Moreleta Kloof is in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria. This small nature reserve is easily accessible and quite a range of birds can be seen by the birder who visits the mosaic of habitats to be found here. These include grassland, riverine bush, open water, reedbeds and damp grassland, Protea-veld and indigenous bushveld savannah. The Moreleta Kloof is the perfect place to practise your birding and can be a very rewarding spot. About 120 species have been recorded and you can expect to record about 40 species on a summer walk through the kloof.

A basic guide to a walk in the Moreleta Kloof (This description covers what you are likely to see and hear in the summer months, except where mentioned.)

Start at the main entrance gate in Helios street. Watch out for Fiscal Shrikes, sometimes to be seen with juveniles, perched on the fence. Enter the reserve and listen and watch for Fantailed and Desert Cisticolas in the grassland on the left. The Fantailed Cisticola (also called the Zitting Cisticola in other parts of the world) is best identified by its call and display flight. They don't usually fly more than 30 metres above the ground and are sometimes hard to see as they are so small. You will probably only be able to ID them in spring and summer when the males are displaying. Otherwise they are only a small brown bird or LBJ ( Little Brown Job ).The Desert Cisticola is less common and noticeably paler than the Fantailed. They give more rapid and irregular clicking and also have a whistling call.

Some other birds to be seen in the grassland areas around the gate include Whitewinged Widow and European and Greater Striped Swallows flying around above the grass.

The gardens and outbuildings of the house you see in front of you have attracted House Sparrow.

There is a row of Bluegum trees running down to the marsh below the house. These trees are sometimes used as roosts by European Bee-eater and occasionally Lesser Honeyguide also puts in an appearance.

If you walk down with the tarred road you will pass through some trees witch host Bushbabies which can be seen at night with a torch. Spotted Dikkops are suspected to roost under the trees.

When you reach the open grassland area just after the Acacia stand turn right and walk through the grass. Look carefully for the beautiful Orangebreasted Waxbill in the grass. They have a soft but striking double syllabled callnotes.These waxbills are parasitic and lay their eggs in the nests of Weavers and other birds after they have deserted their nests. The waxbills are quite tame and will allow close inspection.

Walk up the marsh and you will encounter hundreds of birds. They are mainly Red Bishop and Masked Weaver but there are many other birds to be seen. Look for the highly vocal and evident Thickbilled Weaver which had only recently extended their ranges to the highveld. Cape Weavers also have massive bills but are less numerous. Levaillant's Cisticolas can be seen and heard in the reeds as can Grassbird, although the latter also ventures into shrubbery near to water. A variety of reed Warblers can be found in the reeds. Of the seven warbler species recorded so far only four inhabitat reedbeds-the Great Reed, Cape Reed, African Marsh and African Sedge Warblers. The other three are not dependant on water. These are the Willow, Garden, and European Marsh Warblers. The star attraction of the marsh is a Redchested Flufftail which have been heard in the reedbeds since 1996. It is very shy and it hasn't been seen yet. It can usually be heard from 5:00 till about 8:30 in the mornings. It skulks in the dense reeds and waterlogged grasses and because of it's small size and secretive nature it is still unticked on many birders' lifelists. Redcollared Widows also abound in the reedbeds.

Cross the bridge and make sure that you are on the northern side of the stream.Walk along and enter the heavily wooded section of White Stinkwood trees.While walking through this area look for some of the birds that prefer a more wooded habitat. These include Redchested and Diederic Cuckoos, Cape Robins (their immatures can be identified by the orange and black tail patterns), Olive Thrush and Redbilled Woodhoopoe. Sometimes Helemted Guineafowls roost in the gigantic trees.Steppe Buzzard has been recorded in these trees. Exit the forest and continue upstream.

You will see a crossing through the reeds to your left. Watch and listen for Burchell's Coucal here.

In front of you is a little koppie. Turn right and walk upstream parallel to the reeds and stream. At this point you are at the junction of a variety of habitats.On your left the stream and reeds; On your right dry grassland and in front of you indigenous bushveld. As a result a variety of birds can be found here. The special is Willow Warbler which you will probably hear first and then see it. Shortly after their arrival from Europe in early summer they have a whistling song first accending and then decending in scale. The usual call is a soft "foooo-eet". They can be identified by their smallish size, call and yellow spot at the shoulder. They also have a well defined eyebrow stripe.

In the early mornings Southern Boubou and the beautiful little Jameson's Firefinch can be heard calling. Blackeyed Bulbuls bred here recently and was seen harassing Puffbacks. European Marsh Warblers can be heard singing their distinctive warble in low shrubs but they are hard to see. One way of getting a view of them is to "spishing". Spishing is a sound produced by blowing through the teeth. The inquisitive birds often leave the thick cover to see what the source of the sound is. The European Marsh Warbler's call is very much like that of the African Marsh Warbler but can be distinguished by its clear and melodious quality. It also has a very distinctive callnote- a harsh "chuck" that is given often. This warbler inhabits woodland shrub and not reedbeds like the African Marsh Warbler.

When you reach the dam you will notice a huge "pile of grass" in a big Willow tree on your right. This is in fact the nest of a pair of Hamerkops. PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB THEM! The best spot to view the waterfowl from is from the steep bank that can be reached by turning right at the stairs. Watch particularly for Moorhen,Dabchick and Reed Cormorant. In the trees above, Brownhooded Kingfisher is usually present. Common Waxbill and Bronze Mannikin abound in the grassy areas around the dam when the grass has lots of seeds.

From the dam you can go along the southern side of the stream (indigenous bushveld), or along the northern side which takes you through Protea veld and thickets along small watercourses.

If you choose the northern side you stand a good chance to see Blackcrowned Tchagra, Spotted (summer) and Fiscal Flycatcher and Blackthroated Canary. The Tchagras are to be found in the thickets that line the tiny streams that feed the main stream. The Fiscal Flycatchers are usually to be found alongside Masked Weavers in the exotic Black Wattle trees. The Spotted Flycatcher as well as the Blackthroated Canaries generally perch on the proteas as well as weedy areas where the tiny Jameson's Firefinch can also be found.

If you choose the soutern side: watch for Tawnyflanked Prinias just north of the dam and all along the northern bank especially where weedy areas occur. The Prinias have recently been sighted carrying and dropping a fecal sac. A fecal sac is a small sac in which the chicks' droppings are removed and dropped at a safe distance from the nest so that predators can't smell the nest. Watch out for Prinias with bent tails. This means they have been sitting in the confined space inside their oval woven grass nests. They typically nest in small shrubs in grassy areas. Sometimes they weave surrounding leaves into their nests.

Once well into the trees listen and watch for the Threestreaked Tchagra as well as the Blackcrowned Tchagra. Both react to tape-recorded calls. Redfaced and Speckled Mousebirds can be sighted flying in little groups from tree to tree giving their characteristic calls. Another special of this area is the Cardinal Woodpecker. It is usually to be found in mixed bird parties. A mixed bird party is a variety of birds that move around in groups. Sunbirds like the Black and Whitebellied Sunbirds, Bulbuls, Barbets, Shrikes, Finches, Weavers, Mousebirds, White-eyes, Waxbills, Firefinches, Prinias, Canaries and Warblers can all sometimes be seen together. Another uncommon special of this specific habitat is the Black Cuckooshrike with it's characteristic ringing call. Blackheaded Orioles and Forktailed Drongos can sometimes be seen. The Drongos often hawk insects from the flames of veldfires. In winter Fairy Flycatcher migrate from the Karoo and other parts of the country to spend the winter here and with a bit of luck they can also be seen.

In the grassland areas on the far western side of the Kloof look and listen for the tiny but beautiful Quail Finch. They have a characteristic bell-like tinkling call when flushed from the grass. If you do not know their call you will have problems in identifying them. You will see a large dead tree on the Northern bank, almost where Swart Street joins Helios Street. This tree is a favoured hunting perch of a Blackshouldered Kite.

Information

Directions from the N1 Highway. Take the Atterbury offramp. Drive East along Atterbury for 2,5 km. Turn right into the M33 (Genl. Louis Botha Drive) and drive for 1km until you reach the second robot. Turn left into the M30 (Menlyn Drive) and continue for 2,5 km. Turn right into Rubenstein and drive for 1km and turn right in Van Bergen street. After 400m turn right into Helios street and 100m further stop at the gate.

On to the checklist compiled by Faansie Peacock