IPHITI NATURE RESERVE

IPHITHI NATURE RESERVE

After a short break it became necessary to get out again. This time we decided to stay closer to home and visited the iphithi nature reserve in Gillitts. This place is an amazing story as only a few years ago it was basically an abandoned piece of land overrun by blue gum trees and invasive weeds. A local resident took it upon himself to clear the land and turn it into a reserve. A dam was built and indigenous trees were planted. The result is an amazing example of local fauna and flora and one of the best maintained spaces i have seen. Not a nasty plant anywhere and lush, lawn walkways, you could actually do this barefoot. There are heavily wooded areas, a dam and large marsh areas which allow for great birding. Had we spent more time I suspect we would have seen a lot more, we will be back..

Among a good ones were a Forest Buzzard and a Natal Spurfowl, sadly both were seen in flight so i couldn't manage a good shot.... all the usual suspects were all in attendance and have been omitted to avoid too much repetition. 

Bronze Mannikin

Chinspot Batis

Brown hooded Kingfisher

Black headed Oriole

Fork tailed Drongo

Hamerkop

Forest Buzzard

Yellow fronted Canary

Thick billed Weaver

Olive Sunbird

Scarlet chested Sunbird

Cape Whiteye

Little Rush Warbler

Natal Spurfowl

Common moorhen

Olive thrush

IPHITHI WALKWAYS, MARKWELL

 IPHITHI MARSH AREA, MARKWELL

 IPHITIA MARGINAL AREAS, MARKWELL

 IPHITHI MARSHLAND, MARKWELL

 IPHITHI WOODED AREAS, MARKWELL

 WALKWAYS ON THE SIDES OF THE VALLEY, MARKWELL

 WELL MAINTAINED  RIVER, PICNIC AND WALKING AREAS, MARKWELL

IPHITHI DAM, MARKWELL

BROWN HOODED KINGFISHER, MARKWELL

BRONZE MANNIKIN, MARKWELL

YELLOW RUMPED TINKER BIRD ? MARKWELL

BLUE EMPEROR - ANAX IMPERATOR

FOREST BUZZARD, MARKWELL

NATAL SPURFOWL, GOOGLE