Summerveld Birding Guide: Top Species, Coordinates, and Atlasing Tips

Birding in Summerveld has been an exciting new chapter in my birding journey. Two weeks ago, I moved from Amanzimtoti on the Upper KwaZulu-Natal South Coast to this peaceful, picturesque region in Outer West Durban. I’ve always preferred birding in more inland habitats, so this relocation has opened up a whole new world of birding opportunities.

In this article, I’ll share an overview of my atlasing progress so far in pentad 2945_3040, which covers Summerveld and the surrounding areas. I’ll also highlight some of the best birding spots I’ve discovered, including species seen, notable observations, and tips for any birder keen to explore this productive and diverse pentad. (for more information and how to improve your atlasing, listen to this podcast episode)

According to SABAP2 data, 274 species have been recorded in the pentad since the start of the project. A total of 121 full protocol atlas cards have been submitted, with the late Tim Wood recording an impressive 122 species in a single card back in 2012. Even more impressive is that Tim recorded over 100 species on 24 of his full protocol cards in this pentad. Fifty-seven of the full protocol cards submitted have 70 or more species recorded. Most of these would have been completed in a single day rather than over SABAP’s five-day period—showing the rich birding potential this pentad holds.

Tim Wood personally recorded 221 species here. Other notable totals include 161 species by Garth Aiston and 134 species recorded by both Dave Rimmer and Sarah Burns.

As with many pentads in this region, the most frequently reported species include Dark-capped Bulbul (with the highest reporting rate), followed by Hadeda Ibis, Black-collared Barbet, Red-eyed Dove, Sombre Greenbul, Amethyst Sunbird, Cape White-eye, and Southern Fiscal.

Summerveld itself is a picturesque area where life seems to move at a slower, more peaceful pace. The immediate surroundings might not boast as high a species count as some neighbouring areas, but there are still plenty of birds to enjoy. Red-eyed Dove, Fork-tailed Drongo, Southern Black-Flycatcher, Egyptian Goose, Hadeda Ibis, and Black-headed Oriole are all regularly seen. Driving around, it almost feels like there’s a Common Fiscal perched on every fence post!

Greater Double-collared Sunbird photographer along the road in Summerveld

Among sunbirds, Greater Double-collared, Amethyst, and Olive are the most commonly encountered species—and they offer many great photographic opportunities. At night, the calls of Fiery-necked Nightjars and Spotted Eagle-Owls can often be heard echoing through the area.

For the committed atlasser or birder, this pentad offers plenty of opportunity to work towards an impressive species total.

Now, let’s explore a few of the top birding spots in the pentad. Please note that this list is still a work in progress—new locations and species will be added to the article as they are explored and recorded.

1. Pipits and a view over the valley

Area A is probably one of my favourite places to bird in Summerveld. On a sunny morning, the roadside area overlooking the Shongweni Valley offers fantastic birding opportunities. You’ll likely hear more than you see, but some of the species I’ve recorded here include Olive Sunbird, Cape Batis, Terrestrial Brownbul, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Green-backed Camaroptera, Cape Robin-chat, and Red-capped Robin-chat.

Cape Robin-chats are regularly seen and heard in Summerveld

The short grass alongside the racetrack at the Jockey Academy is a great spot to scan for pipits—I’ve recorded both African and Plain-backed Pipit here. Red-capped Lark has also been observed in this area. While you’re here, keep an eye out for Yellow-throated Longclaw, and don’t forget to scan the skies for raptors passing overhead.

If you don’t manage to spot the pipits at Area A, try Area B. The small grassy patch here often hosts pipits, and the path that runs alongside it is worth checking for species like Fiscal Flycatcher and Bronze Mannikin.

When driving around Summerveld, please drive slowly and be careful of people riding horses.

Plain-backed Pipit in the short grass near the Jockey Academy Pipits and a view over the valley

2. Exploring the Cliffdale and Capital Hill Backroads

Once you start making your way out of the immediate Summerveld area, there are some fantastic birding opportunities still within the same pentad.

If you drive down Cliffdale Road and turn into D535 Road, about 100 meters after turning onto the dirt road, you’ll find an overgrown wetland on the right-hand side (Area A). Although it can be difficult to see deep into the wetland, it still adds some good species to your list. Red-faced Cisticola is often heard calling from within, and this is a reliable spot for weavers—including Village, Spectacled, Eastern Golden, and Thick-billed Weavers. Watch the farms along the road for Common Waxbill, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Bronze Mannikin, and other species that feed in the fields.

As you head up the hill past the houses, keep an eye out for Cape Rock Thrush and Mocking Cliff Chat. These birds are often spotted sitting on the rooftops.

Turn left into 62010 Street and continue up the road to a small cliff face on the right-hand side (Area B). Although houses are rapidly being built in the area, for now, it still offers some solid birding. If you spend a bit of time at the cliff face, it’s a great spot for swifts, swallows, and martins. White-rumped, Little, and African Black Swift have all been recorded here, along with Lesser and Greater Striped Swallow and Large (Rock) Martin. The nearby grasslands that climb up the slope are good for Cape Grassbird, and sunbirds are commonly seen. Listen for the calls of Cape Robin-Chat, Speckled Mousebird, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, and Rufous-naped Lark from the valley below.

At the end of the road, you’ll reach a quarry (Area C). If you park just outside the quarry gate, this can be a productive stop for finches and other seedeaters. I’ve seen African Firefinch and Cape Sparrow feeding on the grasses and perched along the fence line.

If you backtrack and turn left onto Capital Hill Road, you’ll notice a large, rocky hillside on your left (Area D). This is another excellent place to scan the skies for swifts, swallows, and martins. In winter, Sentinel Rock Thrush has been recorded here. Also take some time to look for raptors soaring above the mountain slope.

A quick word of caution: please be aware of your surroundings. While I haven’t had any issues personally, it’s always a good idea to be cautious with your equipment in unfamiliar areas. Be mindful of where you park as well—some of the roads experience regular traffic, and there is active construction happening in the area.

3. Venturing Toward the Thornveld Grasslands

If you make your way through Drummond, birding as you go, and continue through Hammarsdale, take the road that runs between the Pep and Ackerman’s Distribution Centres (note: you’ll briefly exit the pentad), you’ll arrive in an area with beautiful Thornveld grassland.

Area A in this section is a fantastic addition when atlassing, as it can add species not easily found elsewhere in the pentad. I haven’t yet had the chance to fully bird this section, but I’m excited about the species that could potentially be recorded here. This could prove to be a promising area for picking up additional owl species, as well as birds typically associated with more inland habitats.

I’ve already had some fantastic sightings here—including a Red-throated Wryneck, which was a real highlight!

4. Dams and Water Sources in the Pentad

Although the area doesn’t have any large dams or wetlands that support a significant number of waterbirds, there are three accessible dams and water treatment areas worth checking out.

Along JB McIntosh Road, there are three ponds that regularly host Egyptian and Spur-winged Geese, as well as Grey Heron and Woolly-necked Stork (Area A). Behind Panel and Pane Joinery, there’s a dam that often holds large flocks of Woolly-necked Stork, Reed Cormorant, and African Sacred Ibis. Keep an eye out for Yellow-billed Duck, which are frequently seen on this dam as well (Area B).

Lazy Cisticola in the rain

There is a path that winds along the river behind the dam—although I’m unsure about how safe it is, I’ve managed to record a few species along it, including Lazy Cisticola (Area C).

5. Shongweni Club and Polo Fields

Shongweni Club has a few trails that pass under the N3 and lead to two dams. While I haven’t seen much on the dams themselves yet, the sugar cane fields along the way often hold a good number of birds (Area A). I still need to spend more time birding these dams before giving a clear assessment of their potential. Watch the skies for African Fish Eagle and Crowned Eagle, and keep your ears open—the reeds are often alive with the calls of various warbler species.

Surprisingly, some of the best birding at the club happens right near the entrance. Just as you drive through security, there’s a small parking area that overlooks the polo field (Area B). Among the large flocks of Egyptian and Spur-winged Geese, you’ll often spot Crowned Lapwings and Black-winged Lapwings—both great species to add to your list.

Summerveld is a fantastic area for birding, with many more potential species still waiting to be discovered. Whether you're a seasoned birder or just getting started, the diversity of habitats in this pentad offers something for everyone. As more species are recorded and new areas explored, this article will be updated—so be sure to check back regularly.

If you're looking for a great spot to unwind after a morning in the field, I highly recommend Summerveld Country Lodge. The meals are affordable and delicious, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the service is excellent—making it the perfect way to end a productive day of birding.

Have you birded in Summerveld? Let us know what species you've recorded—we’d love to update this article with community contributions!

Discover even more places to bird in Kwa-Zulu Natal in this article.

For atlasing, we recommend either the Birdlasser or the Bindo App.

Here’s the current list of species I’ve logged in the Summerveld Pentad (as of the 20 April 2025):

1	African Dusky Flycatcher
2	African Firefinch
3	African Fish Eagle
4	African Hoopoe
5	African Palm Swift
6	African Paradise Flycatcher
7	African Pipit
8	African Sacred Ibis
9	African Stonechat
10	Amethyst Sunbird
11	Barn Swallow
12	Bar-throated Apalis
13	Black Saw-wing
14	Black Sparrowhawk
15	Black-backed Puffback
16	Black-collared Barbet
17	Black-crowned Tchagra
18	Black-headed Heron
19	Black-headed Oriole
20	Blacksmith Lapwing
21	Black-winged Lapwing
22	Brimstone Canary
23	Bronze Mannikin
24	Brown-hooded Kingfisher
25	Cape Batis
26	Cape Grassbird
27	Cape Robin-Chat
28	Cape Rock Thrush
29	Cape Sparrow
30	Cape Starling
31	Cape Wagtail
32	Cape White-eye
33	Chinspot Batis
34	Common Moorhen
35	Common Myna
36	Common Waxbill
37	Crested Barbet
38	Crowned Eagle
39	Crowned Lapwing
40	Dark-capped Bulbul
41	Diederik Cuckoo
42	Egyptian Goose
43	Familiar Chat
44	Fan-tailed Widowbird
45	Fiery-necked Nightjar
46	Fiscal Flycatcher
47	Fork-tailed Drongo
48	Golden-tailed Woodpecker
49	Goliath Heron
50	Greater Double-collared Sunbird
51	Greater Striped Swallow
52	Green Wood Hoopoe
53	Green-backed Camaroptera
54	Grey Cuckooshrike
55	Grey Heron
56	Hadada Ibis
57	Hamerkop
58	Helmeted Guineafowl
59	House Sparrow
60	Kurrichane Thrush
61	Lanner Falcon
62	Large Rock Martin
63	Lazy Cisticola
64	Lesser Striped Swallow
65	Lesser Swamp Warbler
66	Little Bee-eater
67	Little Rush Warbler
68	Little Swift
69	Long-crested Eagle
70	Malachite Kingfisher
71	Mocking Cliff Chat
72	Natal Spurfowl
73	Neddicky
74	Olive Sunbird
75	Orange-breasted Bushshrike
76	Pied Crow
77	Pin-tailed Whydah
78	Plain-backed Pipit
79	Purple-crested Turaco
80	Red-capped Robin-Chat
81	Red-collared Widowbird
82	Red-eyed Dove
83	Red-faced Cisticola
84	Red-knobbed Coot
85	Red-throated Wryneck
86	Red-winged Starling
87	Reed Cormorant
88	Ring-necked Dove
89	Rufous-naped Lark
90	Sombre Greenbul
91	Southern Black Flycatcher
92	Southern Black Tit
93	Southern Boubou
94	Southern Fiscal
95	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
96	Southern Red Bishop
97	Speckled Mousebird
98	Spectacled Weaver
99	Spotted Eagle-Owl
100	Spur-winged Goose
101	Tambourine Dove
102	Tawny-flanked Prinia
103	Terrestrial Brownbul
104	Thick-billed Weaver
105	Trumpeter Hornbill
106	Village Weaver
107	Violet-backed Starling
108	Wahlberg's Eagle
109	Western Cattle Egret
110	White-bellied Sunbird
111	White-browed Scrub Robin
112	White-eared Barbet
113	White-necked Raven
114	White-rumped Swift
115	Woolly-necked Stork
116	Yellow-billed Duck
117	Yellow-fronted Canary
118	Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
119	Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow
120	Yellow-throated Longclaw