km from the Magoebaskloof Hotel, take the gravel turn to the left to Houtbosdorp. Take the first right fork to the Woodbush forest reserve which splits before taking you past a hikers hut. Shortly afterwards a much less-used road veers to the right. Follow this steep and winding road - listening for the calls of birds and stopping regularly. Most of the specials can be picked up on calls. Look out for Bluebilled Firefinch on the road and watch for raptors and Cape Parrot overhead. In winter and spring, birds are often concentrated in bird parties, and the calls of Squaretailed Drongo, Grey cuckoo Shrike or even Cape White-eyes should prompt a stop to locate the bird party and watch a variety of birds going past. Stop at breaks in the forest which provide a view across the valley and look for soaring raptors such as Crowned Eagle and African Goshawk. The entire drive down to the Debengeni Falls turnoff should take about three hours if you cover it thoroughly, and most of the specials can be recorded on this drive. The entire route is about 16 km and rejoins the main tarred road some 4 km after Debegeni. Scalythroated Honeyguide, Emerald Cuckoo, Black-fronted and Olive Bush Shrikes, Narina Trogon are all best seen with the aid of a tape recorder. Species such as Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Cape Batis and Barratt's Warbler can be inconspicuous if you are not familiar with their calls.

2. Marginal Areas.

Forest edges, gardens, farms, exotic plantations and plantation verges should not be ignored while in the Magoebaskloof area. Although lakes in the area are not too productive, marshy areas and reedbeds can also be interesting. A number of species are more easily seen in these marginal areas. These include Forest Buzzard, Longcrested Eagle, Lazy Cisticola, Rameron Pigeon, Redbacked Mannikin, Swee Waxbill and Green Twinspot. A number of forest species also venture into these marginal areas, including Greater Doublecollared Sunbird, Knysna Lourie and Gymnogene. A good walk is along the gravel road which turns to the left just below the Magoebaskloof Lodge, which is several kilometres down the pass from the Magoebaskloof Hotel. You can leave your car at the lodge and follow this road for as long as you have time, although a twenty minute stop is often rewarding.

Almost any of the many roads in the area are interesting. Forest Buzzard is often seen on telephone poles, while Rameron Pigeon seems to like pine plantations. A good road is the Rooikoppies road. This inconspicuous turnoff is about 3 km below the junction between the main Magoebaskloof road and and the De Hoek/Debegeni road described above. The road crosses a stream where Long-tailed Wagtail, Brownhooded Kingfisher and Redfaced Cisticola should be looked for. Follow the main road (the one without no entry signs!) for several km, stopping regularly. Longcrested Eagle and Jackall Buzzard are present Lazy Cisticola should be looked for near slopes with old felled plantations.

3. Marshes and Grasslands

Marsh and grassland habitats are found alongside the R528, shortly after the turnoff from the R71 jsut below Haenertsburg. At present the dam is very full, flooding an extensive reedbed holding Yellowrumped Widow (summer), Grassbird and Levaillaint's Cisticola. Nevertherless this is worth a short stop. Other species present in the area include Redwinged Francolin (grasslands) and African Rail. African Marsh Harrier, and a range of Warblers can also be found on the fringes of the Ebenezer Dam.

INFORMATION

Accomodation is available at the Magoebaskloof Hotel, Troutwaters Inn and Lakeside Chalets (camping too) and Magoebaskloof Lodge (chalets)

Go to Magoebaskloof Checklist

Magoebaskloof Trip List (6-7 September 1997)