Nylsvley Nature Reserve

We left Pretoria on the morning of 1st March for our short journey to Nylsvley Nature Reserve. We arrived mid-afternoon & started to set up camp. We found a nice spot, with some shade & we set about setting up all our new camping equipment for the very first time!

Our rig!

 Delana & I decided it might be wise to go on a short trip to try out the new trailer & all our new camping gear before we head off into the wilderness. It took us longer than anticipated but in the end all was well.

Our lovely campsite.

The view from behind the campsite.

We felt rather pleased with ourselves & fell asleep listening to the calls of Pearl Spotted Owlet & Fiery necked Nightjars.

When the conditions are right, 

this is probably the best wetland birding 

in South Africa!

The wetlands are truly very extensive & impressive.

There is  wide embankment to walk along,

 making birding easy.

There are also extensive areas of marshes, 

as well as drier habitats.

Long tailed Cormorants, Cattle Egret & 

Black Heron

Squacco Heron

Spur winged Goose

Red billed Duck

Hottentot Teal

White backed Duck

Gymnogene

This bird landed close to us 

while we were in the hide!

Amur Falcon

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Yellow crowned Bishop

On the 2nd March we had a lazy time in camp & then drove around to Vogelfontein. This area has extensive wetlands & two nicely situated hides. If there is water around it will be great for birds here & so it proved!

Delana at the sign for the 

direction & distance that 

migratory birds fly.

Jacana Hide

The view from the hide.

White winged Widowbird

Zitting Cisticola

Tsesebe

Red backed Shrike

Squacco Heron

Sunset at the vlei.

The afternoon & evening was spent birding around the Jacana Hide & a vlei quite close to camp. It turned out to be a superb afternoon's birding.

Cattle Egrets & Amur Falcons.

This was quite a spectacle!

Adult male

Black winged Pratincole

African Spoonbill

Purple Heron

Lesser Striped Swallow

Golden crowned Bishop

On 3rd March it was back to Voglefontein again early morning. Another great morning out & about. The Amur Falcons being especially amazing.

It was another great days birding 

with some fantastic weather.

Amur Falcon

Adult male

Later on in the morning we went for a drive along some back roads with some very large open fields. Birding wasn't great but we did get some amazing photos of Amur Falcons on the roadside. Then it was time to leave this place. We have had a lovely time here with some nice birding & a great campsite.