Wolfgat Nature Reserve.

 

Until 2023, few Cape Bird Club members had visited Wolfgat Nature Reserve, but all this changed when Jerome September reported during our Birding Big Year that European Bee-eaters were again breeding there. Many birders then visited this site, off Pyrenees Street in Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain, in order to see these stunning birds. However, the October visit was our first official CBC outing and, not surprisingly, there was a very pleasing turnout. About three quarters of the group were coming to Wolfgat for the first time.

The birders headed straight to the Education Centre, where the bee-eaters breed in limestone banks. There was quite a buzz of excitement as members got good views of some of the birds or photographed them from fairly close. As we left the building, a Bokmakierie which was giving a clear, ringing call, was pointed out to us by Odwa (one of the Reserve staff). We later had another good view of one below the centre.

Outside, Jerome gave an introduction to the reserve and spoke about the bee-eaters. They had arrived at the end of September – a few days earlier than last year. At 22 birds, they are roughly the same number as last year (maybe two more than before). He is the People and Conservation Officer at the reserve, with an extensive knowledge and great enthusiasm about the birds, reptiles and plants found there. He then led us along the aptly named “Jerome’s Trail”.

Jerome explained that a Spider orchid had been discovered by Cliff Dorse (a CBC member) last year in the reserve – a significant find for this area on the Cape Flats. Jerome is delighted that it has flowered again this year.

Among the bush birds seen were Cape Grassbird, Bar-throated Apalis, Grey-backed Cisticola, Cape Bunting and Karoo Scrub Robin.
However, for some members of the group, the plants were the highlight of our walk, including the spectacular Satyrium carneum.
Pink Satyr Orchid/Rooitrewwa (Satyrium carneum), Lepelblom (Gladiolus cunonius), Leeubekkie (Nemesia affinis), Maerbos (Roepera flexuosa)

At the end of the walk, Jerome kindly opened up one of the rooms in the Education Centre, so we could sit and enjoy our tea. As a way of expressing our appreciation for the staff for their help to us during the outing and previously, I gave them a pile of BirdLife magazines, to be given to school groups visiting the reserve. In addition, I gave Odwa a pair of binoculars (donated recently by a CBC member) which she could use to upgrade her present pair – shown in the photograph, above – or pass on to a colleague. She was delighted by the gift!

Thanks to Gillian Matthews for organising the outing and to Jerome for leading such an interesting and informative visit. Thanks, too, to Daryl for his bird photos, and to Nathalie for providing the photos and ID of the flowers.

Photographs by Daryl de Beer, Penny Dichmont, Nathalie Jehle and Jerome September.

Report by Penny Dichmont.

 

Jerome sent the following appreciative note:

I am very thankful for the bird club coming to visit us, because the value that it brings to us is that you help to make us more knowledgeable. We learn from the bird club quite a lot and we have discovered birds over the last two or three years when you were visiting the Reserve.

We also found quite a few lifers which I never actually realized were on the Reserve. The lifers we got last year were the Chestnut-vented Warbler, an Alpine Swift and African Black Swift. Now we have discovered White-throated Canary and also an African Paradise Flycatcher. When I look up in our data-base, it is the first time we get these birds at Wolfgat Nature Reserve.

So the bird club brings value to us, even contributing to our database and that is why we are quite thankful and happy for. That’s why I can’t wait for the bird club to come again because we are very thankful for the help and the knowledge that you guys share with us. I cannot wait for the next visit!

Report by Jerome September.