{"id":392,"date":"2017-11-12T10:49:33","date_gmt":"2017-11-12T10:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/?p=392"},"modified":"2024-08-15T10:16:43","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T10:16:43","slug":"rietvlei-nature-reserve-birding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/rietvlei-nature-reserve-birding\/","title":{"rendered":"Rietvlei nature reserve birding &#8211; Trip report"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Rietvlei nature reserve birding. It is located in Pretoria and is about 4,000 hectares in size. Located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam. The roads in the reserve are well maintained and serve the public for game viewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned before, I prefer to visit birding sites where I can stay in my car and look for birds. My main reason for this is security. Walking alone in the bushes is looking for trouble with an expensive camera. And Rietvlei is just that. You are only allowed outside your car at designated places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-7709226522417656\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"autorelaxed\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7709226522417656\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"7555211683\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>The Reserve is made up of a number of different habitats which make for some exciting bird watching. Grassland habitats make up the bulk of the habitats. The two dams on the reserve (with bird hides) provide open water and wetland habitats. Through Rietvlei Nature Reserve are clumps of indigenous trees. Exotic trees are also found throughout the reserve but these are systematically removed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>60km of well-maintained tarred and dirt roads cris-cross the Reserve and allow access to the various habitats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LBJ\u2019s (little brown jobs) are difficult to ID, but I managed to photograph a view LBS\u2019s at Rietvlei such as the Levaillant\u2019s Cisticola and Buffy Pipit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"http:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater.jpg 849w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption>White-fronted Bee-eater<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"856\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Lark.jpg\" alt=\"Rofous naped lark Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-395\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Lark.jpg 856w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Lark-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Lark-768x507.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 856px) 100vw, 856px\" \/><figcaption>Rufous-naped Lark<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"855\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Starling-Pied.jpg\" alt=\"Starling Pied Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Starling-Pied.jpg 855w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Starling-Pied-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Starling-Pied-768x506.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><figcaption>Pied Starling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"845\" height=\"565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Whydah.jpg\" alt=\"Pin tailed Whydah Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Whydah.jpg 845w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Whydah-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Whydah-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 845px) 100vw, 845px\" \/><figcaption>Pin-tailed Whydah<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"840\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Fiscal.jpg\" alt=\"Common fiscal Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Fiscal.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Fiscal-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Fiscal-768x510.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" \/><figcaption>Common Fiscal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"852\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kite-2.jpg\" alt=\"Black shouldered kite Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kite-2.jpg 852w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kite-2-300x196.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Kite-2-768x503.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px\" \/><figcaption>Black-shouldered kite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"851\" height=\"564\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Longclaw.jpg\" alt=\"Cape Longclaw Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-430\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Longclaw.jpg 851w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Longclaw-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Longclaw-768x509.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 851px) 100vw, 851px\" \/><figcaption>Cape Longclaw<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"844\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-European.jpg\" alt=\"Bee Eater European Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-European.jpg 844w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-European-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bee-Eater-European-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px\" \/><figcaption>European Bee-eater<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bokmakierie.jpg\" alt=\"Bokmakierie Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bokmakierie.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bokmakierie-300x189.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bokmakierie-768x484.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Bokmakierie-542x341.jpg 542w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><figcaption>Bokmakierie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"848\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Francolin.jpg\" alt=\"Red winged Francolin Rietvlei Nature Reserve \" class=\"wp-image-442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Francolin.jpg 848w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Francolin-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Francolin-768x505.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px\" \/><figcaption>Red-Winged Francolin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"846\" height=\"541\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Pipit-African.jpg\" alt=\"Buffy Pipit Rietvlei Nature Reserve \" class=\"wp-image-445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Pipit-African.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Pipit-African-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Pipit-African-768x491.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 846px) 100vw, 846px\" \/><figcaption>Buffy Pipit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"839\" height=\"561\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Cisticola.jpg\" alt=\"Levaillant\u2019s Cisticola Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Cisticola.jpg 839w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Cisticola-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Cisticola-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 839px) 100vw, 839px\" \/><figcaption>Levaillant\u2019s Cisticola<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"852\" height=\"559\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Reed-Warbler-Afican.jpg\" alt=\"African Reed-Warbler  Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Reed-Warbler-Afican.jpg 852w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Reed-Warbler-Afican-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Reed-Warbler-Afican-768x504.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 852px) 100vw, 852px\" \/><figcaption>African Reed-Warbler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"846\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Stilt.jpg\" alt=\"Black winged stilt Rietvlei Nature Reserve\" class=\"wp-image-410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Stilt.jpg 846w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Stilt-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Stilt-768x508.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 846px) 100vw, 846px\" \/><figcaption>Black-winged stilt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you like Rietvlei nature reserve for birding then you might also be interested to visit Marievale Bird Sanctuary: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/marievale-bird-sanctuary-birding\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/marievale-bird-sanctuary-birding\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is a link to my Facebook profile: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100016619924913\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/web.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100016619924913<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rietvlei nature reserve birding. It is located in Pretoria and is about 4,000 hectares in size. Located within the reserve is the Rietvlei Dam. The roads in the reserve are well maintained and serve&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[109,8,319],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-392","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-birding","category-birds-south-africa","category-gauteng","post_format-post-format-image","pmpro-has-access"],"modified_by":"Petrus Albertus Van Tonder","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=392"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8260,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/392\/revisions\/8260"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=392"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=392"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wwbirds.co.za\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=392"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}