Wider Gauteng is probably one of South Africa's most underrated birding provinces! Holding over 450 species, it is evident why some of the top Big Birding Day records have occurred in and around Gauteng.
My favorite spot has to be either Wilge River Valley or Mabusa Nature Reserve.
Wilge holds countless interesting species, producing Southern Bald Ibis regularly, Crowned Eagle, Mountain Wagtail, Olive Woodpecker, Swee Waxbill, unconfirmed Dusky Indigobird and who knows what else might show up? It is very likely that species such as Narina Trogon, Olive Bushshrike, African Emerald Cuckoo, Tambourine Dove, Square-Tailed Drongo and countless other forest species will make their first appearance deep within the valley.
Mabusa is incredible in its own right, it contains a few interesting habitats and you can manage some rare specie in the area. Bushveld Pipit, White-backed Night Heron, Short-tailed Pipit and Black-rumped Buttonquail are all tantalizing species you can expect from the area.
Now that I've gone on and on about my favorite spots, what are yours? And what are your favorite Wider Gauteng species?
I have never birded in Gauteng, I need to make a plan soon
Its really awesome and what makes it even better is how accessible the spots are
@Tristan Spurway i really need to make a plan to do a Gauteng birding trip
I was working on a farm near Roodeplaat dam, the farm borders buffelsdrift and the list was over 200 species. That was my favourite Gauteng spot, really need to go try the Mabusa you are referring to. Finfoot was my big one for the farm.