South African Birding: Events Diary - 12 February 2024

We have scoured the web to find the best birding events around South Africa. The Events Diary is a free service for Bird Clubs and conservation organizations in South Africa. If you would like to ensure that your events are listed, please send the details to info@thebirdinglife.com. Please make sure to send the events for the week by the preceding Friday to ensure their inclusion.

To join find and join a Bird Club in your area, please visit the BirdLife South Africa website.

EASTERN CAPE

BirdLife Eastern Cape

Tuesday, 13th February Club Night (Tuesday evening)

There will be a short AGM followed by a light hearted BIRD QUIZ by Bert Ophoff

Put a team together and come show off your birding knowledge.

There will be lots of Prizes!!

Sherry and Snacks will be served.

Meeting starts at 6:30pm

St Johns Anglican Church, 8th Ave, Walmer.

Cost: please remember money for the car guard.

Info 084 515 8425 or corneerasmus24@gmail.com

FREE STATE

BirdLife Free State

Saturday, 17th  February - Glen surroundings and Op die Oewer holiday resort

Join us for an outing to one of the better birding areas close to Bloemfontein.

We will visit a Black Crake breeding site on route to the Glen area. There was a report of a possible Purple Indigo bird that we will explore. Other birds like White-winged Widowbird, Jameson’s Firefinch, Horus Swift, Abdim’s Stork, and all four Kingfishers will be some of our specific goals. We will stop at Op die Oewer holiday resort along the Modder River for brunch and to spend some time looking for birds like Little Bittern and Brown-backed Honeybird, which is a possibility in that area. 

Entry fee to the resort: R30 per person.

We invite members and friends to come and enjoy a great morning of birding and socializing.

Please contact Hanno on 083 2573736 if you would like to join and for further specific details

GAUTENG

Vaal Bird Club

Thursday 15th February - Sunday 18th February

Shanghai, private farm on the confluence of the Mogalakwena and Limpopo rivers

Contact Hennie 083 300 6915 or Rina 082 626 6990

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BirdLife Northern Gauteng

Tuesday 13th February - 7pm

The BirdLife Northern Gauteng AGM

Greek Hall in Brooklyn (Roper Street, corner of Lynnwood Rd. Parking inside at entrance in Brooks Street.)

Special Guest Speaker: Mark D. Anderson, the CEO of BirdLife South Africa.

Topic: Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds: The world’s most important bird conservation project.

Booking via Google Form: https://forms.gle/JUXybpRSNB5eLuvd7

Saturday 17th February - 05:45am for 6am

SABAP2 Pentad: 2550_2810

Leader: Marna Buys

We will be joined by the Friends of Smuts House.Cost: At entrance pay R10 parking fee per vehicle & R10pp for the trail walk.

Friends of Smuts House will collect an additional R40pp at the collection point before the walk commences.

Booking via Google Form: https://forms.gle/DQ78qwa95F99S8vp7

WEEKEND CAMP AT NYLSVLEY (COMBRETUM PARK), 23 TO 26 FEBRUARY (3 nights)

Leader: Christo VenterSelf Catering

The Nylsvley floodplain is more than 70 km long and is one of the largest of its kind in the country. The timing of the seasonal flooding is erratic but when conditions are at it's best, the Nyslvley floodplain attracts a large range of waterbirds, and some tropical species too. Even when dry, the Nyslvley floodplain offers excellent bushveld birding too. Some key species are Slaty Egret, Black Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Little Bittern, Dwarf Bittern, African Pygmy Goose, Western Marsh-Harrier, Striped Crake, African Rail and so many more. 

Accommodation for the 3 nights will be at Combretum Park.

Combretum Park covers over 1300 ha which is divided into two areas of which the camping area is about 400 ha, and the game reserve is about 900 ha. There are chalets and a camping site, communal ablutions and kitchen, a braai area and lapa, as well as a jungle gym and a lovely swimming pool.Directions: Distance: 132 kms, 1 hour 34 minutes (from Fairie Glen Pretoria)Leave Pretoria on the N1 towards Polokwane. At the Kranskop Toll Plaza, take off-ramp on left to Modimolle, At the 1st traffic light, turn right going east over the N1 highway, Drive 2km max, at signpost ‘Boekenhout’ turn left, drive 4 km until Combretum signpost on left. At gate, enter code into keypad, (you have to get out of car to enter pin), gate opens, drive through. Wait for gate to close, follow road to camp site, max 1 km.

Accommodation: Bedrooms with 2x single beds, sharing or single occupant, and camping stands. There are communal ablutions, male/female separate, outside.

• Bedrooms (single occupant) – R1,500 pp

• Bedrooms (sharing) – R1,270 pp

• Camping (tent / caravan) x 1 person – R970 (with electricity)

• Camping (tent / caravan) x 2 people – R1,870 (with electricity)

 Booking via Google Form https://forms.gle/9fg6bUesBxKmZ1Wg7

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Northern Region Bird Club Forum Event

Birding Basic Course, Presented by Lance Robinson

Venue: Theory 13th April.2024. Time 08h30 for 09h00 to 13h00.

Fiddlewoods Restaurant & Conference Centre, Inside Ryan Nurseries.

Corner Hawley & Kings Road, Bedfordview

Venue: Theory 13th April.2024. Time 08h30 for 09h00 to 13h00.

Fiddlewoods Restaurant & Conference Centre, Inside Ryan Nurseries.

Corner Hawley & Kings Road, Bedfordview

Venue: Practical 14th April, Time, and place to be confirmed

Cost per person: R600.00

Birding Basics Course: If you are keen on learning more about birds and the birding hobby and have always wanted to develop the correct habits of identifying a bird, or perhaps need a refresher, then this Birding Basics Course is just what you have been looking for. The Birding Basics Course will be held over two sessions (approx 90 minutes each) and a practical outing to develop your newly acquired skills will be arranged.

Course content includes: Reviewing the essential tools (binoculars, field guides, and how to navigate them); knowing the parts of a bird and an introduction to plumage patterns, bills/beaks, and the different avian foot structures.

The 7-habits methodology to develop in identifying birds and an overview of the key habitats where one can find different birds.

Bio: Lance Robinson is an enthusiastic observer of nature with a keen interest in birds, butterflies, and dragonflies. He is reading for a Masters in Science and currently works as an avifaunal field specialist and freelance bird guide. He's currently the Honorary President, a former chairman of the Witwatersrand Bird Club, and a past ExCo member of BirdLIfe South Africa. Lance is keen to share his birding passion with others and presents beginner’s bird courses and other birding-related presentations to bird clubs and at the annual BirdLife South Africa African Bird Fair. Lance is an active citizen scientist and an invited part-time lecturer for bird identification and bird ecology for Bushveld Experience Skills and Training (BEST).

Booking: Email: dennis.townsend4@gmail.com Please send proof of payment

Payment details: PLEASE USE FOLLOWING REFERENCE WHEN PAYING (NF Course & Surname)

BirdLife South Africa bank details:

Account Name: BirdLife South Africa

Bank: First National Bank, Randburg

Branch Code: 254005

Account Number: 6206 750 6281

KWAZULU NATAL

BirdLife Ethekwini KZN Events

BeKZN Walk - Saturday 17 February @ 6am

Venue: Amamzintoti Bird Park hosted by Adam Cruickshank

A small reserve with good birding, it has a small dam with some well-established trees around. Black-throated Wattle-eyes have been seen recently. It is known for great sightings of Half-collared Kingfisher.

Attendance at activities is FREE for paid up club members. Non-members R 50.00 p/p per outdoor activity / webinar. For information activities@bekzn.org

BeKZN Atlas - Sunday 18 February @ 6am

Venue: Complete a Pentad hosted by Dave Rimmer

Help collect important bird distribution and abundance data and be a good citizen scientist. Join Dave in atlassing a pentad or two off the beaten track and find new places to bird while giving back to the birds and having fun. 

Attendance at activities is FREE for paid up club members. Non-members R 50.00 p/p per outdoor activity / webinar. For information activities@bekzn.org

LIMPOPO

Download the BirdLife Polokwane Newsletter to find out more about their events https://www.birdlifepolokwane.co.za/index.php?action=Newsletters%20View&rid=120

MPUMALANGA

BirdLife Lowveld Events

Wakkerstroom Bird Club

NORTH WEST

BirdLife Wesvaal Events

WESTERN CAPE

Cape Bird Club Events

Tuesday, 13 February, 8am-11:30am

Kirstenbosch Bird Walk,

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.

Visitors to please bring binoculars with them to be able to see the smaller birds. The walks are free of charge, but the entrance fee for Kirstenbosch is payable. Please wear suitable clothing for the weather.   Your Leader today is Felicity Ellmore. We meet at the Information desk at Gate 1

Info Linda Hibbin 0217881528 or hibbins@telkomsa.net

Sunday, 18 February, 8am-11am

Outing Macassar Dunes Conservation Area

Macassar Dunes Conservation Area, Tie Road, Macassar, Cape Town

Meet at 08h00. The Macassar Dunes Conservation Area is 1116ha in size and is one of the 24 official City of Cape Town Nature Reserves within the metropole. The vegetation consists of Cape Flats Dune Strandveld. We can expect to see bush birds, waders, and shorebirds. Directions: From the N2 take exit 38. At the junction turn right onto the M9/Macassar Road towards Firgrove. Turn left onto Tie Road, cross the bridge over the Eerste River and follow the road past the waterworks to the parking area at the coast, where we meet. Bring refreshments and chairs.    

Info Joel Radue 0842164346 or joel@theradues.co.za

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Tygerberg Bird Club Events

Thursday, 15 February, 7:30pm

Monthly meeting – at Tygerberg Nature Reserve, Welgemoed.

Speaker: Gerald Wingate

Topic: The Cape Bird Club ‘Birding BIG Year!!’

The Cape Bird Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a Birding Big Year challenge that took place within the boundaries of the City of Cape Town in 2023. All observations recorded on Birdlasser were made available to the Biodiversity Department of the City. Gerald had fun chasing down birds on many twitches during the year. This was a unique event, and really good birds were seen!! See

parts of Cape Town that you have never visited before!!! Not to be missed.

Info Brigid Crewe brigidcrewe1@gmail.com

Saturday 17 February @ 7am

Outing: West Coast National Park

Speaker: Gerald Wingate

Contact: Brigid (082 5700 808)

Follow the R27 West Coast Road from Melkbosstrand, past the Yzerfontein/Darling turnoff – after 10km, reaching the entrance to the park. Entrance fee of R74, or Wildcards valid. Notice will go out – as to where we are birding first. Get to main gate by 6h45, as the park is popular in Summer. Day is long, so remember drinks, hat and picnic.

OTHER

https://www.pakamisa.co.za/