birding...

Crimson-breasted Shrike Laniarius atrococcineus ©John Dempsey http://www.jdbirdman.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

The North-West province is one of the less known birding areas of Southern Africa. However, it does not imply that there isn’t any birding to be done. The North-West is probably one of the more accessible arid areas to bird in Southern Africa. This gives birders the unique opportunity to see many of the near-endemic species of Southern Africa.

These include: Pale Chanting Goshawk, Northern Black Korhaan, White-backed Mousebird (the family is endemic to Africa south of the Sahara), Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Acacia Pied Barbet, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Southern Pied Babbler, Orange River White-eye, Marico Flycatcher, Black-faced Waxbill, Red-headed Finch, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Barred Wren-warbler, Black-chested Prinia and a host of larks including Eastern Clapper-, Fawn-coloured- and Spike-heeled Larks.

Much of the birding in the province is centered on the Game Reserves and Parks around the province. The best known of these parks is Pilanesberg Game Reserve. This park boasts a number of regional and national species. Southern Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Secretarybird and Kalahari Scrub-Robin are a few examples of the former and Cape Vulture and White-backed Heron examples of the latter. Pilanesberg is also classified as an IBA [Important Bird Area]. Other IBA’s in the region include Kgaswane Mountain Reserve, Barberspan Nature Reserve, Sandveld Nature Reserve and Bloemhof Nature Reserve.

Pilanesberg Nature Reserve is within easy reach of Johannesburg. It is approximately two hours by car from the Johannesburg International Airport. The other reserves are also easy accessible via a good maintained road system. The going does get a little more isolated if one is chasing some of the more rare specials of the province. An excellent example of this is the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse that is found in the Northam-Thabazimbi area.

This area of Southern Africa is a worthwhile extension to any trip to Southern Africa. When visiting this exciting area, be on a special look-out for the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Short-clawed Lark, Southern Pied Babbler, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Barred Wren-warbler, Short-toed Rock-Thrush, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Orange River Francolin, Pink-billed Lark and Olive-tree Warbler as these make up the top 10 birds of the province.