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The day started cloudy but soon cleared and eight of us, three of whom were visitors from Holland, met at the Durbanville Nature Reserve, which is right next to the Durbanville Race Course. The 6 hectare reserve was established in 1966 as a result of the discovery of a small patch of the Iris Aristea lugens which was long thought to be extinct, and conserves Swartland Shale, Renosterveld and Cape Flats sand veld types. Our guide for the morning was Devan de Bod from Nature Conservation. He explained the reason for the removal of some extra-limital Proteas from the reserve is that they are hybridising with the Common Sugarbush Protea repens, which occurs naturally in the area, resulting in abnormal flowers.
Protea repens. Abnormal flower of Protea repens. The reserve is divided into two sections, one on the northern side of the entrance, which was once kept as an indigenous garden and now incorporates a large picnic area for visitors, and the other on the south side where the original vegetation exists. There were not many birds to be seen that morning although there were a few highlights - namely Burchell’s Coucal and European Bee eater.
Burchell’s Coucal.
European Bee eater. European Bee eater. There were at least two families of Common Fiscals feeding their fledglings.
Adult Common Fiscal. Juvenile Common Fiscal. Angulate tortoise also occurs in the Reserve, as well as the endemic and vulnerable Cape Rain Frog which can be heard when it rains.
Angulate tortoise. Although we only saw 15 species in the morning it was a very pleasant outing and we would like to thank Devan de Bod for guiding and providing very interesting information about the Reserve. Frank Hallett.
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